How to Braid Onions for Long

How to Braid Onions for Easy Storage

Onions are a staple in many kitchens Their versatility allows them to be used in everything from soups and stews to burgers and salads Onions can be purchased year-round, but for the best flavor and nutrition, it’s hard to beat homegrown onions.

If you grow your own onions, you know how important it is to store them right so they last all winter. One fun and effective storage method is braiding. Braiding lets a lot of air flow through, which lowers the risk of rot and mold. Also, the braids make it easy to hang onions and get to them when you need to without having to dig through bags or bins.

Follow these simple steps for braiding your onions:

Choose the Right Onions

If you want to store onions for a long time, choose strong, pungent onions instead of sweet onions, which go bad faster. Pick the onions when the green tops begin to dry out and fall off. When braiding, the tops should be soft but not completely brittle. Select your largest, most uniform onions for braiding.

Prepare the Onions

After you pick the onions, put them somewhere cool and dry for 7 to 10 days to cure or dry. This could be on the fence or mesh in the garden, or it could be on a shed or garage. Once cured but still pliable, they are ready for braiding.

Braiding

Start by crossing two big onions over a third one. Then, wrap kitchen twine around all three onions to keep them together. The three pieces of twine are like the strands you will use to braid.

Add another large onion to the middle then braid the three strands for about three crosses.

Next, add two medium onions, one to each side. Make sure their stalks line up with the existing side stalks.

Braid three times then add a medium onion to the center.

Continue alternating between one center onion and two side onions, always braiding three times between additions.

Work from largest to smallest onions as you braid up.

Finish with a center onion and braid the tops down to the ends. Tie off tightly. For hanging, loop the braid and tie it to itself.

Hang and Store

Hang braids in a cool, dry, dark location like a root cellar or garage. Use hooks to hang braids in your kitchen as needed. Cut onions off the braid as you use them. Stored properly, braided onions can last 6-12 months.

Tips for Braiding Onions

Onion braids will continue to dry. Adjust string tightness as needed.
Keep onion tops untangled as you braid.
Don’t overstuff braids or they may get too heavy.
Use 13 medium onions for a braid or adjust amount based on onion size.
Your first braids may be imperfect but keep trying!
Store braids away from apples and tomatoes which cause sprouting.
Braiding technique works for garlic too.
Hang in small kitchen batches and store the rest to prevent spoilage.
Check braids regularly and remove any bad onions immediately.

Braiding onions takes a bit of practice but soon you’ll be able to create beautiful braids to display in your home. The braids allow for excellent airflow and easy access all winter long. With the right harvest timing, curing, braiding method, and storage conditions, you’ll be rewarded with fresh onions straight from your garden through the next summer.

how to braid onions for storage

Preparing Onions for Braiding

You should do a few things to make sure your onions are ready for this step before you braid them. You don’t want to get this far and then find that they don’t store well.

Be patient! Onions are one of the slowest vegetables to grow. They are the first seeds I plant in late winter (February), and I don’t usually harvest until late August or early September.

You can harvest onions anytime you want for fresh eating, but if you want them to store well you have to get the timing just right.

It’s time to harvest onions when the green tops kink and flop over. However, there are some slight differences depending on where you live:

Hot climates: Harvest when ¼-⅓ of the tops fall over
Cool, dry climates: Harvest when half the tops fall over
Cool, humid climates: Almost all the tops fall over

To make sure your onions last longer, you need to cure them the right way. This will give them a protective shell and allow them to store well for months to come.

Onion curing is a matter of debate in the gardening world. Some people swear by curing in the sun, while others say it should only be done indoors with a fan. The curing timeframe is 1-2 weeks long, depending on your environment.

I personally like to cure in the sun, but I also live in Minnesota where the sun isn’t too intense. My favorite method is just to pile them all in a wagon – it’s easy, has good airflow, and I can wheel it indoors anytime it rains. Check out my method here!

*If you live in a hot climate, it probably is best to cure in a barn or porch (just make sure that there’s a fan present for good airflow!).

You know they are just right for braiding when the green stems have dried out about 50%, but they aren’t completely brown. If you wait too long, the stems will crumble and fall apart when braiding.

If you’re hoping for good storage onions, the variety matters. Some varieties store very well (6-12 months), while others should be consumed within a few weeks. My favorite is Sedona F1 – I’ve been growing it for years and it’s AMAZING!

The Homesteading RDs Product Picks

Sedona F1 Onion Seeds

I absolutely LOVE growing these onions and Ive been using them for years! They are hardy, easy to grown, and delicious. Plus, they store super well!

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Lastly, growing onions from seed will store a lot better than those from sets. It’s definitely worth the extra work to grow them from seed!

If all of this seems overwhelming, check out my course How to Plan a Garden: Step-By-Step where I guide you through all of these big decisions. I’d love to have you

Watch Me Braid Onions on Video!

It totally depends on the variety that you grew, how well you cured them, and your storage conditions (see above sections for details on this). If you do it all right, you can expect them to last 6-12 months.