Is it Safe to Eat Sprouted Onions, and Do You Really Want Them in Your Recipe?

With a recipe and knife in hand, you grab an onion, ready to get to dicing—but then you notice a green stem poking through the top. Before you reach for the take-out menus, you’ll want to read this.   

Are Sprouted Onions Safe to Eat?

The good news is you can eat sprouted onions. “Sprouted onions are completely safe to eat; there are no harmful toxins present,” explains Ann Ziata, a chef at the Institute of Culinary Education. “The sprout will convert the sugar in the onion bulb for energy to grow, which will leave the onion with an unpleasantly bitter taste,” says Ziata. “However, the flavor will start to deteriorate as it sprouts and it will begin to dry out.” 

Emilie Berner, a chef instructor and lead chef of the Online Plant-Based Culinary Arts & Food Operations at the Institute of Culinary Education, agrees. “They may have a bitter taste so it’s best to remove those sprouts when cooking,” she explains.

How Should You Use Sprouted Onions?

When your onion begins to sprout, you’ll want to use it as soon as possible in order to avoid further flavor and textural changes. Sprouted onions can be used the same way as any onion, but in general they’re best used in dishes where the slightly bitter flavor may go unnoticed. “The texture and flavor will be a bit compromised, so cook them in recipes with lots of other strong ingredients, like chili or meatloaf,” says Berner.

However, you typically don’t want to use them raw or where the onions are the highlight or main focus of a dish. Ziata explains that sprouted onions aren’t as sweet and become soft. “Don’t put them in French onion soup or raw in salads and sandwiches,” she says. 

If you love to maximize your vegetables and minimize what you toss in the compost bin, you can use the actual sprout from the onions in recipes, too. “You can slice up the sprouts (the younger, the better) and saute them in a stir-fry, as you would with spring onions or scallions,” says Ziata.

When You Should Toss a Sprouted Onion

If the onion has sprouted but doesn’t look good, is dry, or showing signs of mold, you’ll want to toss it in the compost. “Don’t use the sprout if the onion is very old and showing signs of decay,” says Berner.

How To Avoid Sprouting

The way onions are stored will influence if they are more prone to sprouting. Similar to potatoes, onions should be stored in a dry, well-ventilated area with minimal light. “Store onions in a cool, dark place,” says Berner. “Onions will want to sprout if they see sunlight because that’s their cue to grow!” If you must keep onions in a bag or bowl, be sure it is a mesh bag or wire bowl to promote proper air circulation.  

Although potatoes and onions go well together in recipes, they shouldn’t be stored together. “Keep onions away from potatoes and apples, as onions give off a gas that encourages them to spoil more quickly,” says Zaita. 

Also, onions shouldn’t be stored in plastic bags or wrapped in plastic, as this will shorten their shelf life, according to the National Onion Association.