Potatoes and onions are staples in everyone’s pantry, and by following a few tips for proper storage it is possible to keep them fresh for a long period of time.

Remove the ruined ones. Potatoes and onions with ruined skin or any other visible damage are unsuitable for storage. It’s best to set them aside and consume them within 48 hours.

Store them in a dry location. Potatoes and onions are best stored in dry and well-ventilated locations, away from humidity and sunlight. They do not need to be refrigerated. If you don’t have a room in your house with these characteristics, storing them in brown paper bags is a valid alternative.

Check on them regularly. When properly stored, potatoes and onions can stay fresh for several weeks. So check on them often to make sure that no humidity or mould has developed, as one spoiled potato could “infect” the other ones.

Pay attention to green patches and sprouts. When a potato begins turning green and sprouting, it also tends to get softer. If it’s not too withered, cut off the sprouts and spoiled parts and use it as soon as possible. The same applies to onion sprouts.

Keep them away from fruit. Especially from pears, apples and bananas, which secrete a substance (ethylene) that accelerates the ripening time of produce. It’s advisable to always keep onions and potatoes away from these fruits.