How to Store Spring Onions to Stay Fresher for Longer

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Want to know the best way to store spring onions? Let me show you how to store spring onions for maximum freshness and minimal food waste.

Food waste is a pet hate of mine. It leads to higher food bills. Plus, it’s bad news for the planet. When food waste ends up in landfill, it releases methane, a powerful greenhouse gas that accelerates climate change. It just makes sense – both financially and environmentally to avoid waste where we possibly can.

When it comes to salad greens, did you know there’s a special technique on how to store spring onions? It’s true, there is a special no-fuss method you can use to keep your spring onions fresher for longer. And there’s no special equipment required, or multiple steps to follow.

First I’ll show you the wrong way – the way I used to store my onions – before showing you my new-found vegetable-storing knowledge. Be ready to be amazed!

The Wrong Way

Bunch of spring onions on a white background with a blue text box that reads how to store spring onions to keep them fresher for longer

When I used to buy or pick spring onions I used to put them straight into the fridge as they were. If I didn’t manage to eat them immediately, they tended to wilt within a couple of days, tops. 

It turns out that putting spring onions straight into the fridge is the very worst way to store spring onions. This is because the cold air of the fridge causes the spring onions to lose a lot of moisture. They quickly dehydrate and wilt, and from there, it’s a one-way trip to the compost bin.

There really is nothing worse than wilted spring onions when you really fancy an omelette (this recipe is my favourite). Or my personal favourite way to serve spring onions – finely chopped and sprinkled on buttered potatoes.

How to Store Spring Onions Correctly

Recently I learned how to store spring onions correctly. There’s no special magic involved – just give them the cut flowers treatment! When you pick or buy your spring onions simply keep them in a glass or vase of water on your kitchen countertop. There’s no need to refrigerate – just keep the water topped up.

Here’s a pictorial representation of my spring onion bouquet – displayed in a charity shop glass find!

spring onions stored in a glass jar of water

Your family and friends might think you’re a bit absurd storing your spring onions in this manner, but you’ll have the last laugh! Your spring onions will stay firm and crunchy for around a week using this method, as opposed to lasting a couple of days in the fridge.

A quick tip, though. As with cut flowers, remember to change your spring onion water when it turns cloudy for optimum freshness.

You can also store celery, asparagus, and other stalk vegetables in this way to help store them longer. Even lettuce can be stored in water like this. I’m pretty sure that soon my kitchen is going to resemble a florist’s workshop!

And did you know you can even regrow your spring onions once you’ve finished with them?! It’s true – no sorcery involved!

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