Question: What is the modern equivalent of a root cellar? Answer: A root cellar, of course. Unfortunately, most of us don’t have one these days (I imagine that even my grandmother’s has been turned into a basement rec room by now).
The next best thing? Get a woven basket with good ventilation that allows air to circulate around your onions and heads of garlic. Hang the basket in a cool spot and your vegetables will stay fresh for weeks. We’ve rounded up 10 of our favorite woven hanging baskets for onion and garlic storage:
Above: The crazy luxe option when it comes to woven onion baskets: handwoven by Annemarie O’Sullivan in East Sussex, England, the willow Potato Basket works for storing potatoes, onions, garlic, and more; $1,500 at March.
Above: Working with dyed jute and cane, Auckland artist Ruth Castle weaves Black Garlic Baskets in three sizes starting at $139 for the smallest size. For availability (it’s currently sold out), contact Everyday Needs who works with Ruth Castle directly.
Above: Made of reed, the Shaker Onion Basket “smells like a hayride through a forest on a fall day,” says Alisa Grifo, proprietor of the homewares store Kiosk. It’s the same basket featured in contributing editor Justine Hand’s house (photo at top of post) taken by photographer Matthew Williams. Contact Kiosk for restocking information. For more see Cool Storage: Shaker Onion Basket on Remodelista.
Above: The same style of basket as above is available as the Shaker Onion Basket at Cooper Hewitt for $45.
Above: From Etsy seller Justa Bunch of Baskets, the Rust Onion Basket made of hand-dyed round reed, is $65.
Above: Handmade in Maine, the small Onion Basket is $32 from Sugar Tools.
Above: The Charest Studios Wall-Mounted Onion Garlic Basket is made of annealed steel wire and hangs on the wall; $30 to $69 at Food52.
Above: A set of two hand-woven rattan Onion Baskets (the tall one is 14 inches high, including its handle; the smaller one is 13½ inches) is $29.95 from Williams-Sonoma.
Above: Designed for storing bread, the breathable, natural Rush Matters Bread Basket works just as well for root vegetables; $110 at Shed in Healdsburg. (Photograph from March where it was previously sold.)
Above: The Japanese Craft Apple Farmer’s Basket is handwoven in bamboo for $185 at Everyday Needs.
For gathering more produce see our posts: