Onion keeps for about 2-3 weeks (peeled) in the fridge, and 6 months (chopped) in the freezer. The table below splits those times by opened and unopened โ and a date still in range never overrides what your nose tells you.
Whole onions last far longer in a cool, airy spot than in the fridge โ refrigerator humidity is what turns them soft. Once peeled or cut, though, they must be sealed and chilled. Keep them away from potatoes; stored together, both go off faster.
Storage times
| Unopened | Opened | |
|---|---|---|
| Room temperature | 1-2 months (cool, dark) | Not recommended |
| Fridge | 2-3 weeks (peeled) | 7-10 days (cut) |
| Freezer | 6 months (chopped) | 6 months |
Throw it out if you see this
- Soft, weeping spots
- Black powdery mould
- A rotten smell
Storage tips
- Store in a net bag somewhere cool and airy
- Never next to potatoes
- Cut onion goes in a sealed container in the fridge
Sell-by and use-by are not the same date
A sell-by date tells the shop how long it may display the product; a use-by date tells you how long it stays safe to eat. They are not interchangeable, and a use-by date is usually later than the sell-by date printed on the same product.
Every printed date assumes the package is unopened and stored at the labelled temperature. Once opened, follow the "opened" column below instead of the printed date โ and if the smell, colour or texture is off, throw it out regardless of what the date says.