Storing potatoes & onions

marmiterulesok

Hi,

Can anyone advise me?

I have bought a big bag of unwashed potatoes (I have read that these keep better than washed ones).Anyway,I've put them in a cardboard box with holes punched in the side of the box,as I don't have any sacks.They're in the cellar on the ground.Will they be ok like this,and should I keep them off the ground?

I also have a big bag of onions,which are in a plastic mesh bag,so air does circulate.Do you think it's best to take them out of the plastic bag all the same?

Thanks!

dandy-candy

I store my potatoes in a dark pillow case twisted shut, then in a wicker basket in my larder and they store fine that way. I wouldn't think keeping yours on the floor is a problem as long as it isn't damp.

Penelope_Penguin

marmiterulesok wrote: »

Hi,

Can anyone advise me?

I have bought a big bag of unwashed potatoes (I have read that these keep better than washed ones).Anyway,I've put them in a cardboard box with holes punched in the side of the box,as I don't have any sacks.They're in the cellar on the ground.Will they be ok like this,and should I keep them off the ground?

I also have a big bag of onions,which are in a plastic mesh bag,so air does circulate.Do you think it's best to take them out of the plastic bag all the same?

Thanks!

Sounds fine to me - just check frequently that you don't have a bad one which could spoil the whole lot

I'll add this to the existing thread later to keep ideas together.

valk_scot

Yes...dry, dark, cool. Works for most veg. Tip them out once a month though and check for damaged ones.

valk_scot

dandy-candy wrote: »

I store my potatoes in a dark pillow case twisted shut, then in a wicker basket in my larder and they store fine that way.

I do like the idea of the dark pillow case. Thanks for that! I made a potato storage basket in a willow weaving class a few years back but have never actually used it because it doesn't keep the light out. I couldn't think of a way to line it easily either so it currently sits in the hall and we use it for storing gloves in. But I will now move it back into the kitchen where it belongs.

Stoney_G

Sorry to hijack thread - how long should they keep when stored like this? Weeks, months etc? Only I always keep mine in the fridge but if they last longer stored the way you guys do I will change!

Primrose

Take the onions out of the plastic bags as soon as possible. Condensation could built up inside and rot them. We keep our onions hanging up in the garage in those cheap cotton or linen bags with logos on which many organisations now seem to be handing out to persuade people to stop using plastic bags. They store very well in them. Potatoes can be stored in them too - it's important to keep them away from direct sunlight otherwise they can turn green which makes the skin poisonous.

marmiterulesok

Stoney_G wrote: »

Sorry to hijack thread - how long should they keep when stored like this? Weeks, months etc? Only I always keep mine in the fridge but if they last longer stored the way you guys do I will change!

Sorry,I don't really know the answer to this.Do you mean onions or potatoes or both?TBH I don't think that either need to be in the fridge,just somewhere dark,cool and dry-thanks valk_scot.

I keep a far number of onions in a porous bowl in the vegetable rack,and cover this with a dishcloth,to keep the light out.They keep really well.

I've just remembered that I've got a wicket basket in the cellar.I'll put the big bag of onions in that-taking them out of the bag of course,and line the sides with brown paper.

lambanana

As long as they're dry they should be fine. My potatoes and onions are in brown paper bags in the kitchen cupboard and they seem fine

flugellover

I am wondering if anyone has any comments about the sacks you can buy for storing onions/potatoes/garlic? I bought some ages ago and TBH have never really used them. I have starting buying more in bulk recently to save pennies, and have rummaged them out to try and see how I get on.

I suspect they are probably no better/worse than the pillowcase/linen bag/tights storage solutions that have been mentioned in this thread - any thoughts?