Best storage conditions

Store dry onions around 32 to 40 F for longest life, or in a cool room if colder storage is not available. Relative humidity should stay fairly low, about 65 to 70 percent, to limit rot and sprouting. Do not refrigerate whole dry onions unless you have a cold, dry refrigerator space and good separation from moisture sensitive foods. Cut onions should be refrigerated.

How long it keeps

In excellent storage, dry onions may last 1 to 6 months depending on variety. Sweet onions generally keep for a much shorter period than pungent storage types.

Storage methods

Cure onions after harvest in a warm, airy place until necks are tight and outer skins are dry. Store them in mesh bags, shallow crates, or braided bunches where air can circulate. A dry basement, cellar, or cool pantry works better than a humid refrigerator. Do not store onions in plastic bags that trap moisture.

Freezing & preserving

Onions are often frozen chopped for cooking or dried for seasoning and soup mixes. Pickled or canned onion products should be made only from tested USDA or NCHFP recipes.

Tips

Handle bulbs gently because bruises invite rot. Keep onions away from potatoes since each crop can shorten the storage life of the other.

General home-storage guidance. For home canning and preserving safety, follow USDA and National Center for Home Food Preservation (NCHFP) guidelines. Page updated Aug 4, 2026.