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Onions are an invariable ingredient in many dishes, which adds a special flavor to them. However, it is quite difficult to keep it after harvest. And even if you just bought it in a store, it will quickly deteriorate in the wrong place. Therefore, we tell you where to store onions in an apartment and under what conditions.

All about onion storage

How to prepare it after harvest
How to choose in the store
Storage conditions
Why do onions go bad
Where to place it in the apartment

How to prepare onions after harvest

When growing onions in the garden, it is important to let them ripen. Depending on the variety you have planted, this will take 90-120 days. The fruits are usually harvested at the end of summer, in mid-August. The fact that they are ripe will be indicated by characteristic signs: dried feathers and dense husks. After the bulbs are dug up, they need to be allowed to dry. In dry, hot weather, they are simply left for 5-10 days in the garden to dry, periodically turning over. Sunlight kills disease-causing bacteria on the surface of the bulbs. When it rains, they are folded on a shell net under a canopy or in a well-ventilated room.

When the onion feathers are completely dry, the neck becomes thinner, and the scales covering the fruits are a pleasant golden color, you can proceed to the next stage of preparation for long-term storage. It is necessary to cut off the neck, leaving about 5 cm, and also remove the roots. If you plan to weave the fruits into braids, then you do not need to trim the feathers. Then you should carefully sort out the crop: sort by size and remove damaged heads. You should not get rid of them: you can start eating right away or use them for salting other products. Also, you may come across sick specimens, they need to be thrown away.

Please note that for long-term placement, it is important to select the right varieties. Late cultures are stored the longest. These can lie until the end of spring (April-May). It is also better to opt for yellow bulbs rather than red or white bulbs. The latter deteriorate faster.

How to choose bulbs in the store

If you don’t have a vegetable garden or don’t stock up onions for the winter, it’s important to know how to pick good vegetables from the store. Poor quality or sick ones will spoil quickly, and may also damage other products stored nearby.

The diameter of the onion head should be about 3-5 cm, and the vegetable itself should be dense. You can press it with your palm if the result is a crunch — this is a good sign. Pay attention to the scales: they should be dry, even. Their damage indicates poor quality.

The bulb should not have sprouted green shoots or roots. Also, never take heads that are even slightly covered with mold or white bloom. These can be poisonous.

The smell of a good vegetable is most often neutral. Sometimes you can smell a light and pleasant onion aroma.

How to store onions in the apartment in winter

It is important to observe the correct storage conditions for onions, otherwise they can quickly deteriorate. It is necessary that the place where you plan to plant the crop is dry. Moisture is detrimental to fruits. It makes them sick. It is important that the place is ventilated. There should be no heat source near the vegetables. Also, do not place them next to the fruits of other crops: potatoes, carrots and beets. Sunlight is not desirable, it will shorten the storage time. Therefore, it is better to place the fruits in a dark place.

The storage temperature for onions depends on the storage method. There are two options: cold and warm. When cold, it is necessary to achieve a temperature of -3 ° C to 0 ° C. With it, the bulbs are protected from rot. The pulp of the fruit does not freeze, because it is hidden under a dry husk. In an apartment, this temperature is likely to be on a glazed balcony.

Do not use the refrigerator for long-term storage of vegetables. Temperature is maintained in the chambers from +4°С to +6°С. It is detrimental to the bulbs: moisture forms on their surface, because of it they begin to rot. You can put the fruits in the freezer, where they can lie from 2 to 6 months. The main thing is not to put the bulbs whole and prepare. For example, freeze a chopped vegetable or pre-fry. It is important that the temperature in the freezer is constantly maintained from -18 ° C to -24 ° C — it is at this point that the products will lie as long as possible.

The warm method assumes that a temperature of +18°C to +22°C is required for storage. Humidity in the room should be 60-70%. Therefore, you can place the fruits on high mezzanines, in the pantry, in the empty space under the bed and on the insulated loggia. Also, special drawers are often built into the kitchen set. In this case, it is important that the heat from the oven and other household appliances does not affect the safety of the food.

Why do bulbs spoil

Sometimes it is difficult to understand why the onion rots during storage and what to do about it. Most likely due to excess moisture. For example, if you leave the fruits in a plastic bag for a long time, then condensation will begin to form on their surface. Sometimes you can find rot and a whitish coating from the fungus. Excess moisture also becomes the cause of these problems. In this case, it is necessary to quickly get rid of the damaged bulbs and review the rest. If the room is humid, then you should find another place to stay. You can also sprinkle heads with dried nettles, chalk, sawdust or husks — they will help absorb liquid and preserve food.

Where and how to store onions

1. Special containers

In stores for the home, you can find containers that are designed to store vegetables. In such it is easy to place onions, potatoes, garlic, carrots and other products. The boxes are made of plastic, have solid walls and a door with holes for ventilation. You can find narrow and high options or, conversely, wide and low. Containers of the same size should be placed on top of each other, this will save space. Boxes made in the same style will look good in the interior.

2. Wicker or metal baskets

Baskets made from vines or straw are an eco-friendly method of storing vegetables. You should not choose large and deep ones, as the bulbs from below will begin to deteriorate due to lack of air. The best option is a volume of 5-6 liters. The fruits should be laid in them not in a very large layer, its height should be about 20-30 cm.

Instead of wicker, you can use metal baskets. They are well ventilated too. When storing in them, you should follow the same rules as for baskets from the vine.

3. Wooden boxes

Wooden boxes are often used to store vegetables. They can be made independently from thin boards. It is important to leave gaps between the slats for ventilation. If you got a box with solid walls, then you should make the holes yourself. It is desirable that their diameter is 2-3 cm.

From the boxes you can make a roomy whatnot, as shown in the second and third photos in the gallery. Or just put the containers on top of each other. This way you save a lot of space.

4. Ceramic pots

Pots can store a small amount of onions, which are needed for cooking in the kitchen. Thanks to the thick walls, the inside of the container is dark, and small holes provide ventilation. It is pleasant to leave such a pot on the countertop, you can put it on a cabinet for decoration or just put it on a shelf.

5. Metal cans

This is an analogue of ceramic pots. Banks are no different from them, except for the material. Holes for ventilation should be made in the walls, in such vegetables are well stored.

6. Fabric bags

Bags made from natural fabrics, such as linen, cotton or matting, are suitable for storing bulbs. These are well ventilated. The bags should hold about 4-5 kg. You should not put more in them, otherwise the fruits in the center will not have enough air.

You can place the bags in the pantry or on the balcony, and take one of them to the kitchen and put it in the kitchen drawer. So you do not have to go to another room every time you cook for the right products.

7. Paper bags

Thick paper bags are breathable, so they are suitable for storing bulbs. They can be used instead of woven bags in a similar way: leave some in the pantry, and bring one of the bags to the kitchen.

If the paper seems very thick to you, make holes in it for ventilation. By the way, instead of packages, you can use cardboard boxes. In this case, additional holes will also be needed.

8. Nets for vegetables

Nets are a modern, eco-friendly way to store and transport vegetables from the store. They can be used to place bulbs. For example, just put the fruit in a net and hang it on a hook in the kitchen.

9. Special bookcase

If there is free space in the kitchen, in the pantry or on the insulated balcony, you can put a special bookcase there. Instead of boxes, wicker baskets are built into it, which provide good ventilation. In such it is easy to fold onions, garlic and fruits of other crops. They will all be in one place, which is very convenient.

10. Braids

This is one of the most reliable and common ways to store crops. Its advantage is that air constantly circulates around the vegetables. To achieve this when placed in boxes and containers is almost impossible.

In order to braid good braids, it is important to harvest the crop on time. It is necessary that the tops do not have time to dry out, otherwise it will break — it will not work to braid this. Shoots should be slightly wilted and yellowed, but not completely dry. Vegetables are left in the garden for several hours to dry, then braids are made from them. To make them stronger, straw or ribbon is woven inside. After that, the braids are hung in the room.