How to store onions in an apartment

How to preserve the freshness of onions and extend their storage for a long time

Proper preparation of onions for storage

From the moment the onion is harvested, its preparation for storage begins. You should start with the very correctness of digging it out of the soil. When harvesting onions, you need to use special scoops so as not to damage its base. By pulling out the onion holding on to its stem, you can ensure that the bulb itself remains in dry soil, and the torn stem remains in your hands. You should carefully dig in the fruit and put it in a separate place for its subsequent processing and drying.

Drying onions

An important process of preserving the freshness of the onion is its proper drying, this process lasts about 14 days, depending on the ambient temperature and humidity. Vegetables should be placed on a fairly spacious surface that is well ventilated, trying to keep the onions in one layer next to each other. If there is a shortage in a large room, the onions can be hung by the stems in bunches, this can be done on the balcony or other room. The need for periodical turning of the bulbs is imperative. Every day you need to check the condition of the vegetables, making sure they are evenly dried.

Drying onions in the oven is another method of preparing them for storage. It is enough to preheat the oven to thirty degrees and dry the product for about half an hour. If you overexpose the onion in the oven, it will dry out and lose a significant amount of its nutrients, and this will also accelerate its deterioration.

Selecting good bulbs

The next step in preparing the onion is its selection. Bulbs that last longer than others need to be firm, firm and intact. The rest of the products must be used in preparation in the near future. Cutting the stems of the bulbs is mandatory prior to picking them. Leave about 5 cm of free stem. Onions with a sprouted root will start to rot faster, so this should also be removed immediately.

Proper storage of the vegetable

The container and container in which the bulbs will be stored play an important role in extending their life. Best suited for this use jute bags, wooden boxes, baskets made from vines, and special nets for storing vegetables.

Bags and other bags made of polyethylene are not suitable for such a case, since they do not allow air to pass through and do not release moisture to the outside. Drawers used for storing vegetables must have sufficient openings for air passage. You need to lay onions in layers no more than 40 cm in height.

The storage temperature of onions should not be lower than 0 degrees. An excellent place to store onions is a basement, cellar or pantry, which is well ventilated. Even when the onions are well dried, they still contain a lot of moisture, which, without good air circulation, can lead to rotting.

An old way of storing a vegetable is to weave bundles of onions. To do this, do not cut the onion stems, but leave them, using them as a rope into which you can weave other bulbs. Thus, many onion braids can be woven, which can then be hung in a ventilated room. It is very convenient and will even serve as a special decorative element for your balcony or basement.

Small amounts of onions can also be stored in a regular refrigerator. For this, the temperature inside it must be within +3 degrees. Hanging the onions in bags over a radiator or near a stove will allow them to survive until spring comes.

Basement storage

Storing onions in boxes is practically the most common and convenient way to harvest.

It is important to keep the boards dry. And you need to knock down the boxes in such a way that there is a distance between the boards

This will allow for proper ventilation of the vegetables.

The crop is placed in boxes in several layers, not exceeding 20 - 30 cm. Large volumes of vegetables are distributed in several boxes.

Containers cannot be kept directly on the floor of the cellar. Therefore, flooring is pre-made from boards or ready-made pallets are used.

The temperature regime and the corresponding air humidity should be observed.

You can also store onions in the cellar in a suspended state, distributed over several kilograms in nets or bags.

Possible causes of onion spoilage during storage, preventive measures

Spoilage onion during storage usually means rotting. The reasons may be different:

disease - more often it is a fungal or bacterial infection, the signs of which appear precisely during storage;
high humidity in the room;
improper packaging - tightly closed containers, use of polyethylene;
abuse of nitrogen-containing fertilizers - this brings the harvest time closer, but it has a negative effect on the duration of its storage.

The following measures will help to avoid damage to the crop during storage:

processing of planting material in the spring - it is optimal to use a solution of potassium permanganate;
moderate use of fertilizers, correct potash dressing - they increase the keeping quality of the crop;
accuracy in harvesting - infection often occurs due to mechanical damage;
careful rejection and elimination of damaged copies;
complete drying of the crop;
preparation of the premises for storing the crop - its complete drying, disinfection;

providing good ventilation; maintaining the recommended temperature and humidity level; use of breathable storage containers; periodic inspection of the stored crop with the rejection of spoiled specimens.

You can learn about the features of storing onions from the following video:

Compliance with all the rules for storing onions will allow you to keep it in good condition for a maximum long time. This can be done both in the conditions of an apartment, and in the presence of a basement or cellar.

It is especially important to preserve the crop if part of it is intended for planting next year.

Where and how best to store onions in winter ...

The best time for laying onions is October. And the ideal place for long-term storage is a dry basement or cellar. But such premises are not in every house, and even more so in an apartment. Therefore, wherever the onion lies in winter, two main conditions are important.

Low humidity. The room must be dry. Whether it is a basement, a cellar, a special storage room in the house or a pantry, a mezzanine, a separate closet or just a corner in an apartment, an insulated balcony, an attic.
Air ventilation. To store the onion stock, a breathable container is needed. Usually these are special boxes or, adapted for storage, objects (sometimes completely unexpected).

You need to take care of how to store the onions in the apartment longer in advance. Crush the chalk and transfer the bulbs before hibernation. The powder will act as an absorbent: it will take away unnecessary moisture and protect the harvested vegetable from sprouting and spoilage.

Packaging options

It is most convenient to put the bulbs in wooden boxes. Their height should not exceed 30 cm. A prerequisite is openings or small openings for ventilation. These storage containers are very space saving because they can be stacked on top of each other. Instead of wooden ones, you can take plastic boxes. If they are not a friend, you can experiment with containers and store the vegetable in the following items.

In boxes. Cardboard boxes are also good for storage. But you will have to work hard and first cut out a dozen small holes for air access in the side walls and bottom.
In baskets. This wicker basket is made of natural materials and is ideal for storage. Air circulates well in such a container. In addition, the "braids" look beautiful and aesthetically pleasing.
In cloth bags. Very good air permeability. The main thing is that they are not cumbersome and not too large. The maximum layer height of the bulbs is 35 cm. An alternative to cloth bags is paper bags.
In grids. Polypropylene vegetable nets guarantee not only full air circulation, but also the visibility of the contents. It is easy to find sprouted and rotten onions in special packages.
In nylon stockings. Oddly enough, but in the age of high technology, this old grandmother's method of storing bulbs even claims to be the leader. However, for aesthetic reasons, you should not decorate your kitchen with hanging tights. Onion stockings can be placed, for example, in a closet or cellar. But if you still want to use the stock of bulbs to decorate the kitchen, then do not cut dry onion feathers, but braid them. If you succeed in doing this carefully, the bundles will look like a decorative ornament, and also purify the air. By the way, according to reviews, in this way it is best to store onions in the house. It is clear that such a decoration will not fit into every interior.
In egg trays. If you have collected a lot of egg packs at home, feel free to use them as storage containers. Place each onion in a separate groove. Place the filled trays on shelves or racks.

What is not recommended for storage are plastic bags. In such a package, the bulbs will simply suffocate. At first they will fog up, and then they will start to rot.

How to store onions correctly: optimal conditions

Before harvesting onions for winter storage, you must first take care of ensuring optimal conditions and choosing a room

Ignoring this important stage can lead to sad consequences: the crop will not be able to lie for a long time, the quality and use of the heads will decrease, and in some neglected cases, you can even lose the entire crop.

Optimal storage conditions for onions and other onions in winter:

Temperature. The most optimal storage temperature is 2 to 5 degrees Celsius. This temperature is easiest to maintain in a cellar or basement. If it is not possible to provide such a temperature or you can only store it in a living room (apartment or private house), then you need to maintain t at home at no higher than 20 ° C. Onions can withstand room conditions normally, but humidity fluctuations should not be allowed,
Humidity. Too high or low levels of humidity should not be allowed.With high humidity, the crop will begin to mold or germinate, and if there is a lack of moisture, the heads will begin to dry.
Lighting. It is recommended to store the crop in a dark room.
Ventilation. There should be no stagnation of air in the room where the vegetables are located. Normal ventilation is a prerequisite for long-term and successful storage of onion crops in autumn and winter.

Ways of growing onions for greens (feathers) on the windowsill: what and how best to plant

For planting green onions, you can choose any container you like. The main requirement for containers is the presence of a wide neck or hole through which the onion will expel the greens.

However, it is not necessary to plant onions in the ground. It can be grown without land - in sawdust, or on water.

Planting in plastic bottles with earth

One of the most original ways to grow onions in an apartment is to plant them in a plastic bottle (5-6 liters).

Step-by-step instructions for planting onions on greens in a plastic bottle:

First, holes in the walls are cut (drilled or burned) in the bottles (from where, in fact, your crop will climb out).

You can trim the bottle off the top to give you extra space for the bulbs.
Water abundantly.

Video: how to grow onions in winter on a windowsill in a plastic bottle

Video: a great way to grow onions on a windowsill

Growing onions without soil - in sawdust

Instead of soil, you can quite successfully use sawdust for forcing onions on a feather, in which a powerful root system is formed, which means that greens will grow quite well.

Sawdust is suitable for absolutely any: both deciduous trees and conifers (for example, spruce), including both large and small.

It is highly advisable to decontaminate sawdust before planting. It will be quite enough if you pour boiling water over them and they stand like this for 5-10 minutes (until they cool down) so that all the fungi die.

The bulbs should be planted as close to each other as possible.

You can moisten the sawdust both before planting and after planting the bulbs.

Do not forget to maintain humidity by watering at least once every 5-7 days.

In sawdust in a bag

Onions can be grown in sawdust on a windowsill in the same way and in bags.

The specifics of growing onions in sawdust in a package:

the package must be durable;
the sawdust layer should be at least 3-4 cm;
it is better not to tie the bag, but you can also try (however, if you do not air it on time, then fungi will go).

Video: onions on a feather in 15 days is the best way to distill greens at home

Planting in water (hydroponic method)

One easy way to grow onions on a windowsill is by rooting the heads in water.

Growing onions in water on a windowsill is quite simple if you follow the following rules:

Also for growing in water, you can cut and make an uncomplicated design from a bottle.

Only the root system of the bulb should be in the water.

To prevent the water from rotting and stinking, it should be changed at least every other day, or better every day.
The dishes with onions are placed in the most lighted place, the required liquid is added as needed.

Video: how to grow onions for herbs in water

How to dry gooseberries at home: simple ways

Outdoors

Drying time: 5-9 days.

This is the simplest method and does not require any special equipment. Large sieves, grates, oven trays, and even upside-down drawers lined with paper can serve as drying surfaces.

Wait for dry, windy, hot weather, when the temperature is kept at 22-25 ° С.
Place the fruits in one layer on the prepared surfaces.
Install the grates in a wind-blown location. It is advisable that the berries are not exposed to direct sunlight. For example, it could be a barn, shed, or balcony. Many people choose an attic for drying. But remember to open vents and skylights to ensure good air circulation.
Cover the gooseberry with cheesecloth or a thin cloth to keep insects out of it.
Stir the berries once a day. Sort them by size if necessary. Select larger fruits by placing them on a separate pallet.
In the evening, bring the dryer into the house before the dew falls, and put it back in the morning.

Dry gooseberries should be firm but slightly springy. If it is completely "rubber", then the drying time will have to be extended by several days.

In the oven

Drying time: 5-7 hours.

Regardless of what type of stove, there is no difference in technology. The only difference is the gap in the door. For electric models, it is enough to leave 4-5 centimeters, and for gas models - 15-20.

Line the prepared baking sheets with baking parchment.
Arrange the berries in an even layer. Make sure they do not touch each other.
Set the temperature to 35-40 ° C.
Dry the gooseberries for 1-3 hours. This is a kind of withering process, after which the berries will not burst when heated.
Increase the temperature to 65-70 ° C.
Stir in the berries every few hours.

Drying will take much less time than outdoors. Some do not leave the oven door open all the time, but only periodically open it for 20-40 minutes. If your device has Convection mode, turn it on.Hot air will move inside the cabinet under the influence of the built-in fan, forcibly ventilating the berries.

In an electric dryer

Drying time: 10-12 hours.

The preparation is done as standard. The fruits are sorted out, lightly blanched with hot steam. Some people recommend boiling the berries a little in the syrup before drying.

Arrange the gooseberries in one layer on the wire racks.
Set the temperature to 40 ° C.
Leave the fruits to pre-dry for 2-4 hours.
Increase the temperature to 60-70 ° C.
Dry the food, changing the grates every 2 hours.

1 Harvesting and preparing onions

It is important not only to collect onions on time, but also to properly prepare them for storage. Only ripe bulbs are suitable for this.

This can be identified by dry feathers and thin necks.

If you collect unripe onions, which have a thick neck and fragile scales, then such a vegetable will not be stored for a long time, as it will quickly rot. If you overexpose it, this will cause the vegetable to begin to re-grow. It will lose dry scales and give new roots.

Ripening depends on the type of vegetable and usually occurs 3 to 4 months after planting. Harvesting is best in dry, sunny weather. This is necessary in order to be able to dry it well in the sun before sending it for long-term storage until spring.

An option is possible when the weather is excellent, and the onions are not yet ripe. In this case, you can speed up the ripening of the vegetable a little. To do this, using a pitchfork, you should dig a little vegetable so that there is a slight "undermining" of the roots. This will help ensure that the bottom of the plant water will not flow and food. The process of dying off of onion feathers will begin, and all useful substances will arrive in the turnip. This will accelerate the ripening of the onion.

This technique should be used even if the plants have already been pulled out of the ground. It is necessary to let the vegetable lie down for several days in the garden. This will increase its safety and nutritional value.

An important point in preparing onions for storage is their distribution by varieties, since many of them have different shelf life. It should be borne in mind that sweet varieties do not last as long as spicy and bitter ones. This is due to the fact that they are more capricious and more easily susceptible to disease.

Peeled turnip

There are a lot of options for storing peeled onions. The choice depends on taste preferences and purpose for further use:

If half of the onion turned out to be superfluous and remained, then before storing, it is necessary to grease with vegetable oil or any fat. A week on the refrigerator shelf won't go bad.
Cover the bottom of the container with salt and place the onion with the cut side down. 8 days nothing will happen to her.
A container of onions filled with cold water t can be placed on the refrigerator shelf for daily water changes. A similar option is to fill a dense plastic bag with water by ⅓, the rest of the parts with raw materials. Water is replaced 3-4 times within 2 weeks of storage.
Cut or whole, retains quality for up to 5 days if wrapped in cling film.
Peeled - can be pickled. Making pickled onions is easy. Marinade: salt, sugar + apple cider vinegar - pour to the bottom of the container, then put onion chopped into rings and - again the marinade. The container is closed tightly and - in the refrigerator. Pickled onions will delight you with a spicy taste. It is stored for a whole month, although pickled onions are eaten faster.

Green onions

If you need to store green onions for the winter, it is important that they are not damp. Before storing green onions, do not wash them, lay them out on paper to remove excess moisture

These are good options for storing greens:

In the bag, where the holes are made, the whole feathers are packaged in portions.
Cut, and as soon as you cut the feathers into rings, tamp the green layer (2 cm) tightly into the jars, add a layer of salt, greens again - and so alternate until it is full, on top - salt.Close the lid and send the salted herbs to the refrigerator.

A quick overview on how to store onions contains recommendations based on experience. Which option is better depends on individual conditions. The main thing is that this is guaranteed to help preserve the harvest without loss and provide vitamins for the whole winter.

Sooner or later, every gardener thinks about how to save onions for the winter. At first glance, it seems simple: collected, dried, put in a box and put it in a cool dark place - that's all for storage. In fact, this is not the case. Sometimes even experienced gardeners fail to keep the onion intact until spring. This business also has its own nuances. So let's together and find out how to save onions for the winter so that they remain as fresh and healthy in the cold season as if they had just been plucked from the garden. A few helpful tips below are sure to help you.

How to keep onions until spring?

First of all, it must be properly assembled and prepared. Usually, the harvest falls on the 90-120th day after planting. Most often this happens in August. You need to collect it in dry weather. Each onion is poured in with a spatula so as not to damage its bottom, and then carefully folded to the side

Important! Under no circumstances hit the pulled out bow on the ground - this will damage it and it will not be able to be stored for a long time. If no rain is expected in the coming days, it would be best to leave the harvested crop outdoors for at least 7-10 days.

Just arrange the bulbs so that they don't touch each other. Turn them over periodically. There are other drying methods as well. For example, you can tie the onion into small bunches and hang it in a draft-free area. There is also an option for those who live in an apartment. Onions can be dried in the oven. To do this, periodically heat it to the minimum temperature.

So, the onions have dried. Now let's move on to the next step. We cut off the dried feathers so that the neck of the bulb remains 5-6 cm long. We do not touch the roots, if possible, so as not to damage the bottom. The top husk, which is cracked, can also be removed. After that, let the bulbs dry out a little more. Then we select the strongest, healthiest, undamaged fruits and put them in a specially prepared container (wicker basket, wooden box, cloth bag or nylon stockings). There is another interesting way to save onions for the winter. Weave braids out of it. Only for this, dried feathers do not need to be cut off, since they will be woven into the twine. Onion braids will perfectly decorate the interior of your kitchen, and their aroma will disinfect the air well. This method is usually the most effective. Onions do not require special storage conditions - a room temperature of 18 to 25 degrees is suitable. But it is not recommended to lower it into the cellar, there it can become damp and moldy. Well, now you know how to keep

Sort the onions from time to time. This is done in order to identify spoiled fruits in time and select them.
If suddenly, for some reason, the onion is damp, dry it again and transfer it to another container.
For storage, use only a container made of materials that allow air to pass through. Polyethylene is by no means suitable for these purposes!
The height of the boxes in which the crop will be stored should not exceed 30 cm.

We hope, thanks to this article, you will now have no difficulties with how to save onions for the winter.

“Whoever eats onions will get rid of torment,” people say. Indeed, this vegetable is multifunctional: it has both nutritional and medicinal value. It strengthens the immune system, helps the body resist viruses and stress, restores strength, vigor and even rejuvenates. It is beneficial for reproductive functions, heart and blood vessels, improves digestion and cleanses the body of harmful substances.And all this, thanks to the content of useful vitamins, mineral salts, organic acids, nitrogenous and carbohydrate substances. The ability to preserve onions in winter without losing quality and valuable properties begins with the correct harvesting of the onion crop.

4 Best ways to store

After the onion has been dried and trimmed, it is necessary to re-sort it. Healthy bulbs with dry closed necks are suitable for planting in spring. If the onion is damaged, small in size, unripe, then it is used first.

Before choosing a place for onions, it should be borne in mind that it must be dry and the container must be well ventilated. The bow will be well preserved in the mezzanine under the ceiling, in a separate drawer of the closet or pantry.

There are several types of containers most suitable for storing onions:

1. Wicker baskets.

This is considered the best option for storing onions for the winter. They are well ventilated, made of natural materials, and have a beautiful aesthetic appearance. Even if one or more of the bulbs rot, they can be easily removed from the basket. Most often, the Yalta onion is stored in this way. It will remain until next year's harvest.

2. Not too deep boxes made of wood or plastic.

This container is well ventilated. Drawers help save space by stacking them on top of each other. The height of the boxes should not exceed 35 cm. They should have openings for good air permeability.

3. Cardboard boxes.

This method of storing onions is only suitable if ventilation holes are made in them.

4. Tights, stockings.

This old proven method is well suited for those who have a pantry in the apartment, since hanging a bow in pantyhose in the kitchen is not entirely aesthetically pleasing.

5. Bags made of cloth or paper.

This container is also highly breathable. But in this case, it must be borne in mind that the onion layer should not be more than 30 cm.

6. Polypropylene mesh for vegetables.

This container is well ventilated and provides good visibility. If any of the bulbs rot or deteriorate, it will be immediately noticeable.

7. Braids.

You can store onions in beautiful plaits in the kitchen. It will look original and cleanse the room from pathogenic bacteria in winter.

In order for the vegetable to be better preserved, you can sprinkle it with chalk (200 g of chalk per 10 kg of onion). This will help remove excess moisture and prevent the bulbs from rotting or sprouting.

For the same purpose, liming can be carried out. To do this, cut off the overgrown roots of the bulbs and process them with a special lime paste. But it should be borne in mind that these plants cannot be germinated in the spring for greenery.

Twice or three times throughout the winter, it will be necessary to completely sort out and revise the entire onion. If some of the onions are damp, then they must be dried again. This can be done in a preheated oven at the lowest temperature. Then turn it off and dry the vegetable with the doors open.

Do not store the vegetable in plastic bags. This material does not allow air to pass through and will prevent the onion from breathing. As a result, the plants will fog up and start to rot. In addition, the refrigerator is not the most suitable place for storage. In conditions of high humidity and poor air circulation, onions will rot rather quickly. Onions store well in the dark, and regular exposure to light will negatively affect the taste of the vegetable. It should be borne in mind that onions should not be stored next to potatoes.

Rules for storing Crimean onions at home

The Yalta variety differs from other species in shape, color and taste. Crimean onions are flattened with wide layers of sweet taste and a distinctive feature of deep purple color. Choose the following varieties for storage:

Crimson ball, rounded bulbs, sweet taste, intended for fresh consumption.
Greatful, root vegetables of the same shape and size. A late-ripening vegetable with a long shelf life.
Black prince is a late variety, bulbs have a spicy sweet taste and can withstand a long shelf life.
Crimean (Yalta) is the most popular variety. A flattened onion with sweet and juicy pulp, it is consumed fresh.

Have you tried storing onions in braids?

Not really

To properly store onions in an apartment or house, maintain:

temperature regime within 8-15 degrees;
humidity not more than 40-50%.

After harvesting, tie the Yalta onion bulbs together using long shoots, without cutting off the neck. Keep the bundle hanging so that the fruits do not touch each other. The shelf life of the vegetable is 4-6 months.

Watch a useful video on how to weave a pigtail

h2> How do I prepare onions for storage?

The preparation of onions for storage begins from the moment they are harvested.

Onions are harvested 90-120 days after planting (harvest time depends on the variety). As a rule, onions are harvested in August. By this time, the leaves begin to turn yellow and lie down, the bulbs are poured, and the necks become thin.

It is advisable to harvest onions in dry weather as follows: the bulbs are dripped in so as not to injure the bottom, and they are carefully folded. It is not recommended to pull out bulbs, throw them, knock on the ground. This will damage them and shorten their shelf life.

How to dry onions after harvesting?

Storing onions is much more effective after thorough drying. For this, the bulbs together with the leaves laid out in a thin layer in the fresh air. If weather conditions do not allow the onion to be dried in this way, then it is laid out on the floor or on shelves in the yard (under a cover), on a veranda or balcony.

There are other drying methods. You can tie the bulbs into small bunches and hang them outdoors under a canopy or indoors in a draft. If you live in a comfortable apartment and have a small harvest, then you can dry the onions in the oven. To do this, heat the oven to the minimum temperature, periodically turning it on and off.

It is important that the onion does not dry out and that the covering scales do not crack.

After the onion has dried, it must be trimmed. For this, it is more convenient to use scissors. Cut dry leaves so that a neck 4-6 cm long and roots remain, without touching the bottom of the bulb.

The surface of the bulbs is slightly cleaned of soil and upper cracked scales.

Then the onion is dried for two weeks, stirring it regularly.

For storage, onions are carefully sorted, selecting strong, healthy bulbs with no damage or sprouts with dry closed necks. This is the preparation of the onion for storage.

By the way, the methods of storing leeks and onions are fundamentally different from each other. Although, what is there to be surprised? .. They are also outwardly completely different.

Onion keeping ability

It should be noted that not all varieties of onions are stored equally well. It is advisable to leave for storage late, as well as sharp varieties of onions, which are distinguished by high keeping quality.

Keeping capacity also directly depends on the degree of ripening of the bulbs, so harvest the crop in a timely manner.

Yalta onion -
one of the famous varieties of sweet onions, which is grown exclusively in the Crimea. A feature of this variety is its unsatisfactory keeping quality. The storage period for Yalta (or Crimean) onions is only 120 days, after which they begin to sprout. Therefore, it is not suitable for long-term storage. However, subject to the cultivation technology, the timing of harvesting and proper storage, the Crimean onion can still be preserved.

Of course, Crimeans know how to store Yalta onions best of all. It is not for nothing that they sell it in the form of beautiful bundles. Therefore, if you managed to purchase a bundle of sweet Crimean onions, then store it in this form, hanging it from the bar in the kitchen or in the pantry.