Stock up and store onions to save money

Dear Sara: Should I stock up on onions? A local store is having a one-day, 70-percent-off sale on two-pound bags of onions, with no purchase limits. I was thinking 10 pounds because chances are I’ll never see this price again. — A.S., Connecticut

Dear A.S.: I would go ahead and stock up. Ten pounds isn’t an excessive amount and can be stored easily. Onions store well in a cool, dry and dark place. I like to store them in a mesh bag in my pantry. They store well slipped into pantyhose, too -- just tie a knot in the leg of the hosiery between each one and hang them. This keeps them separated, but with plenty of air circulation. They can be frozen, too. They aren’t very good to use raw in salads once they’ve been frozen, but they’re perfectly fine for cooking. You can peel and chop your onions, then place them on a cookie sheet to freeze them so they don’t stick and clump together. Once frozen, transfer them to a freezer storage baggie. Thaw them in the refrigerator or use them frozen, straight from the bag.

Dear Sara: How do you keep apple slices looking fresh? I want to serve cut apples and dip at a party, but I don’t want the apples to brown. — Emily, Illinois

Dear Emily: Normally, I’d suggest using lemon juice, but for a party I recommend sprinkling the apple slices with Fruit-Fresh Produce Protector (www.fruit-fresh.com). It works on freshly-cut fruit and vegetables, keeping everything from bananas to potatoes looking fresh for up to eight hours. It’s all-natural and won’t change the taste like lemon juice does. There are apple varieties that maintain the fresh look longer, too. For example, Granny Smith and Golden Delicious don’t brown as quickly as Red Delicious.

Dear Sara: I am looking for Orange Clean Super Concentrate Degreaser, formerly manufactured by Orange Glo International, Inc. It was an “As Seen On TV” product when it first came out years ago, marketed with Oxi-Clean Powder. I was able to purchase it at Walgreens and other mass merchandisers, but it has disappeared from my local retailers’ shelves. I love the product for removing laundry stains and for other all-purpose cleaning. I tried to locate it on the Internet, only to be scammed by a company posing and taking orders without delivering the product. Do you know where I might still find it, or can you recommend a comparable product? — Mamma P., Nebraska