How Long Does Scallions (Green Onions) Last?

Fresh scallions stored upright in a small cup of water in the fridge, loosely covered, last 1-2 weeks, considerably longer than scallions simply bagged flat, which tend to wilt within just a few days.

Slimy green tops, a yellowing color replacing scallions' normal bright green, and a strong, sour smell replacing their normal mild onion scent are the signs of decline or spoilage. The white bulb ends tend to hold up a bit longer than the green tops even when stored together, so a scallion with wilted greens but a still-firm white end is often still usable if the wilted portion is trimmed away.

The white bulb portion of a scallion, once separated from the greens, actually keeps a bit longer refrigerated on its own than the more delicate green tops do — storing the two parts separately after an initial trim, rather than keeping the whole scallion intact, can extend usable life for the sturdier white portion.

Scallions kept in a loosely sealed bag with a few holes poked in it, rather than a fully airtight seal, strike a reasonable middle ground between too much moisture loss and too much trapped humidity, extending their fridge life a bit beyond a tightly sealed bag alone.

Scallions trimmed of any already-yellowing tips before storage hold up a bit better overall than a bunch left with that early decline still attached.

See Scallions (Green Onions)'s full storage & shelf-life guide (with spoilage signs) →