Halachot and Customs
Is it permitted to use peeled green onion that was left overnight?
Question
Is a green onion whose top has been cut off permitted to eat if it was left overnight? And what are the other vegetables that may not be left overnight? The ones I know are onion, radish, and hot pepper. Thank you very much
Answer
Hello,
1. The prohibition against eating peeled onion that was left overnight applies specifically to an ordinary onion, but not to a leaf onion, called green onion (Maaseh Ish, part 2, page 136, where it is testified by the Gaon Rabbi Shmaryahu Greiniman zt"l בשם his uncle, Maran the Chazon Ish zt"l. However, see the view of Rav Nissim Karelitz shlit"a in the book Chut Shani, Inyanei Sakana, page 78, and in the book Ani Odekha al Inyanim Shonim, part 2, page 8, in the response of Rav Chaim Kanievsky shlit"a).
2. One should not eat garlic, onion, or peeled egg that were left overnight, unless some of the peel or the root remained on them, or they had been mixed in advance into other foods.
3. Some are careful not to eat peeled radish that was left overnight as well, but there is no clear source for this (see Sefer Shemirat HaGuf VeHaNefesh, part 1, siman 3, seif 3, and the note there).
4. No concern is known regarding hot pepper that was left overnight.
Regards,
Hillel Meirs
