How Long Does Onions (Whole) Last?

A whole onion stored in a cool, dry, well-ventilated spot — not the fridge, and not sealed in plastic — keeps for 1-2 months thanks to its papery outer layers acting as a genuine protective barrier, similar in principle to how a potato's skin protects it, though onions specifically need airflow that a sealed bag would trap moisture against.

Soft spots developing under the papery skin, a sprouting green shoot pushing up from the top, and a strong, sour smell replacing onion's normal pungent-but-clean scent are the signs it's declined. Visible mold, often appearing between the outer layers rather than on the surface, means the onion should be discarded entirely rather than peeled back to the next layer, since onion layers aren't separately sealed from each other the way garlic cloves are.

An onion that's begun sprouting a green shoot from the top is still usable — simply remove the sprout and use the onion as normal — though a sprouted onion generally has a milder flavor and softer texture than a fresher one, worth knowing before assuming sprouting alone means it should be discarded.

A red or sweet onion generally has a shorter pantry life than a standard yellow storage onion, given its higher water content, so a household buying a mix of onion types shouldn't assume they'll all last the same 1-2 months side by side.

See Onions (Whole)'s full storage & shelf-life guide (with spoilage signs) →