Potato and Onion storage solutions
July 22, 2020 11:46 AM Subscribe
I need a better storage method than I have right now for extending the eatability of potatoes, sweet potatoes, onions and garlic.
Right now, things sit in big open bowls on top of a long console table. Since cool and dark are ideal conditions (we've got the cool-because I'm spending my life savings on air-conditioning during WFH), I was thinking of buying woven baskets (is airflow important?) with lids to place under the console table.
The space is 44 inches long, 21 inches high and 13 inches deep.
Is this a good plan? Do you have a better storage container idea? Do you have specific container recommendations?
I realize that storing potatoes in my cellar (which I do not have) is best, but under my long console table IS THE location.
Right now, things sit in big open bowls on top of a long console table. Since cool and dark are ideal conditions (we've got the cool-because I'm spending my life savings on air-conditioning during WFH), I was thinking of buying woven baskets (is airflow important?) with lids to place under the console table.
The space is 44 inches long, 21 inches high and 13 inches deep.
Is this a good plan? Do you have a better storage container idea? Do you have specific container recommendations?
I realize that storing potatoes in my cellar (which I do not have) is best, but under my long console table IS THE location.
Response by poster: Sadly, no. This is the location.
posted by atomicstone at 11:52 AM on July 22, 2020
posted by atomicstone at 11:52 AM on July 22, 2020
I buy potatoes in sturdy paper bags with mesh vent and save the bags because they work well. Potatoes are in with my largest pots, because, there was room and it's dark. Onions are in a wooden bowl on the counter in a corner. I hang on to some of the papery onion skins because my Mom said it helped them stay fresh. I also save the garlic skins, garlic is in a bowl in the dark herb and spice shelf.
Sweet potatoes - fridge or they go moldy pretty quickly.
posted by theora55 at 12:11 PM on July 22, 2020
Sweet potatoes - fridge or they go moldy pretty quickly.
posted by theora55 at 12:11 PM on July 22, 2020
As long as you keep the potatoes and onions separate you should be good - onions offgas and rot potatoes before their time.
Could you use covered wooden boxes? I think that woven fibre might hold any dirt or rotten bits. But maybe you eat your stuff at a better clip than I do.
Agreed that sweet potatoes need to be refrigerated.
posted by Lawn Beaver at 12:20 PM on July 22, 2020 [2 favorites]
Could you use covered wooden boxes? I think that woven fibre might hold any dirt or rotten bits. But maybe you eat your stuff at a better clip than I do.
Agreed that sweet potatoes need to be refrigerated.
posted by Lawn Beaver at 12:20 PM on July 22, 2020 [2 favorites]
For a comprehensive answer, Carol Deppe wrote The Resilient Gardener. In it, she talks about potatoes as a staple crop. She stores over a half ton of potatoes each winter for personal use.
posted by aniola at 12:46 PM on July 22, 2020 [3 favorites]
posted by aniola at 12:46 PM on July 22, 2020 [3 favorites]
Storing potatoes and onions in (separate) ceramic pots is supposed to be a good idea. For me, it works quite well with onions and garlic, not so much with potatoes, maybe because my house is too warm. I keep my potatoes in the crisper drawer and don't buy too many at a time, but they can easily keep a week, sometimes two.
posted by mumimor at 1:30 PM on July 22, 2020
posted by mumimor at 1:30 PM on July 22, 2020
I don’t know how you feel about freezing things, but I started freezing garlic cloves this year and I am surprised at how well it works. I’ve been peeling them and putting them in a freezer container - I just grab some when I need them and they are easy to dice even when frozen. Best garlic decision I’ve made in a long time.
posted by heurtebise at 5:42 PM on July 22, 2020 [3 favorites]
posted by heurtebise at 5:42 PM on July 22, 2020 [3 favorites]
People say you shouldn’t keep potatoes in the refrigerator, but I had an... incident... so I tried it recently and I’m never going back.
posted by kpmcguire at 8:07 PM on July 22, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by kpmcguire at 8:07 PM on July 22, 2020 [1 favorite]
Somewhere on here I read that dark was more important than temperature for potatoes. My potatoes typically live on a shelf in the mudroom, as kitchen/pantry space is too limited. I started putting the potatoes in a paper grocery bag, and it's definitely extended their life, even during summer when the mudroom stays in the 80s. While the paper bag isn't very visually appealing, it did have the advantage of being both cheap and easy to try. And as my potato supply ebbs and flows, it's easy to get another bag or fold the bag smaller as needed.
posted by csox at 7:21 AM on July 23, 2020
posted by csox at 7:21 AM on July 23, 2020
Paper bag inside a woven basket would work well I think. Catch the dirt, but still look nice under your table.
posted by freethefeet at 12:59 PM on July 23, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by freethefeet at 12:59 PM on July 23, 2020 [1 favorite]
For garlic and onions, I bought a cheap bamboo steamer basket on Amazon. Catches the papery bits, looks decent, has enough airflow that I haven't had to deal with them rotting.
posted by JDHarper at 5:42 PM on July 23, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by JDHarper at 5:42 PM on July 23, 2020 [1 favorite]
My uncle who knew his way around a kitchen stored potatoes and onions separately in terracotta pots.
posted by Majorita at 6:50 PM on July 23, 2020
posted by Majorita at 6:50 PM on July 23, 2020
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by homodachi at 11:49 AM on July 22, 2020 [2 favorites]