Keep it cool, dark and dry

You probably already know to store onions in a cool, dark, dry place. Moisture is one of the biggest reasons onions go bad. Hanging them in a mesh bag will help them breathe. Ideally, place one onion in the bag, then tie off the space with a twist tie. Insert another onion and repeat. This keeps the onions from touching each other and allows any moisture to evaporate. You can also use pantyhose if you don’t have a mesh bag.

A wire or woven basket in a pantry or lower cabinet is also a good choice. Although you will need to rotate the onions to ensure they stay dry if you plan to store them for long periods of time.

If you use onions a lot or tend to stock up on them at the farmers market, you may want to consider freezing them. Chop them as fine as you like and spread on a cookie sheet. Freeze for one hour, then transfer to a zipper bag or airtight jar and return to the freezer. That way all the pieces freeze separately and they can be poured out of the bag or jar as needed.

Freezing is also an option

You can also puree the onions and freeze them in ice cube trays. Once the cubes are frozen, they can be stored in a freezer bag or airtight jar.

Whatever you do, don’t do THIS

You may NOT know that you should never store onions in the refrigerator for an extended time as the cold will make them slightly soft.

Onions should also never be stored with potatoes as this accelerates the spoilage of them both.

Don’t use plastic bags either as they hamper air circulation, and make onions sprout and spoil faster.

• The first step in organizing your fridge and freezer is to take inventory and discard out of date items or items you will not likely use.

• Take advantage of adjustable shelves and drawers, found readily in most new appliances. Since many shoppers like to buy the same brands (with the same packaging) over and over again, taking time to set your shelves and drawers accordingly will save you time in the long run.

• Organize food items by size. Doing so will create a function for each shelf and make it much easier to locate your small, hard to see items. Store items in jars or bottles in the refrigerator door and bagged items in the freezer door.

• Look for organizers that maximize shelf space — for example, shelves or dispensers that can be added to existing shelves to maximize the vertical space.

• Keep the most often used items in front for easy access the whole family will appreciate. You may also find that ready-made snacks are helpful to curb your cravings — fresh fruit or veggies that are pre-washed and ready to eat will suddenly seem more enticing!

• Everybody has a small shelf that never seems quite big enough. Put it to use with leftover storage because containers that stack and are similar in shape will maximize the deep, narrow space. Don’t forget to label your items before storing them!

• To combat odors keep an open box of baking soda in the back corner. Vanilla extract will also keep your fridge fresh. Soak a cotton ball or paper towel, put it on a paper plate and wait for it to dry before removing.

• Clean out both your fridge and your freezer once a month. Make it part of your household cleaning routine. Doing so will make it easier to know what you have and what you still need, in addition to keeping the areas clean.