Potato & Onion Storage in a Small Kitchen

Bags

• You can hang bags made from burlap, cotton or linen with drawstring tops and zipper or drawstring openings near the bottom. You can purchase them in sizes that hold various amounts of potatoes or onions or sew your own in sizes of your choice. You can hang them from doorknobs and cabinet pulls or use dedicated wall hooks or nails. The bags can be plain or made of decorative printed fabric, but use machine washable material sturdy enough to hold the weight of the vegetables. Disposable vegetable storage bags with tiny perforations for air circulation also work, though they don't last long.

Baskets

• Stacking wicker baskets that fit into unused kitchen corners make good containers for potatoes and onions. If you have a bit more available room, consider a unit with shelves that hold pull-out baskets stacked on top of each other. In kitchens with minimal counter space, securely attach individual wicker baskets to walls and fill them with potatoes and onions. Bamboo steamer baskets make another good storage bin for potatoes and onions.

Bins and Crates

• You can stack bins made from lightweight wood or plastic on counters or tuck them in a corner as long as they have vents or holes in them for air circulation. Slatted crates can be hung on walls or stacked in tight spaces to hold potatoes and onions.

Cabinet and Trolley Storage

• You can transform a lower cabinet into a vegetable storage bin by removing the door and installing a tiered rack with pull-out wire or wicker drawers, available at storage specialty outlets. Three-story trolleys sold at office supply and hardware stores provide good air circulation for potatoes and onions and can be rolled out of the way for convenience.

Tips and Hints

• Whatever storage option you choose, make sure to keep potatoes and onions in a dry, dark area of the kitchen. Even under the best storage conditions, potatoes and onions occasionally sprout, deteriorating the quality. Purchase only enough potatoes and onions for a week’s consumption to avoid waste.