Why do fresh uncut whole onions remain perfectly fresh for months in a dark kitchen pantry but rot rapidly if stored inside a plastic bag?

Question

I purchased a large sack of raw yellow onions. Should I keep them inside a cool dark drawer with open airflow or preserve them inside a sealed kitchen refrigerator crisper bin?

KitchenMaid · Answer

Store onions in a cool dark well-ventilated dry space completely outside of plastic bags. Onions continuously release gas and moisture vapor; if sealed inside plastic or trapped in a cold high-humidity fridge drawer that moisture is trapped against the skin triggering mold growth and rotting loops.

Why do fresh uncut whole onions remain perfectly fresh for months in a dark kitchen pantry but rot rapidly if stored inside a plastic bag?

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