I have two vintage wicker baskets sitting on the floor - one for each.

allison,

Do you just dump out the onion skins from time to time? My problem is that I occasionally get a moist rotting veggie. So I am wondering how I would clean a wicker basket?

I never fill them up, usually only 3-5 onions and probably no more than 6 potatoes. Buy what we need for the next week or so. If I'm getting an onion out, I'll pick up a piece of loose skin. I vacuum the area, and the interior of the baskets each week. Pick up and vacuum under. We haven't had a problem with it, but you would/could if one went bad.

If you're talking about storing an entire bag of onions or potatoes, I would do something breathable, but more washable. What about baskets made of repurposed plastic of some sort? Check "green" websites.

I'm sorry, I don't recall what style your kitchen is, would a wire basket like this work for you?

{{!gwi}}

If not, look at objects not necessarily used for pantry storage. You can repurpose things.

Here is a link that might be useful: Greener Grass Design

Martha says "Bamboo steamers have holes that let air in and out to cook food uniformly. For just that reason, these containers are also well suited to storing onions, garlic, and shallots, which require ventilation and should not be refrigerated. Place all three in a single unit, or if you use lots of all of them, keep each kind in its own section of a stackable steamer. Place the steamer on a tray or plate to catch flaking skins, and set it on the counter for quick access."

Alison,

I guess I would call my kitchen traditional/transitional and not modern. I tend to buy potatoes in sacks. And I wouldn't be so good at regular vacuuming under the baskets.

The bamboo steamer idea is intriguing because I was thinking I would like to get another set or 2 for Asian cooking. I like the dual purpose idea.

Doonie, No great ideas here, but wondered how your kitchen space is progressing? I hope I haven't missed pics?

mythreesonsnc,

Kitchen progress is slow lately. I am still impatiently waiting for my leathered Antique Brown Granite for the center island. I'm trying to make sure I have this pantry organization well planned out this weekend because my GC will be wanting to put it together this coming week. And then he'll be looking at me for specifics, which I don't have yet!

We are about done with our vaulted ceiling eating area, except for trim/paint. Here's the link to our "progress":

Here is a link that might be useful: Kitchen progress so far

someone else on here had these canisters - got mine for XMAS and I love them. I have room on the counter for them since they're adorable.

Here is a link that might be useful: canisters

Bostonpam,

I LOVE those canisters! So cute. How are they working out for you? How full can you/do you fill them?

Just ran across these the other day,

http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/product.asp?order_num=-1&SKU=16552976

I have plastic baskets for mine. The garlic and onions are in smaller stackable ones and the potatoes and usually several pounds of oranges in separate, larger ones...You can see the larger ones in this photo...the potato one has the white handle facing out, and the orange one is adjacent to it on the right. The onion and garlic baskets are too far over on the right shelf to see them.

rhome,

I love your organized pantry! It looks like your potato holder has aeration holes in it? What brand is it?

Doonie, thanks...I wish it looked that good all the time! ;-)

The basket does have lots of holes all around. I'm sorry to say that I can't find a brand on them. They come in small, medium, and large...the potatoes are in the medium, which has absolutely nothing imprinted on it. The large one I have says, under the recycle number, PP, then PI-3025, and Made in Japan. The small ones say that same thing, plus having a square that is full of Japanese characters. But I can tell you that I found them at Storables, so I've linked the page for the medium one below.

Here is a link that might be useful: Storables medium plastic basket

Found another kind,

http://www.chefscatalog.com/product/24267-garlic-onion-potato-canisters.aspx

BostonPam I almost bought those crocks!! They are so beautiful. How many onions fit and how many potatoes fit on the average?

Doonie as far as keeping the wicker basket clean . . . I inherited a Longaberger Basket that I keep our potatoes in at the moment. I just put a paper shopping bag on the bottom of the basket and that keeps the basket from getting yuky. Some basket also come with liners.

Doonie, I have not seen your kitchen remodel before - very pretty. Love the tile and chandelier. Look forward to seeing it finished.

Several good storage ideas so far. Good luck with the rest of your project.

Ohhhh  Aleighjc  Those are nice too! I donÂt know which I like more, but IÂm book-marking all of them and will make a purchase soon. :-)

I have these wire pull out shelves. Nothing special.
This is the photo before because, yes the
onions do produce some waste which I vacumme with my
central vac. And right now it looks a little ugly.
I wish I had seen BostonPam's canisters. Those are great.
I bet they keep everything cool too.

The potato canister usable space is 7" high and 8" diameter - very large. According to a review on the website it can hold 10 lbs of potatoes. I buy a few pounds of fingerlings and they take up very little space. The onion canister is suppose to hold at least 3 lbs (usable space 6" high and 7" diameter). I'll probably start buying my onions by the bag.

The canisters are a little rustic looking (can't see that by the picture) with some of the paint along the rim edge. It's very tastefully done. They're a great addition to my counter. They also extend the veggies shelf life longer.

bostonpam,

Thanks for the info! They look really great and it's good to know they sound completely functional.

Doonie, It looks AMAZING! I knew it would :-), but it is so fun to see it! I have to agree with the others that the Niermann Weeks chandelier is SO amazing in your space. The view from below is so beautiful! May I ask, how far is the bottom of the chandelier from the floor? I am STILL playing with my layout and this is one of the things I wonder about in a tall room. Obviously, your room looks fabulous so better to not guess when there is a perfect example right here!

Good luck with the last little bits of your project, it has come together so well. Congratulations! Rachel

I hang my onions and potatoes from the ceiling in my walk-in broom closet (which is also the entrance to our seldom visited crawl space basement). It is ideal - cool, dark location, excellent air circulation, strong mesh produce bag holds all the potatoes, onions we need. We have two of the large bags (see the link below).

Here is a link that might be useful: mesh produce bags

If you like tupperware...

Here is a link that might be useful: tupperware potato storage

I have the veggie canisters that bostonpam linked, and I was able to get an 8 lb bag of potatoes in the potato canister. I have only bought a few onions at a time, but easily had 3 very large onions, with room to spare.

I originally wanted the other canisters that are the white metal that Aleighjc linked, but they only carry the garlic one now. Boo. Regardless, the ones I have are quite adorable and functional.

I have a 24" cab between a door and frig - this is where the canisters are now living. My canisters are a bit barren - gotta go shopping but you get the idea how much it holds

Those canisters are really cute, and clever!

My walk-in pantry is still being constructed. Right now I'm keeping potatoes and onions in decorative banana leaf baskets. I lined each with black posterboard to block the light, and then a recycled brown paper shopping bag cut to size to make a liner. The woven top provides ventilation.

Keep posting so I can get the perfect long-term idea...!

Those canisters are beautiful, but potatoes need to be stored in the dark. The ventilation holes are necessary for air circulation, but too big if they let in light. I use a wicker basket with a tea towel thrown on top to cover the potatoes. (But I leave the tatties in their open plastic bag so if one goes to mush it won't ruin the basket)

My mother has the original walk-in pantry ('larder' in England) in her 1930s house. She has always used it, and has always had a small wheeled cart on one side,which can slide under a shelf, with onions in the bottom rack, potatoes in the middle, and carrots etc in the top. I don't ever remember anything going 'off', but obviously London has a milder climate than much of this continent.
When I set up my first home I bought pretty much the same thing for my larder (another 1930s place), except that the rack came with an elasticated fabric cover which snapped around the base of the bottom rack, so that the onion skins didn't fall all over the floor. Very handy.

Baskets, whether wire or wicker are the time-tested method, as long as the pantry is dark.

Medallion Cabinetry now offers this accessory for a base cabinet. Lids come on all 4 containers.
Kompy

Okay, OP here, after all of this great input, I found 2 seagrass baskets, with lids, at Pier One. So, my veggies are breathing in the dark.

At Target recently I bought white plastic 'reOrganizables' (house brand) medium size bins with holes in sides that have a gray piece in handle that allows optional stacking. Not expensive $3.59 and very washable. I would guess one would hold 5 lbs or more of spuds. By stacking them, I hope to avoid the "nasty one on the bottom" syndrome.

I also brought home for evaluation a black bin with sides made of plastic circles (air spaces between them) which was even cheaper at $2.50. Also comes in white. This would serve the purpose well--it's taller than the other style but has same footprint.

But until my pantry is done, my spuds are in a long, thin handleless garage sale willow basket that disappears when set on my new mottled countertop. I rather like it and it's very convenient.