All About Yellow onions
Your complete guide to yellow onions - discover how to store it properly, identify when it's gone bad, and find the best substitutes for your recipes.
How Long Does Yellow onions Last?
Storage times and freshness tips for yellow onions in different conditions.
Safety first: This guide provides general information. When in doubt, throw it out! Trust your senses and err on the side of caution. If something smells, looks, or tastes off, don't consume it.
unopened whole, at room temperature1-2 months, sometimes up to 3 months
Signs of Spoilage
Soft spots, mold (black or green fuzzy growth), sprouting (green shoots emerging), strong acrid or unusually pungent smell, mushy texture.
How to Check
Visually inspect for dark spots, mold, or green sprouts. Gently squeeze the onion; it should be firm. If it feels soft or mushy, it's likely bad. A strong, unpleasant, or unusually pungent smell (beyond typical onion) indicates spoilage.
Storage Tips
Store in a cool, dark, dry, and well-ventilated place. A mesh bag or open basket is ideal to allow air circulation. Avoid storing in plastic bags, which trap moisture and accelerate spoilage. Do not store near potatoes, as both release gases that can cause the other to spoil faster.
cut raw, in refrigerator7-10 days
Signs of Spoilage
Slimy texture, strong sour or unusually pungent smell, discoloration (darker or yellowish), visible mold growth.
How to Check
Visually inspect for sliminess, discoloration, or any fuzzy mold. Touch the onions; they should still feel crisp. If they are slimy or very soft, they are bad. A very strong, unpleasant, or sour smell is a clear indicator of spoilage.
Storage Tips
Store in an airtight container or a sealed plastic bag to prevent odor transfer to other foods in the refrigerator and to maintain freshness. Keep away from highly absorbent foods.
cooked, in refrigerator3-5 days
Signs of Spoilage
Sour or 'off' smell, mold growth, unusual discoloration, slimy or overly mushy texture.
How to Check
Visually inspect for mold, unusual colors, or a cloudy appearance in any liquid. Smell for any sour, 'off,' or fermented odors. Touch to check for a slimy or excessively mushy texture.
Storage Tips
Cool cooked onions quickly before refrigerating (within 2 hours). Store in an airtight container to maintain freshness and prevent contamination.
raw chopped, in freezer6-8 months for best quality, safe indefinitely
Signs of Spoilage
Significant freezer burn (dry, discolored spots), strong off-odor upon thawing, extreme texture degradation (very mushy and watery beyond typical frozen onion texture) indicating quality loss.
How to Check
Visually inspect for excessive ice crystals or freezer burn. An off-odor when thawed indicates quality degradation. While generally safe, significant quality loss makes them unpalatable.
Storage Tips
Chop onions to your desired size before freezing. Spread them in a single layer on a baking sheet and freeze until solid (this prevents clumping). Transfer to airtight freezer bags or containers, removing as much air as possible. Label with the date. Freezing alters the texture, making them best for cooked dishes rather than raw applications.