Stop Storing Onions This Way—Use These Clever Solutions Instead

You’d be hard-pressed to find a savory recipe that doesn’t use onions. Because of that, you likely always have a few (or a lot) on hand to grab at a moment's notice. However, there’s little worse than getting ready to make a recipe, only to find that your onions look a little…worse for wear. 

The thing about this flavorful vegetable is that storing it is finicky. The same can be said for other alliums, like garlic or shallots. Put them in the wrong environment like a sunny spot or your refrigerator and they won’t last more than a few days. But, when stored the right way in cool, dry, dark places (think pantries, cellars, and more), they can last for months. The container matters just as much: a breathable wire basket is essential to prevent moisture and gas from building up, which causes early spoiling, while airtight food saver bags and similar tools preserve the freshness of a partly used onion to further reduce food waste. Plus, they don’t absorb smells and are easy to clean if you need to. That’s why we rounded up all of the onion storage solutions to shop, starting at just $7, so you can start storing your onions the right way. 

Best Onion Storage Solutions at Amazon

• Get Oval Wire Basket, $10 
• Joie Onion Food Saver Stretch Pod, $7, was $8
• Spectrum Twist Wire Basket with Handles, $19 
• Ggiu 2-Piece Stackable Wire Storage Basket Set, $26 with coupon, was $36
• Chloryard 4-Tier Rolling Basket with Wooden Lids, $38

Get Oval Wire Basket

This basket is very similar to the one I use. It should be stashed at room temperature on a cool, sun-free part of your counter, or, if it’s summer, in a pantry cabinet. I don’t keep a ton of onions on hand, so this 12 by 8.25-inch basket is perfect for my needs. The oval shape helps maximize the smaller footprint since it fits the round shapes of onions, garlic bulbs, and shallots more easily. The shape also means that it takes up less space in my pantry or on my counter. Most importantly, the wire materials allow for breathability all around, which helps maintain that breathable environment alliums need. 

Joie Onion Food Saver Stretch Pod

Sometimes, you don’t need to use a whole onion. That’s where nifty storage options like this stretch pod come in. Keeping cut onions in your wire basket will cause them to spoil, so a dedicated food storage container like this one, which holds all of the moisture and smells in, is the perfect solution. It has a plastic base with a lid that’s fitted with a silicone insert to keep it airtight. Just pop the onion in flat side down, cover it, et voilà—you have a smell-free, space-saving way to save the extra half. If you prefer to use something a little more versatile, you can always grab a set of editor-loved Stasher bags, such as these ones, which have enough space and are fully sealable and reusable. 

Spectrum Twist Wire Basket with Handles

This standard basket is great if you want a little more space to store everything from yellow and red onions to shallots and garlic bulbs. The bottom has a classic lattice-like wire base to keep everything in, with a different wire pattern on the sides to add design intrigue. It measures 7.25 by 10 by 5.24 inches, so it’s an ideal in-between size, and the handles make it easy to remove or carry as you refill it and clean it out.

Ggiu 2-Piece Stackable Wire Storage Basket Set

This stackable option is excellent if you want to separate your ingredients. Alliums can be stored together, but it can be easier to keep them in their own spaces if you tend to buy them in bulk. The entire basket is made from wire and measures around 11 by 9 by 8 by 9 inches sans the lid, with a wider back that narrows slightly in the front. What I love about these baskets is that they have a cutout in the front that makes it easy to grab an onion without unstacking the bins. The functional wooden lids add a chic touch to your kitchen, too. 

Chloryard 4-Tier Rolling Basket with Wooden Lids

If you’re storing your alliums in bulk (or looking for a separate solution for other produce), opt for something like this rolling tiered basket. Because of its generous space, it’s ideal for folks who grow their own alliums or prefer to buy them wholesale. Use any of the three baskets to separate each variety for the best long-term storage results. The table on top lets you maximize the storage space too for supplies, tools, and more. I appreciate how much space there is between the baskets, making it easy to grab each ingredient quickly when you need it. 

Shop More Onion Storage Options: 

Stasher Stand-Up Medium Silicone Reusable Storage Bag

Caxxa Countertop Wire Basket

X-Cosrack 3-Tier Stackable Wire Basket

LeleCat 2-Piece White Wire Basket Set