Onions - when to use by?

i actually ignore useby dates with veg, if it smells ok and isn't mouldy i use it, i've had onions for well over a month and they've been fine to use.

ioiwe x

exactly, even when the carrots get a bit soft i just turn them into soup, nothing wrong with the taste

i know what you mean, our heating has only come on twice so far this autumn and that was when we had guests, otherwise lots of layers and hot drinks. and lots of going to bed early with a hot water bottle too!

Hi Happytails.

If onions are grown and stored properly they will last for months. When I harvest mine, they don't come with any dates on them - and I use them throughout the winter. I don't think I have ever thrown an onion out, unless is has actually gone bad. They will usually start sprouting before going bad.

I buy large bags of onions and have had some go off in the past - possibly due to there being a 'nasty' one that then contaminates others.

What I do now, is peel and chop them all and put into large sealed freezer bags. I do find that I have to put that inside another one to stop the smell invading everything else in the freezer.

It's a bit of a 'faff' but does save me some work in the long run (just have to take out a handful of chopped onion per onion needed in a recipe) and it makes me go over all the onions as they're bought - so no more wastage .

I also do similar with garlic. I buy a pack of three bulbs, peel them and separate into individual cloves. These go straight into a freezer bag and are frozen as they are. When I need one, it's easy to take one out and allow to defrost before chopping or slicing as required. No more dried out garlic bulbs!

If it can't out run me I'll eat it.

Use by dates are only a guide line IMO.