Onions and garlic are staple ingredients of many tasty dinner recipes, but it can be frustrating when they begin going mouldy and mushy before their expiration date. 

It may seem like common sense to place all your vegetables in the fridge, especially in summer as the weather gets warmer, but it is actually one of the worst places to store onions and garlic.

Keeping onions in the fridge causes them to be exposed to moisture and cold, which will convert the starch in an onion into sugar resulting in them becoming soft and spoiled. 

Garlic should also not be stored in the fridge as the cold temperature can cause it to begin sprouting, resulting in a flavourless and rubbery vegetable. 

Instead, Amy Myrdal Miller, a culinary specialist from Fruits and Veggies, has shared that the best place to keep onions and garlic is a dry place in the kitchen such as a cupboard or drawer.

Amy said: “Onions and garlic are also best stored in cool, dark environments, but it’s also important the storage place is also a dry environment.” 

According to Amy, onions and garlic are “cured” before being sold in supermarkets which removes moisture from the outer layer so they do not need to be stored in a fridge. 

You can keep onions and garlic on your countertop if you would prefer but make sure to keep them away from sunlight as it can cause them to sprout and become tasteless. 

It is also important to keep onions and garlic away from hot temperatures so do not store them next to a stove or oven, but also make sure to keep them far away from a fruit bowl. 

Amy said: “Don’t store them near or with fresh fruit for the same reason you don’t want to store potatoes near fresh fruit. The ethylene can cause the onions and garlic to sprout.”

Many fruits produce a natural substance called ethylene gas, which is a growth hormone that causes it to ripen and become delicious. 

However, if too much fruit is stored together the ethylene gas being released will cause nearby fruit and vegetables to ripen too quickly and lead to them spoiling. 

It is also not recommended to store onions and garlic near potatoes as they release a lot of moisture and the potatoes can also absorb the strong pungent smell of these vegetables. 

Amy said: “While onions and garlic pair well with potatoes from a flavour perspective, storing them together can cause your potatoes to take on the flavours of onions and garlic, which may not be desirable depending on what you’re making with the potatoes.”

The key to keeping both onions and garlic fresh is to keep them away from extreme temperatures, moisture and sunlight which is why it is often easier to keep them in a cupboard or drawer. 

Make sure to also take onions and garlic out of any plastic packaging or netting as moisture can easily build up and cause rotting. Instead, store them in a paper bag or basket as it will encourage air circulation to keep them dry.

When stored properly, garlic and onions can last between two to five months, which can help you cut down on your food waste and help you save money by ensuring you always have some fresh tasty vegetables on hand.