Potatoes, onions and garlic.
Most people have potatoes, onions and garlic in their kitchens, but do not always store them in the best way. It is important to store them properly to keep them fresh and maintain their flavor for as long as possible, and reduce waste. It is a simple process and does not require you to spend money on fancy kitchen storage equipment.
Instructions
Storing Potatoes
1. Healthy potatoes are smooth and even in color.
Check your potatoes for damage and rot; use any that show early signs of rot first to prevent it spreading to the rest of your potatoes.
2. Temperature is key to potato storage.
Store potatoes above 40 degrees Fahrenheit to stop their starch turning into sugars, which results in a sweet taste. The ideal temperature is between 40 and 50 degrees Fahrenheit.
3. Store potatoes in a dark place in paper or hessian sacks; leave the sack necks open to release excess moisture. Never use plastic bags.
4. Empty out bags that have been storing potatoes for a month or so. Check them for rot and look for slugs. If any potatoes have small green patches it is safe to cut the green parts off, but you must use them straight away.
Storing Onions
5. Onions keep for months if stored properly.
Remove shoots and dry skin from your onions. Yellow onions store best; if you have white, purple or brown onions in storage, use them sooner.
6. Place the onions into the feet of new or washed, used pantyhose, tying a knot above each whole onion. Alternatively, a mesh bag works just as well.
7. Hang the pantyhose or bag in a cool, dry, well-ventilated place. A closet or cellar with a temperature of 40 to 45 degrees Fahrenheit is ideal. To release an onion from the pantyhose, simply cut the hose with scissors right under the bottom knot.
8. Keep onions away from potatoes, as the onions will absorb moisture from them.
9. Refrigerate a cut onion.
Wrap a cut onion in plastic wrap and store it in the refrigerator until you need to use the rest of it. It will keep for up to four days. Never keep whole onions in the refrigerator because it gives them too much moisture.
Storing Garlic
10. Check that garlic looks healthy before you buy it.
Buy good quality garlic that is firm with lots of dry, papery outer layers and no sprouting. The better it is, the longer it will last in storage.
11. Store garlic in a cool place, away from direct sunlight.
12. Allow your garlic to breathe by investing in a garlic holder that contains holes to let air circulate. A small sized holder stores three bulbs.
13. Keep garlic out of the refrigerator, as refrigerated garlic is likely to go soft and moldy. The same will happen if garlic is stored in a sealed plastic container.
Tags: degrees Fahrenheit, away from, onions garlic, potatoes onions, storage Store
