Expert's 'proper' way to store onions - so they last more than three months

We've all been there – you're ready to whip up a home-cooked feast, only to find the fresh produce you recently bought is already turning bad.

But fear not, as an expert reveals that onions, a kitchen essential, can last up to three months or more if stored correctly. Contrary to common practice, chucking your onions in the fridge might actually be making them go off quicker.

Onions, like their other allium cousins, should steer clear of the cold, as chilly temps speed up the starch-to-sugar conversion. Cooking expert and Little House Living founder Melissa has advised: "While whole onions can be stored in a fridge, it is not recommended. That is because whole raw onions absorb moisture quickly and can turn softer in the fridge."

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Instead, she's dishing out top tips for keeping both whole and chopped onions fresh. For whole onions, your best bet is a drawer or cupboard, and while the countertop is fine, dodge direct sunlight.

Melissa adds: "Store your onions in a dry [spot] where moisture cannot seep through to keep them from spoiling or rotting. Avoid storing onions in areas such as under the sink or in the basement, where it is humid."

She detailed that storing onions in overly hot conditions could cause them to dry out and sprout, leading to rot and spoilage. Similarly, if onions become too cold, they can turn moist, lose their firmness and become mouldy. Melissa also recommends removing vegetables from the original plastic packaging typically used in supermarkets and storing them in a place with good airflow. They can be kept in a mesh or paper bag.

Melissa stated: "Plastic bags will invite a great deal of moisture and make the onions rot faster than you want them to." According to the expert, peeled onions stored correctly can last up to 10 days in the fridge, while unpeeled onions could last up to 14 days. Melissa insists they should "always " be stored in the fridge.

Onion pieces should be kept in a container to prevent exposure to ethylene gas, which can accelerate the ripening process. Melissa added: "Sliced, chopped, and cooked onions should always be stored in the fridge. These types of onions are not suitable for pantries and will rot quickly outside your fridge.

"Half-cut onions should be wrapped tightly in cling film or plastic wrap and then put into an airtight container, while chopped onions should be put in a plastic zipper bag."