Onion & Potato Storage Ideas in the Kitchen (That Actually Keep Them Fresh)

Quick answer: Onions and potatoes should be stored separately, in a cool, dark, open-top container - never in the fridge and never in a sealed airtight container. Mesh baskets and open bamboo or acacia trays and tubs are ideal because they either let air circulate freely through the sides or, at minimum, stay uncovered at the top so moisture doesn't build up, while their natural, opaque materials help keep light out. Little Label Co's bamboo stackable organisers, mesh storage basket, and bamboo and acacia storage tubs all fit the brief.

If you've ever pulled a bag of onions out of the pantry only to find them soft, sprouting, or fused together in a papery clump, the problem usually isn't the vegetables - it's the container. Most Australian kitchens default to whatever's on hand: a fruit bowl, a plastic tub, or the crisper drawer in the fridge. None of these are right for onions and potatoes, and understanding why makes it much easier to choose the right storage.

Why Onions and Potatoes Need Special Storage

Onions and potatoes are both living, breathing vegetables even after harvest. They continue to respire, releasing moisture and (in the case of onions) ethylene gas. That creates three problems if they're stored the wrong way:

• Trapped moisture causes rot. A sealed, airtight container holds in the humidity the vegetables release, which speeds up mould and soft spots.

• Light triggers sprouting and greening. Potatoes exposed to light produce solanine and turn green, which affects flavour and should be trimmed away. Onions exposed to light and warmth sprout faster too.

• Onions and potatoes shouldn't share a container. Onions release ethylene gas as they age, which speeds up potato sprouting. Store them in separate baskets, even if those baskets sit side by side in the same cupboard.

What to Look for in an Onion or Potato Storage Container

1. Ventilation, or at minimum an open top. Mesh or open-weave baskets that let air pass through the sides are best. An open, uncovered tray or tub is the next best option - the key is that nothing traps moisture in with a lid or seal.

2. Opacity. A container that blocks light - rather than clear plastic or glass - helps prevent sprouting and greening. Natural bamboo and acacia are naturally opaque and do this well.

3. A cool, dry, dark location. Under the sink, in a low pantry shelf, or in a cupboard away from the oven and direct sunlight all work well. The fridge does not - cold temperatures convert potato starches to sugar and give them a gritty, overly sweet texture.

4. Separate compartments or baskets. So onions and potatoes (and ideally garlic) each get their own space.

5 Little Label Co Products for Onion & Potato Storage

Here are five Little Label Co products worth considering for onion and potato storage - a mix of fully ventilated mesh and open, opaque bamboo and acacia designs, all without a sealing lid.

1. Bamboo Stackable Organiser Wide

This open-fronted bamboo tray has a wide angled opening that makes it easy to see and grab what you need, and because it's open rather than lidded, air still moves freely around whatever's inside. At 32.5cm × 18cm, its shallower depth makes it a good size for potatoes, which are best kept in a single layer rather than piled deep. It's also stackable, so a second one can sit right on top for onions. Shop the Bamboo Stackable Organiser Wide.

2. Bamboo Stackable Organiser Large

The deeper sibling of the Wide organiser (32.5cm × 34cm), with the same open angled-opening design in natural bamboo. The extra depth suits onions well, and stacking this underneath or alongside the Wide organiser gives onions and potatoes their own dedicated, separate compartments in the same footprint - useful if pantry or under-sink space is tight. Shop the Bamboo Stackable Organiser Large.

3. White Large Handy Storage Basket with Wooden Handle

The most ventilated option on this list: an iron mesh basket with a powder-coated finish and a wooden carry handle. Because air can pass through the mesh on every side, not just the top, this is the best pick if you want maximum airflow around potatoes or onions, or if you need to lift the basket out to check on them without dragging a heavy tray. Shop the White Large Handy Storage Basket with Wooden Handle.

4. Bamboo Storage Tub Large

A solid-sided bamboo tub with cut-out handles for carrying. Its sides don't allow airflow the way mesh does, but it's uncovered at the top, so it still avoids the trapped-moisture problem of a sealed container, and the natural bamboo blocks light well. It suits a pantry shelf or benchtop spot where you want something tidy-looking rather than a wire basket - best paired with more frequent checks for soft spots since airflow is lower. Shop the Bamboo Storage Tub Large.

5. Acacia Large Storage Tub

The same solid, open-top tub design as the Bamboo Storage Tub Large, in richer acacia wood. It's a good choice if the rest of your pantry already uses Little Label Co's acacia range and you want onion and potato storage to match. As with the bamboo tub, the solid sides mean less airflow than the mesh basket or open organisers, so it's best suited to smaller quantities used up within a couple of weeks. Shop the Acacia Large Storage Tub.

Onion & Potato Storage: Quick FAQ

Should onions and potatoes be stored in the fridge? No. Cold temperatures change the starches in potatoes to sugar, affecting texture and flavour, and can make onions go soft and mouldy faster than a cool pantry would.

Can I store onions and potatoes in the same basket? It's best not to. Onions release ethylene gas as they age, which speeds up sprouting in nearby potatoes. Use two separate baskets even if they sit next to each other.

What's the ideal container for potatoes? A ventilated, opaque container - like a mesh storage basket - kept in a cool, dark spot such as a low pantry shelf or under the sink. Avoid clear containers and airtight jars.

How long do onions and potatoes last in proper storage? Stored correctly in a cool, dark, ventilated basket, whole onions typically last 4–6 weeks and potatoes 4–8 weeks, though this varies by variety and how they were cured before purchase.

The Bottom Line

Good onion and potato storage comes down to airflow, darkness, and keeping the two apart. For the most airflow, the White Large Handy Storage Basket with Wooden Handle's iron mesh is hard to beat; for an open, natural-material option that still avoids trapping moisture, the Bamboo Stackable Organisers or the Bamboo and Acacia storage tubs all work well in a cool pantry shelf or under-sink cupboard. And if you want to label each one so everyone in the house knows which holds onions and which holds potatoes, Little Label Co's pantry labels and stickers make that an easy finishing touch.