How To Store Onions Using Pantyhose. This is a great and cheap way to store onions to make them last for months. Follow these step by step instructions!
Pantyhose is a funny word. Does anyone still use the word? I usually call them tights or stockings. But I decided to go brave and use the word pantyhose in the title.
Pantyhose is great for making your legs look good. They’re also great for storing onions. Who knew, right? In my search for the perfect way to store onions many recommendations are often given for mesh bags. I never have mesh bags though and I don’t want to buy any, so I got to thinking…. mesh makes things breathe easier, but what else does? Pantyhose!
How to Store Onions
Pantyhose is usually made of nylon making your legs able to breathe through them. Substitute your legs with onions and now you got some onions that can breathe too!
So let’s get to how to store your onions, alright?
We grow a bunch of onions with 2 harvesting dates through the year, once in the Spring/Summer for our onion sets and once in the late Fall. Recently we picked our onions for the Season and wanted to store them to last as long they can possibly can.
How To Store Onions Using Pantyhose
First, pick your onions and let them dry. We separate them so they aren’t touching and let them dry on the roof for a few days. If you let them dry outside, make sure you check the weather so that it will not rain. Moisture is your worst enemy when drying and storing onions so the point is to dry them.
After they have dried in the sun for a few days, use your hand to gently brush off any dirt on them. This will help make sure nothing is left on them that will make them spoil. Now, bring them indoors.
Next you want to cut the stem to about 1 inch for each onion.
Now grab your pair of pantyhose and cut them apart so you have both legs separately. Now you want to start dropping the onions into them.
It’s best if you tie each large onion apart so no onions are touching each other. This will prevent them from spoiling one another if one goes bad. It also will allow you to take one onion out a time, as you will cut one out. You can see in this picture how we tied them to separate them. For smaller onions, we put them together as we know we’ll be using a bunch at once.
Now store them in a cool, dry, dark place.
You can cut your pantyhose as much as you want to give you as much onion storage as possible. This is only using one pair of pantyhose but we cut them up into 3 pieces.
And there you have it, a easy and great way to store your onions to last you for months!
How To Store Onions Using Pantyhose. This is a great and cheap way to store onions to make them last for months. Follow these step by step instructions!
First, pick your onions and let them dry. We separate them so they aren’t touching and let them dry on the roof for a few days. If you let them dry outside, make sure you check the weather so that it will not rain. Moisture is your worst enemy when drying and storing onions so the point is to dry them.
After they have dried in the sun for a few days, use your hand to gently brush off any dirt on them. This will help make sure nothing is left on them that will make them spoil. Now, bring them indoors.
Next you want to cut the stem to about 1 inch for each onion.
Now grab your pair of pantyhose and cut them apart so you have both legs separately. Now you want to store dropping the onions into them. It’s best if you tie each large onion apart so no onions are touching each other. This will prevent them from spoiling one another if one goes bad. It also will allow you to take one onion out a time, as you will cut one out.
And there you have it, a easy and great way to store your onions to last you for months!
Trying to implement this wonderful hack but wondering how you actually hang the stockings and keep them from ripping from the weight of the onions. Would appreciate any advice!
Couldn’t you just tie a bundle of onions together by the dried tops and hang them in a corner. Or if using a pantyhose, use potato chip clamps that snap shut on one end, between each set of onions you are separating so you can not damage the pantyhose so you can reuse them next year. That is the frugal nut inside of me sneaking out. Love your ideas.
You can also buy onion sleeves from Dixoondale Farms. They are $1.50 each for a 15 ft. or so sleeve. I use small plastic zip ties between each onion. When you need an onion, simply cut the bottom zip ties & remove the onion. Save the empty sleeves & use them over for the next year. My Candy onions will usually last in these sleeves hung in my basement from July to March or April.
1) No, I don’t call them pantyhose. Tights. Leggins. Not pantyhose. I feel gross even typing it!
2) I am so happy to have found this tip! I constantly throw onions away because I buy them but don’t store them properly. Now I know! Yay!! No more yucky onions!!!!
Pantyhose … LOL! Makes me giggle everytime. I cant use the word with any seriousness at all, so stick with stockings and leggings. This is a really great idea Pamela, I have a bunch of them I dont enjoy wearing, reckon this is the perfect use for them. Plus, I think they look really cool too, an onion feature. 🙂
Hey Jamie, you could always plant over the Winter and then just pick them in the late Spring. To do this you’ll need to protect with a greenhouse or cover them with mulch to lock in warmness. Last year we had pretty good success growing them over Winter and we had a harsh few months!
“Substitute your legs with onions” – cracked me up!
We grow a lot of onions, and I never wear any sort of hose, so we have to make do with saved onion bags from those months we do have to buy them. This is a great idea to keep them separated though, because they do go bad much more quickly if they are touching another bad one. Easily led astray I guess…
We used to grow onions and garlic when we had our farm – I wish I’d had this idea then!! I’m still going to use it with my store-bought onions… hopefully this will eliminate finding any ‘squishy’ ones! (Just thought of something… Up on the Roof you don’t have to worry about those damn woodchucks!)
What a great kitchen hack (that’s a funny word, to!) I adore onions, and this seems like a very sensible solution for storing them, thanks. They kind of look like modern art sculptures hanging there, too!
Wesley Bielinski says
If you would use a binder clip instead of tying them you could reuse the pantyhose, less plastic waste.
Linda Turner says
I just joined.
Allie says
Trying to implement this wonderful hack but wondering how you actually hang the stockings and keep them from ripping from the weight of the onions. Would appreciate any advice!
Rosalie says
Couldn’t you just tie a bundle of onions together by the dried tops and hang them in a corner. Or if using a pantyhose, use potato chip clamps that snap shut on one end, between each set of onions you are separating so you can not damage the pantyhose so you can reuse them next year. That is the frugal nut inside of me sneaking out. Love your ideas.
Rick Ruehmann says
You can also buy onion sleeves from Dixoondale Farms. They are $1.50 each for a 15 ft. or so sleeve. I use small plastic zip ties between each onion. When you need an onion, simply cut the bottom zip ties & remove the onion. Save the empty sleeves & use them over for the next year. My Candy onions will usually last in these sleeves hung in my basement from July to March or April.
Pamela says
Thanks for the comment Rick, those are great ideas!
Ruth D says
Lucky me, I no longer have to wear pantyhose for work…. so they are going to my Vidalias!
Pamela says
Hahaha, I love it!
Gretchen @ Two Healthy Kitchens says
1) No, I don’t call them pantyhose. Tights. Leggins. Not pantyhose. I feel gross even typing it!
2) I am so happy to have found this tip! I constantly throw onions away because I buy them but don’t store them properly. Now I know! Yay!! No more yucky onions!!!!
PassTheKnife says
This is too funny, and a great idea!!
Anna Johnston says
Pantyhose … LOL! Makes me giggle everytime. I cant use the word with any seriousness at all, so stick with stockings and leggings. This is a really great idea Pamela, I have a bunch of them I dont enjoy wearing, reckon this is the perfect use for them. Plus, I think they look really cool too, an onion feature. 🙂
Jamie | Jamie's Recipes says
Love this!
Am I too late to do Fall onions?
Pamela says
Hey Jamie, you could always plant over the Winter and then just pick them in the late Spring. To do this you’ll need to protect with a greenhouse or cover them with mulch to lock in warmness. Last year we had pretty good success growing them over Winter and we had a harsh few months!
Jamie | Jamie's Recipes says
Thanks Pamela!
Nancy/SpicieFoodie says
This is such a brilliant idea and article — thanks so much for sharing. The kitty’s are too cute!:)
Koko says
This is such a hilarious, but good idea!! So smart!!
Suzanne says
Great idea Pamela, hate to wear pantyhose have a bunch of unused pairs now I have a use for them. Very cool.
Mary Frances says
Pantyhose for storing onions??? Who knew?
cheri says
Brilliant idea Pamela! great post.
Sam @ SugarspunRun says
What a neat idea! Thanks for sharing! 🙂
Donalyn@TheCreeksideCook says
“Substitute your legs with onions” – cracked me up!
We grow a lot of onions, and I never wear any sort of hose, so we have to make do with saved onion bags from those months we do have to buy them. This is a great idea to keep them separated though, because they do go bad much more quickly if they are touching another bad one. Easily led astray I guess…
Shashi @ runninsrilankan says
Pamela – you are a genius – I would never have thunk to use pantyhose to store onions!
Cecile @ My Yellow Farmhouse says
We used to grow onions and garlic when we had our farm – I wish I’d had this idea then!! I’m still going to use it with my store-bought onions… hopefully this will eliminate finding any ‘squishy’ ones! (Just thought of something… Up on the Roof you don’t have to worry about those damn woodchucks!)
Kristi @ Inspiration Kitchen says
Great post, and I loved the title! It definitely got my attention! 🙂
Christine at Cook the Story says
Awesome idea!
Marta @ What should I eat for breakfast today says
Awesome idea!
Angie@Angie's Recipes says
That’s a very helpful tip, Pamela.
Ashley @ Wishes and Dishes says
This is so amazing!! I have to say – the title definitely had me intrigued LOL
Liz says
This is such a terrific tip! I need to keep a closer eye on my onions as there always seems to be one escaping my vision that starts to spoil! Thanks!
Kayle (The Cooking Actress) says
SO GENIUS!
sue/the view from great island says
What a great kitchen hack (that’s a funny word, to!) I adore onions, and this seems like a very sensible solution for storing them, thanks. They kind of look like modern art sculptures hanging there, too!
Gayle @ Pumpkin 'N Spice says
What a great post, Pamela! I had no idea that you could store onions using pantyhose. I’m definitely going to have to remember this for the future!
Katie says
Great idea!
Although I HATE pantyhose themselves with a passion and the word as well. I may make an exception and buy them, if my onions are successful.