Here’s why you shouldn’t store peeled or cut onions

Considering all the positives that onion has, what could possibly go wrong? It is believed that peeled onions shouldn't be stored or refrigerated.
 

Onion makes for the most popular ingredient used in Indian cuisine; it is one of the major parts of the content used in curries, salads and other savouries. Onions not only help add a distinct flavour, but also give the curries a certain consistency.

Moreover, onions are long known for their health benefits. Onions contain dozens of medicinal chemical compounds that have antibacterial and anti-inflammatory action in the body and promote good heart and gut health.

Considering all the positives that onion has, what could possibly go wrong? It is believed that peeled onions shouldn't be stored or refrigerated.

Bacteria contaminate onions once exposed and if they are left as it is, they may get oxidized further leading to a host of health problems. It is advised to cut them only when you want to cook them.

When you cut onions, the cell walls are disrupted; water and fluids are released, which may contain nutrients that promote bacteria growth. If you refrigerate peeled onions, the cold and humid temperature may make them soggy and lead to decay due to the combined process of bacteria growth and decay.

Cut onions immediately go bad as they attract the bacteria around the surroundings they are stored in, no matter whether they are stored in the refrigerator or in an open kitchen space. For example, if you slice your onion or even peel it on a cutting board that you also used to cut raw chicken, any bacteria from the chicken juice will be easily transferred to the peeled onion.