Preserving Onions

Dry Storage for Onions

General preservation or storage guidance

Preparation About 10 minutes active, plus roughly two weeks drying

Mature onions store well only after their necks and skins have dried fully; airflow and protection from damp limit rot.

Method

1. Lift mature onions when the foliage yellows and begins to topple. Choose a dry spell and handle bulbs gently; use bruised or thick-necked onions first.
2. Brush off loose soil but do not wash. Spread bulbs in a single layer on wire racks or another surface that lets air circulate beneath them.
3. Dry in a sunny, airy place for about two weeks, bringing them under cover if the weather turns wet. Keep them dry and avoid excessive heat.
4. When skins are papery and the necks and roots feel dry, remove loose outer dirt and trim dry tops if storing in trays; do not pack any damp bulbs.
5. Store in a light, cool, dry, well-ventilated place in mesh bags or slatted trays. Check regularly and remove soft or mouldy bulbs.