Under what condition should a very old onion bulb that has begun sprouting best be discarded entirely?
Answer
If the bulb is soft or significantly shriveled due to the energy drain of sprouting.
While an onion beginning to sprout is generally safe, and the emerging greens are certainly edible, the overall condition of the parent bulb matters significantly, especially if it is very old. The sprouting process drains energy and moisture from the bulb. If this energy drain results in the bulb becoming noticeably soft or significantly shriveled, it indicates advanced deterioration or compromised vegetable matter. In such cases, even though the sprout itself is derived from edible material, the best course of action is to discard the entire item rather than risk consuming a vegetable that is past its safe eating point due to structural compromise.
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