To expect around half of the onions in a pack to be bad

[Curiosity101]

Just that really... I remember a time when I bought a pack of onions and unless you left them for a silly amount of time they'd basically all be good. But for a few years now (and despite purchasing them from different places), I feel like I expect anything up to 50% to be 'bad' or a bit 'off'. Often slimy and a bit mouldy etc. Not even just on the outside, the outside can sometimes look fine and then a few layers in it's soft and yellow and squishy. Maybe I'm storing them wrong? Although I'm sure freshly purchased onions have the same issue.

YABU - I must be doing something weird or buying them from a bad source
YANBU - You've noticed this too

Bonus points for anyone who can explain what the issue is and how I can avoid it! I hate food waste and find myself throwing away loads of onions.

Do you store them next to your potatoes @Curiosity101 ? Because potatoes and onions make each other go off quicker if stored in close proximity.

Also, does the supermarket you buy from put their potatoes next to their onions? That might not be helping matters if they are sitting next to each other for some time before being sold.

Me too! I rummaged through every broccoli in Lidl last week and none of them met my standard haha

I emailed sainsburys this week because the delivered garlic had turned to brown powder on arrival.

@Covidagainandagain I do! That's something I can change and see if it improves things. Although I'm finding this happens with freshly bought onions too, so I'm not totally convinced they're always in the house long enough for me to have done anything to cause it.

I'm definitely considering buying them pre-prepared and frozen...

This is what makes me think they must be storing it badly, or for too long or not curing it properly before storing it, or expecting the wrong kind of garlic to last longer than it does.

We are still eating garlic that we harvested last year, and its still absolutely fine (softneck garlic not hardneck).

I find the exact same thing OP. Very rare to have a whole pack of onions with no dodgy ones at all. It’s only happened during the last few years.

If we ever run out of onions I always buy pre prepared and frozen. Partly because they are so convenient and partly because I don't find out of season fresh veg lasts as long, even if its grown in a country where it is in season. I don't know if its because of how its transported but it just doesn't seem as good.

We grow our own onions - and supply outstrips demand, still got onions from last year to use and this years are mid harvest. So cannot comment on quality in shops.

However I do chop up lots and freeze so I can get a handful out as required. I suggest you do this when you buy a bag

Although its been a long time since we ran out of onions. I have a (well deserved) reputation for ordering way too many onion and shallot sets, panicking I haven't bought enough, ordering even more and wondering where the hell we are going to plant them all!!

Everyone says M&S fruit and veg are expensive, but I find them cheaper (or at least comparable) when you take wastage in to account. Used to get exactly this issue with Tesco, Ocado branded and even Waitrose - but don’t get any of it with M&S. Much better value.

The quality of Sainsburys fruit and veg has nosedived over the last year or so. I can't remember the last time I got a bag of carrots from them that didn't have at least 4 or 5 slimy ones with mushy ends in them.

Last week I was delivered the tiniest melon I'd ever seen (not much bigger than a grapefruit) with a big sunken circle of mould on it. The delivery guy said the pickers are meant to pick the best one on the shelf so god knows what the others were like!

I have noticed this.

I have frozen onions but I'm a raw onion lover (sue me) and defrosted frozen onions would be all mushy so no good for my needs.

I have not noticed this but we get through onions quickly