How to Store Onions, Potatoes and Other Common Foods to Keep Them Fresh Longer

Proper storage of fruits and vegetables is essential for maintaining their freshness, flavor, and nutritional value. Not only does it save money by reducing food waste, but it also ensures you always have the best quality ingredients on hand for your meals. In this guide, we'll walk you through the best practices for storing 10 of the most common foods, including onions, potatoes, avocados, mushrooms, and garlic, so you can keep them fresh for as long as possible.

General Storage Tips

Before diving into specific foods, it's important to understand the general principles of food storage. The key factors that affect the shelf life of fruits and vegetables are temperature, humidity, and light.

• Temperature: Most fruits and vegetables are best stored at cool temperatures. However, some items, like potatoes and onions, should be kept at room temperature in a cool, dark place. Refrigeration slows down the ripening process for many fruits and vegetables but can cause some items to become mealy or lose flavor.
• Humidity: High humidity levels can promote mold and rot, so it's important to store produce in a way that allows for air circulation. Use breathable bags or containers for items that need refrigeration, and avoid sealing them in airtight bags, which can trap moisture.
• Light: Exposure to light can cause some foods, like potatoes, to sprout or turn green. It's best to store light-sensitive items in a dark place.

How to Store Common Vegetables

1. Onions
   • Best Storage Practices: Onions should be stored in a cool, dry, and dark place, such as a pantry or cellar. They need good air circulation, so keep them in a mesh bag or basket rather than a plastic bag, which can trap moisture and cause them to spoil. Avoid storing onions near potatoes, as the gases released by potatoes can cause onions to spoil more quickly.
   • Duration: When stored properly, onions can last up to a month or more. Cut onions should be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator and used within a week.
2. Potatoes
   • Best Storage Practices: Potatoes thrive in a cool, dark, and well-ventilated environment. Like onions, they should not be stored in plastic bags. Instead, use a paper bag, cardboard box, or basket. Avoid storing potatoes in the refrigerator, as cold temperatures can convert their starches into sugars, leading to an unpleasantly sweet taste and gritty texture.
   • Duration: Properly stored potatoes can last several weeks to a few months, depending on the variety.
3. Fresh Beans
   • Best Storage Practices: Green beans and other fresh beans should be stored in the refrigerator in a breathable bag or container. To keep them fresh for longer, avoid washing them until you're ready to use them, as excess moisture can lead to mold. For long-term storage, blanch the beans by boiling them briefly, then cooling them in ice water before freezing.
   • Duration: Fresh beans can last up to a week in the refrigerator and up to 12 months in the freezer.
4. Mushrooms
   • Best Storage Practices: Mushrooms are best stored in the refrigerator in a paper bag or a breathable container. Avoid washing mushrooms before storage, as they can absorb water and become slimy. Instead, clean them just before use. If you've bought mushrooms in plastic-wrapped containers, it's a good idea to remove the plastic wrap and transfer them to a paper bag.
   • Duration: Fresh mushrooms typically last up to a week in the refrigerator.
5. Garlic
   • Best Storage Practices: Garlic should be stored in a cool, dry place with good air circulation, such as a pantry. Like onions, garlic needs to breathe, so avoid airtight containers. Whole garlic bulbs can be stored in a mesh bag or basket. Once you've broken a bulb, use the cloves within a few weeks.
   • Duration: Whole garlic bulbs can last several months when stored properly. Peeled cloves should be used within a week when stored in the refrigerator.

How to Store Common Fruits

1. Avocados
   • Best Storage Practices: Store unripe avocados at room temperature until they soften. To speed up the ripening process, you can place them in a paper bag with a banana. Once ripe, avocados can be stored in the refrigerator to slow down the ripening process. To keep a cut avocado fresh, leave the pit in, sprinkle the exposed flesh with lemon juice, and wrap it tightly in plastic wrap or place it in an airtight container.
   • Duration: Unripe avocados will ripen in a few days at room temperature, and ripe avocados can last 3-5 days in the refrigerator.
2. Tomatoes
   • Best Storage Practices: Tomatoes should be stored at room temperature, away from direct sunlight, until they are fully ripe. Once ripe, you can refrigerate them to prolong their shelf life, but bring them back to room temperature before eating to restore their flavor and texture.
   • Duration: Tomatoes can last up to a week at room temperature, depending on ripeness, and an additional 2-3 days in the refrigerator.
3. Bananas
   • Best Storage Practices: Bananas should be stored at room temperature, away from other fruits to slow down ripening. If you have too many ripe bananas, you can peel and freeze them for smoothies or baking. To slow down ripening, you can also wrap the stems in plastic wrap.
   • Duration: Bananas last about 2-5 days at room temperature once they are ripe. Frozen bananas can last up to 3 months.
4. Apples
   • Best Storage Practices: Apples should be stored in the refrigerator to keep them fresh for longer. Keep them in the crisper drawer or in a plastic bag with holes to maintain moisture without trapping excess humidity. Separate them from other fruits, especially bananas, which can speed up their ripening.
   • Duration: Properly stored apples can last up to 4-6 weeks in the refrigerator.
5. Citrus Fruits (Oranges, Lemons, etc.)
   • Best Storage Practices: Citrus fruits can be stored at room temperature if you plan to use them within a week. For longer storage, keep them in the refrigerator in the crisper drawer or in a mesh bag. Avoid storing them in airtight containers to prevent mold growth.
   • Duration: Citrus fruits can last up to a week at room temperature and up to 2-3 weeks in the refrigerator.

Common Storage Problems: Sometimes, despite our best efforts, issues arise. For instance, have you noticed your potatoes sprouting too quickly? This usually happens if they are stored in an environment that's too warm or exposed to too much light. Keeping them in a dark, cool place can prevent this. Similarly, if your onions are turning moldy, it might be due to excess humidity—ensure they are in a well-ventilated space. As for avocados, they can quickly turn overripe. But don’t throw them out—overripe avocados are perfect for making guacamole or adding creaminess to smoothies.

Conclusion

To recap, always store onions and potatoes separately to prevent them from spoiling faster. Keep mushrooms in a paper bag in the fridge to maintain their freshness. For apples, refrigeration is key to extending their shelf life, but remember to keep them away from bananas to avoid accelerated ripening.

Proper storage of fruits and vegetables is essential for reducing food waste, saving money, and ensuring that your meals are made with fresh, flavorful ingredients. By following the tips outlined in this guide, you can maximize the shelf life of your produce and enjoy them at their best.

Each type of produce has its own unique storage needs, and understanding these differences can make a big impact on how long your food stays fresh. Implement these strategies, share this guide with others who might benefit, and start making the most of your fruits and vegetables today.

For more tips on meal planning, reducing food waste, and kitchen hacks, check out our other articles and resources.