The right way to store onions at home so they don't rot quickly

Garlic, shallots and onions are versatile spices that are almost always in every Indonesian family kitchen. Unfortunately, carelessly storing onions in any place can make them spoil quickly. Like what, the right way to store onions?

How to store onions is good and right

Reporting from Healthline, onions should not be stored in a damp and cold place such as a refrigerator. This condition makes the onions absorb a lot of moisture which causes them to rot quickly.

Onions should be stored in a cool but dry, well-ventilated area away from sunlight or lamp light. Exposure to direct light, whether natural or artificial, can make onions taste bitter. A study published in the Journal of Food Science Technology in 2016 states that the ideal room temperature for storing onions is around 4-10º Celsius.

Most importantly, avoid storing onions in plastic grocery bags. Plastic bags are poorly ventilated, so they can quickly spoil the onions. It's a good idea to store the onions in a mesh bag, or leave your plastic bag with a wide hole in it.

It's also best not to keep the onions close to the potatoes. Reporting from Eating Well, this storage method will trigger the release of water vapor and gas from the onions, making the onions spoil faster.

With proper storage, onions can stay in their best condition for the next 30 days.

How to store peeled and chopped onions is different from fresh onions

If the above is how to store fresh whole onions in general, it's different from storing peeled and chopped onions.

The peeled onions should be stored in the refrigerator or refrigerator (freezer) temperature of 4ºC or lower to avoid the risk of bacterial contamination. But before that, put the peeled onions in an airtight closed container. This method can make the peeled onions last up to 10-14 days.

Sliced, chopped, or chopped onions can also be stored in the refrigerator for up to 10 days. Wrap the pieces in plastic that is tightly tied. Likewise, if you buy an onion that has been cut into pieces. Immediately store in the refrigerator. If you want to store longer, chopped onions can be stored in the freezer for up to 6 months.

For cooked onions that are cooked can be stored in the refrigerator for 3-5 days. Store the onions in an airtight closed container. Do not leave ripe onions at room temperature for long periods as this increases the risk of bacterial contamination. If you want to keep the cooked onions for a longer time, store them inside freezer up to 3 months.