How to Store Onions after being Cut? (7-Best Methods)

Onions are the most popular ingredient in every kitchen. They are used in almost all kinds of dishes. They come from a hardy crop that grows in abundance, so they are easy to find and affordable. 

Cut onions are a kitchen staple, but if you have sliced them in excess quantities, then storing them can be a problem. Because improper handling can spoil them easily and make them smell bad and unpleasant.

So don’t let your hard work go to waste! Read on to learn How to Store Cut Onions, as well as the 7-(Seven) Best Methods to keep Chopped Onions fresh and flavourful.

Seven Easy and Simple Ways to Keep Chopped Onions Fresh and Flavourful

Ever wondered what to do with leftover onion halves and how to use them in the future? The answer is really surprising; you would be happy to know that your chopped onions are safe and can be used later. There are 7 most effective way that can help you to preserve onion pieces for later use.

See more: How to Store Garlic? If you want to know procedure of preserving garlic.

1. Preserve Cut Onion in the Refrigerator

To keep your sliced onions fresh for a few days, follow these simple steps:

Prioritize Food Safety:

• To ensure proper hygiene, you must wash your hands before touching onions.
• Use different cutting boards for raw meat and fruits to avoid cross-contamination. 
• Furthermore, make sure your knife is clean to reduce the chance of bacterial growth.
• Avoid cross-contamination with uncooked meat and dairy products to minimize exposure to harmful bacteria.
• If you have space, designate specific areas  for produce and meat preparation so you don’t spread germs while cooking.

Procedure:

1. Dry Thoroughly: Pick the chopped onion dry with a paper towel to prevent mold growth.
2. Airtight Storage: Place the onion in an airtight container or cover it properly with plastic wrap. 
3. Refrigeration: Keep the container or wrapped onion in the refrigerator.

By following above guidelines, you can safely preserve your leftover onion pieces up-to one week.

2. Wrap Large Pieces of Onion with Plastic Wrap

If you have half of an onion remaining or a few large pieces, wrap the cut side tightly in plastic wrap. Plastic wrap actually insulates the onion from the outside air, and helps it retain moisture.

Procedure:

1. Cut a piece of plastic wrap big enough to cover the half onion. Place the cut side down on the plastic and wrap the excess over the rest of the onion.
2. The plastic wrap also helps prevent onion odors from spreading in your refrigerator.

This method is helpful for keeping onion’s moisture-free and prevent it from drying out.

3. Preserve Small and Large pieces of Onions in a Sealed Plastic Bag

You can also keep both onion halves and chopped pieces in airtight plastic bags.

Procedure for Preserving in Sealed Plastic Bag:

1. Combine: Place onion pieces (large & small) in a plastic bag.
2. Squeeze: Squeeze out the excess air.
3. Seal: Seal the bag tightly/closed.
4. Place: Keep in a cool, dry place.

Extra Tips

Do not use cloth bags for storage, as these are intended for whole produce (fruits and vegetables). Since they are not airtight, they will not protect a cut onion from air exposure, which can lead to spoilage.

4. Keep Chopped Onions in Air Tight Containers (another Alternative)

Glass (preferred) and plastic food storage containers can be suitably used for preserving onion halves, slices, and chopped pieces.

How to Maintain:

1. Choose a Container: Use glass (preferred) or plastic food storage containers.
2. Place Onions: Keep the onion halves, slices, or chopped pieces into the container.
3. Seal Tightly: Seal the lid tightly, and ensure an airtight seal.

An airtight seal helps the onion last longer and prevents odors from spreading. 

Extra Tips

Opt for glass storage containers when possible, as they do not absorb odors unlike plastic containers.

5. Cover Halved Onions in Aluminum Foil (for another Approach)

Storing onion halves with aluminum foil is a great way to keep them fresh and prevents smells from spreading in the refrigerator. Aluminum foil works similarly to plastic wrap, protects halved onions from air exposure.

Procedure for Storing Onion Halves with Aluminum Foil:

1. Prepare the Foil: Rip off a strip of aluminum foil.
2. Position the Onion: Keep the cut side of the onion down.
3. Wrap the Onion: Cover the rest of the foil over the piece.
4. Optional (Extra advice): For extra protection, you should wrap the onion in plastic wrap first, then cover it with aluminum foil.

6. Place Cut Onions inside Onion-Saver Containers (Best Approach) 

Onion-savers are round shaped and airtight containers. They are designed to place halved and chopped onions.

Procedure for Using an Onion Saver:

1. Prepare the Onion Saver: First ensure the onion saver container is clean and dry.
2. Preserve the Onions: Simply place your onion pieces inside the container.
3. Close the container: Twist or seal the lid tightly to create an airtight seal.

These containers maintain onion freshness and prevent odor contamination of other stored foods.

7. Store Cut Onions in the Crisper Drawer of Fridge (for 7 to 10 days)

You can safely keep cut onions in your refrigerator for 7 to 10 days. All pieces of onion should be stored for the same amount of time regardless of variety. Even though you may find different storage recommendations and guidelines for different onion varieties, such as yellow, white, red, pearl, or Vidalia. These recommendations are only applicable to whole onions, not for cut ones.

Procedure:

• Place cut onions in the crisper drawer of your fridge. This keeps them fresh and prevents odor transfer to other foods.
• Use them within one week after storing them (even though they can last up to 10 days, using them sooner ensures the best quality).

Important Cautions:

• To ensure food safety, set your refrigerator temperature at 40° F (4° C) or below. This low temperature helps prevent bacterial growth and allows you to safely use the onions later.
• Do not pay attention to any storage recommendations that suggest chopped onions can be stored at room temperature. Some common tips include soaking onions in water or storing them in a bowl of water on a countertop. This approach only promotes bacterial growth.