Pantry storage

How long do onions last in the pantry?

About 30 days for onions in a cool, dark pantry. That’s what Well Stockd plans on; the table below has the sources’ own times.

Times are for a cool, dark, ventilated spot. They’re a guide, not a safety guarantee.

How we checked this: each storage time here is checked against the source named beside it, USDA FoodKeeper, USDA FSIS or another, before the page goes live. A time marked “Our estimate” is Well Stockd’s own, since FoodKeeper and FSIS give none. Editorial policy

Read the full guide: How long does chopped onion last in the fridge?

How long they keep

Whole
About 1 month in a cool dark place Source: USDA FoodKeeper: Onions (opens in a new tab)
Peeled or cut
Cut onion holds 7 to 10 days refrigerated in an airtight container Our estimate: FoodKeeper and FSIS give no time for this.
Freezer
About 8 months (240 days) at best quality. Frozen food stays safe indefinitely at 0°F; the time is about texture and flavor. Source: USDA FoodKeeper: Onions (opens in a new tab) Our time differs from FoodKeeper, which lists 10 to 12 monthsCompare freezer times for other foods on the printable freezer storage chart.
How to store them
Ventilated and dark, away from potatoes: each shortens the other's life.
Kitchen list sorted by use soon, grouped into fridge and pantry, each item with its amount and buttons to change it
Your kitchen, sorted by what to use first Free

How to tell if onions have gone bad

Dates are estimates; these are the checks that actually decide it. Don’t taste food to check whether it has gone bad.

Throw them out at once if you see:

  • Black powdery mold under the skin
  • Strong off smell

Warning signs (throw them out if you notice more than one):

  • Soft or weeping spots
  • Green shoots

Sources and limits

Even a longer time like this depends on the packaging, the temperature, how ripe the food is and whether it’s been opened.

Well Stockd doesn’t know when this food was harvested, packed or bought. Write down the date you bought or stored it, follow the package directions, keep it somewhere cool and dark, and check the official listing when food safety is in question.

Each time in the table names its source beside it. A time marked “Our estimate” is Well Stockd’s own, because FoodKeeper and FSIS give none for that food in that state, and where our time differs from FoodKeeper’s, the row shows FoodKeeper’s figure too. The number at the top is Well Stockd’s own estimate. It’s a guide, not a safety guarantee: FoodKeeper says storage times are guidelines, and quality varies with how food is grown, handled, shipped and stored. This page was last updated .