How to Store Shallots
Shallots are valued for their compact bulbs and long keeping quality, especially when cured carefully after lifting. Store only dry, firm, unblemished bulbs with tight skins. Their smaller size makes them especially handy for winter cooking, pickling and gradual use from a well-ventilated store.
Best storage conditions
Keep cured shallots at 2-8 degrees C in a dark, dry, frost-free place with good ventilation. They dislike damp conditions and should never be shut into plastic bags or sealed tubs. A cool shed, garage or porch is suitable if it remains dry. Net bags, plaits and open trays all allow moisture to escape. Keep shallots separate from potatoes and inspect them often.
How long it keeps
Good, fully cured shallots usually keep for 6-9 months, often longer than onions. Use any bulb with a soft patch, green shoot, loose skin or mould without delay. Thick-necked, immature or bruised shallots are best set aside for early kitchen use.
Storage methods
Lift when foliage has yellowed and fallen over, choosing a dry day if possible. Spread the plants out for 2-3 weeks in sun and moving air, or beneath a dry, airy shelter if rain threatens. Do not wash them. When skins are crisp and necks dry, remove loose soil and trim or plait the stems. Hang small net bags or plaits in a cool frost-free shed or garage, or spread bulbs in shallow trays. Avoid deep piles, which hide decay. Check regularly and discard rotting bulbs.
Preserving
Pickling is a classic way to use small shallots; follow a trusted recipe for the chosen jar size and method. Finely chopped shallots freeze well for cooked dishes, though their texture softens. They can also be dried as slices or made into chutney with apples or dried fruit. Keep dried shallots airtight and away from steam.
Tips
Sort the crop before storing, keeping the biggest sound bulbs for cooking and any healthy planting stock clearly separate. Shallots may share a dry store with onions, but not a damp box. If necks remain green after curing, use those bulbs first. Never let a single mouldy bulb remain in the batch.
Storing Shallots: frequently asked questions
How do I store shallots?
Lift when foliage has yellowed and fallen over, choosing a dry day if possible.
How long does shallots keep in storage?
Good, fully cured shallots usually keep for 6-9 months, often longer than onions.
What are the best conditions for storing shallots?
Keep cured shallots at 2-8 degrees C in a dark, dry, frost-free place with good ventilation.
Store only sound, dry produce and check regularly. For bottling and preserving, follow a trusted recipe. Page updated 18 Sep 2026.