Step-by-step instructions on how to keep onions for the winter at home

Onions are a necessary ingredient for preparing many first and second courses, salads, and winter preparations. After harvesting, the question arises of how to preserve this vegetable until next season. To keep the product fresh and edible for several months, it is worth following a number of recommendations.

Basic rules for storing onions

A dry, cool and dark place with good ventilation is ideal for storing onions.

Required temperature conditions

The recommended storage temperature is 0… + 3 ° С. In such conditions, it is possible to maximally preserve the beneficial properties of the vegetable culture. For warm storage in an apartment, keep the temperature around + 18 ° C.

Humidity level for storing onions in an apartment

When choosing a place for onions, do not forget that excess moisture has a negative effect on the bulbs, as a result of which they rot and become moldy. The optimum humidity level for storage in an apartment is about 70%.

Storage periods

If you follow the recommendations for storing onions, then in the apartment the product remains suitable for consumption, does not lose its presentation, retains its taste and useful qualities for 8 months. If the onion is stored in cellar or basement, the shelf life can be up to a year.

Varieties suitable for long-term storage

Good keeping quality of fruits is largely determined by the variety, so it is important to choose it correctly.

In this regard, the following varieties are most popular among gardeners:

1. Bastion... A representative of mid-season varieties. The bulb is flat-round in shape with dry and dense scales. It is grown in all regions of Russia, except for the southern ones. Possesses excellent taste. Stored for at least 9 months.
2. Stuttgarter Riesen... Bred in Germany. Early maturing variety. It has a large bulb of about 150 g. It gives a high yield. Not picky about leaving. Stores well.
3. Orion... A variety obtained by English breeders. It belongs to the early maturing species, therefore it is often grown in regions with short summers. The fruit reaches a weight of 200 g and is well stored.
4. Yalta... The bulbs are purple and flattened. They have juiciness and excellent taste. Due to its sweet taste, it is often consumed raw.
5. Arzamas... Well suited for growing in mid-lane conditions. The bulbs are round and have a pungent taste. The variety gives a high yield, is resistant to pests and has a long shelf life.
6. Red Baron... Representative of early maturing varieties. Fruits are red, weighing up to 80 g. Onions have a dense structure and are considered one of the best varieties for winter storage.
7. Hercules... Refers to medium early varieties. The fruit is large and round. Resistant to high temperatures and drought.
8. Bessonovsky... Has a pungent taste. 4-5 bulbs, weighing 40-50 g, grow in the nest. The flesh is dense, yellow or white in color. Onions contain a large amount of dry matter, which helps keep vegetables longer.

Preparing onions for long-term storage

The harvested onion crop is dried for 10-15 days in the fresh air. The bulbs are laid out in one layer on a dry surface. To do this, use wooden flooring or bedspread.

If drying is carried out in an apartment, then the onion is placed in a well-ventilated place (balcony) or used to dry the oven. It is first heated, and then turned off and the bulbs are placed in it.

Attention! Make sure that the onion does not dry out. A sign of this condition is cracked scales.

After drying, cut dry feathers, leaving necks about 4 cm long. The top layer of scales is also removed.

Reference! For onions grown in humid climates, when rainfall constantly falls, it is recommended to remove almost all of the scales. It re-forms during storage.

How to store onions at home: suitable containers

For onion storage, the necessary container is selected. Most often used:

1. Wicker baskets. They are well ventilated (one of the most important storage conditions) and are aesthetically pleasing. This container is suitable for a small amount of vegetables.
2. Wooden boxes. They are practical to use, as they occupy a small area if they are placed one on top of the other. Provides good ventilation.
3. Cardboard boxes... The material is highly breathable. In addition, small holes can be made in the walls. As containers for onions, cardboard packaging from household appliances and shoes is often used.
4. An ordinary bag. So that the product does not start to deteriorate, it is recommended not to fill it more than 30-40 cm. Although the burlap is excellent for air permeability, air circulation in an overfilled bag is disturbed. This storage option is not very aesthetic, so it is used for basements and storage rooms.
5. Onion scythe. Braided onion is not only a great storage method, but also a decorative element that will decorate the kitchen. The storage method is efficient as there is no stagnant air. It is also possible to visually monitor the condition of the bow.

In a refrigerator

Housewives often store onions in the freezer.

The vegetable is prepared according to the following scheme:

• cleaned of scales;
• cut into slices or half rings;
• frozen on the board;
• put in a special plastic bag for food and put in the freezer.

This will only save a small amount of the onion.

In nylon tights and stockings

Nylon is a thin synthetic fabric that is breathable. Nylon tights can be safely used as a container without worrying about air exchange. This storage option is suitable for basement and pantry.

Storage methods in cellars and storages

For cold storage, shelves and racks are used. Onions are also placed in vegetable crates. Pour in a layer of about 40-50 cm to prevent rotting. The containers are placed on shelves or special stands so that the bottom does not come into contact with the floor.

Onions are also placed in small bags.

Attention! Cellophane bags are not suitable, as the vegetable quickly deteriorates in them.

If you have a large number of egg containers in stock, they make an excellent storage container. An onion is placed in each groove and placed on a shelf or rack.

Make sure that the ventilation in the cellar works well. If the room is damp and poorly ventilated, the bulbs germinate quickly and become unsuitable for eating.

With a slight decrease in the temperature in the room, the sharp onion is not damaged. Sweet varieties are afraid of frost.

When storing in a cellar, constantly monitor the condition of the bulbs. If moisture appears on them, they should be dried, and the storage should be well ventilated.

Council. Lime will help to remove increased moisture. It is poured into containers and placed in the corners of the cellar.

About the storage features of some types of onions

Storage of certain types of vegetable crops has its own characteristics.

How to store green onions

Green feathers can be placed on the bottom shelf of the refrigerator compartment. There the product is stored for 10-14 days.

So that the greens remain fresh for a long time, do not deteriorate and do not wither, the roots are moistened with water and wrapped in a wet cloth. Then they are placed in a paper envelope and tied up so that the moisture evaporates less.

Green feathers are also wrapped in edible paper and placed in a bowl of water, and covered with a bag on top.

Chives keep well in dried form. They are dried both outdoors and in the oven.

How to store leeks

In the cellar, leeks remain usable for six months, while retaining all their useful and taste qualities.

Before storage, the roots are cut to a length of 3 cm and the yellowed leaves are removed. In the basement, leeks are placed in containers with wet river sand. The bulbs are placed in an upright position with a slight slope, and the roots are buried with sand in a layer of about 10 cm.

The vegetable crop is also frozen or dried.

Attention! You can also store onions on the balcony. The containers with the product are insulated with old outerwear or blankets.

Onion sets

A favorable temperature regime for sevka is up to + 16 ° C, therefore it is stored in an apartment in a cooler and drier place. Small bags and cardboard boxes are used as containers.

A basement or cellar with good ventilation is suitable for storing sevka.

Reasons for spoiling onions during storage

Product spoilage often occurs due to infection with diseases:

• bacterial rot;
• fusarium;
• cervical rot.

Bacterial rot is clearly visible on the cut of the bulb. Healthy scales alternate with yellowed ones. The fruits give off an unpleasant odor.

Cervical rot develops slowly and can be difficult to detect.

When infected with fusarium, the onion begins to deteriorate from below and becomes soft and watery.

The following factors also contribute to decay:

• wrong choice of variety;
• damage to bulbs during harvest.

Onions quickly become unsuitable for food if the temperature and recommended humidity are not observed.

Problems during storage

Other difficulties may arise when storing the product. Onion flies appear in the apartment. This is facilitated by damaged and rotten fruits, which create a favorable environment for the reproduction and nutrition of the fly. Review your onions regularly and carefully to remove spoiled ones in time.

If a vegetable is stored outside the recommended moisture content, it begins to sprout. To prevent this, the onion heads are sprinkled with dry husks or chalk powder. For 10 kg of onions use 250 g of the product.

Useful Tips

To successfully preserve the onion until the next harvest, experienced farmers recommend the following preventive measures:

• regularly change the site for planting vegetables;
• carry out disinfection processing of planting material;
• disinfect the soil with special means before planting;
• observe the agricultural technology of growing vegetables;
• carefully harvest and sort the harvested crop;
• dry it well.

Be sure to provide good air circulation in the place where the product will be stored.

Conclusion

The storage process for onions requires compliance with certain conditions. In order for the onion to lie until the next season and retain its presentation, it is necessary to follow the recommendations of specialists, regularly sorting out the bulbs and removing damaged and spoiled ones.