We get it. Sometimes life just gives you lots of onions and it can feel like more than you could ever need, much less want. They’re the vegetable version of sheep in Settlers of Catan. So here are some tried and true tips to make sure that none of them go to waste and all of them end up being put to delicious use.

• Store them properly! The first tip for dealing with mountains of onions is to store them properly so they don’t go bad. Onions can last for weeks if they are stored correctly. They don’t need to be refrigerated. They just need to live somewhere cool, dark, and dry. Make sure to never store onions and potatoes together as the moisture and gasses from each one will make the other one go bad quicker.
• Get creative with your spices! Onions are only as interesting as the spices and herbs that you pair them with. We love fresh thyme and think that it’s perhaps the most versatile herb to go with onions. When it comes to spices we’re big fans of star anise for its balance of sweet and savory notes, smoked paprika for the heavenly barbecue smell, and cumin seed for the earthy oompf it gives dishes.
• Make stock! Anytime we have a surplus of onions, we’ll combine them with other aromatic vegetables like celery, leeks, carrots, fennel, and mushrooms to make a hearty and delicious vegetable stock.
•  Cook them down! Raw onions are bulky, heavy, and harsh, but if you cook them down, you’ll cook off all of that water and concentrate their natural sweetness. Making caramelized onions is easy and creates the ultimate sandwich topping or a base for French onion soup. If you’re looking for an easy and fun recipe that uses up tons of onions, we love making onion jam. It’s sweet, tangy, the ultimate addition to your next grilled cheese sandwich or appetizer platter.