Do Shallots Go Bad?

You might think that shallots are small red onions when you see their lovely lavender color, but shallots are actually from the family of onions that are originated from Europe. Shallots grow in clusters like garlic, and they are smaller in size. This makes them different from onions. Also, shallots have a milder taste than onions.

Like all foods, shallots can go bad too. But they have a large shelf life relatively, just like onions. They can remain good for quite a long time, even at room temperature. Just what we have to do is to store them properly.

How to store shallots

Shallots are used on an everyday basis, like in salads, omelets, etc. So, people usually buy vegies like shallots in a bunch. This makes the people think of storing the shallots so that they do not go bad and rotten.

Follow the following measures in order to store shallots.

Dark and cool place

You should store the shallots in a cool as well as a dark place. You can use any type of plastic bins or cellars for storing them. You can also use a brown paper bag to keep the shallots in place. A slightly cool place keeps the shallots good and fresh. And the darkness keeps them fragrant. The darker the pace is, the better it is for shallots.

In refrigerator

Besides putting the shallots in the pantry, you can store them in the refrigerator. Refrigerating the shallots will decrease the shelf life of shallots a little bit, but you can store them anyways. Make sure that there are no fruits near them because the fragrance of both can interact with each other. This can make them all go bad.

Do not forget to put the shallots in air-tight containers or plastic bags before putting them in the refrigerator. This will make them stay longer and will keep them fresh for later use.

Away from humidity and moisture

It is very important to store the shallots away from humidity. Humidity can make the shallots and other vegies go bad really quick. This is because humidity causes mold and bacteria to grow on vegetables when placed at room temperature. Moisture and humidity are not good for fresh veggies at all.

So, please keep checking the areas where you keep vegetables so that no moisture interacts with them. Keep them away from all heat sources.

Can you freeze shallots

You can surely freeze shallots if you want to make them last longer. Frozen shallots can remain good for a long time, just like spring onions. As there is a huge content of water in shallots so after defrosting, they become very soft. So, you wouldn’t be able to eat them raw, but you can use frozen shallots for cooking purposes.

Freeze the shallots after chopping them in cubes because it would be difficult to cut them when frozen. So, it is convenient to cut them before freezing. Transfer them in an air-tight container or freezer bags, and they are ready to get in the freezer.

How long do shallots last

The shelf life of shallots is very long, as mentioned before. It completely depends on the storage conditions. The professional cooks are very concerned about shallots’ lifespan because it is among the favorite vegies of them. This is because the shallots add a unique taste to dishes.

If the shallots are stored properly, they can last for two months or even more. The shallots stored at room temperature in the pantry can last for six months if they are kept carefully, i.e., away from moisture in a dark and cool place.

In contrast, if the shallots are kept in the refrigerator, the shelf life decreases. They last minimum for a month because the shallots harden inside the refrigerator. At the same time, the frozen shallots can last a maximum of six months.

How to tell if shallots are bad

It is very easy to recognize that if your shallots have gone bad or not because they become quite visible. The process of finding out whether the shallots are good or bad is the same as other vegetables. Following are the signs and symptoms that we can see in bad and rotten shallots:

• If there is any sign of mold and bacteria on the shallots, it is high time to toss them out. The shallots might have some dark-colored spots and greenish mesh-like structures on them.
• If you see discoloration in the shallots, then throw them out.
• If there is a different pungent smell coming from shallots that is other than normal, then do not use them anymore.
• If the shallots become soft and gooey and you see any liquid bulging from the shallots, then it is not safe to use them anymore.
• Lastly, check that if they taste good. If not, then waste the shallots.

Sources

• Does it go bad?
• Do shallots go bad?
• How long shallots last?