The journal
Why you should store potatoes separately from onions
A clear reason to keep potatoes and onions apart, with practical storage steps for each so they last better in ordinary home kitchens.
Store potatoes separately from onions. Cooperative extension guidance explicitly advises against storing them together, and the two crops prefer different storage conditions. Keeping them apart helps avoid sprouting triggers and lets you give each the airflow and environment it needs (Clemson Extension food storage guidance; Iowa State Extension on storing potatoes and onions).
Why separation matters
What extensions recommend
Clemson Extension’s pantry guidance is direct: do not store potatoes and onions together (Clemson Extension food storage guidance).
Different conditions for each crop
For long-term storage, Iowa State notes that potatoes do best in the dark with relatively high humidity, while onions keep best in cooler, drier air with strong ventilation (Iowa State Extension on storing potatoes and onions). In everyday pantries you won’t match cellar targets precisely, but separating them lets you keep potatoes in darker, slightly more humid spots and onions where the air is drier.
About ethylene and nearby produce
Potatoes are sensitive to ethylene from ripening fruit. Iowa State specifically advises not storing potatoes with apples or other ripening fruit because ethylene can promote sprouting (Iowa State Extension on storing potatoes and onions). Keeping potatoes away from ethylene sources and away from onions follows the spirit of this guidance.
How to store potatoes at home
Pick the right place
Choose a cool, dark spot with some airflow. Darkness helps prevent greening, and cooler temperatures slow sprouting. Avoid placing potatoes next to ovens or heating ducts; warm areas shorten storage life (Iowa State Extension on storing potatoes and onions; Clemson Extension food storage guidance).
Mind the temperature
Don’t refrigerate raw potatoes for extended periods; at temperatures below about 40°F they can develop a sweet taste as starches convert to sugars (Iowa State Extension on storing potatoes and onions). If your storage area is warm, expect faster sprouting and buy smaller quantities more often.
Airflow and routine
Use a ventilated bin or basket so air can circulate, and keep potatoes on their own shelf or container away from onions. Check periodically and use a first-in, first-out habit to reduce waste (Clemson Extension food storage guidance).
How to store onions
Keep them cool, dry and ventilated
Whole dry onions keep best in a cool, moderately dry place with good airflow. After curing, Iowa State suggests mesh bags, wire baskets, or crates that allow air to move freely around bulbs (Iowa State Extension on storing potatoes and onions).
Practical separation
Place onions in a different container or on a different shelf from potatoes as Clemson recommends. Avoid hot spots near appliances; warm, humid areas shorten quality for pantry foods (Clemson Extension food storage guidance).
Common mistakes and easy fixes
Mistakes that speed spoilage
- Keeping potatoes and onions together in the same bin or drawer (Clemson Extension food storage guidance).
- Storing produce near ovens, heating ducts, or other warm, humid areas that reduce pantry storage quality (Clemson Extension food storage guidance).
- Leaving potatoes in bright light, which encourages greening (Iowa State Extension on storing potatoes and onions).
Quick fixes that help right away
- Separate now: put potatoes and onions in different, ventilated containers.
- Relocate both away from heat and direct sun; give potatoes the darker spot.
- Adopt first-in, first-out and check weekly, using older items first (Clemson Extension food storage guidance).
Pantry setup checklist: keep potatoes and onions apart
Short FAQ
Do I need a root cellar to do this right?
No. A simple, cool, dark cabinet or pantry with some airflow works. For reference, long-term cellar targets are cooler and more controlled, but the same principles apply at home: dark for potatoes; drier air and ventilation for onions (Iowa State Extension on storing potatoes and onions).
Can I refrigerate raw potatoes?
Not for long-term storage. Below about 40°F, potatoes can taste sweet due to starches converting to sugars (Iowa State Extension on storing potatoes and onions).
