Get Almanac's Daily Updates Extended Forecasts Where to Buy Contact Us

Cooking Fresh: Know Your Onions

Photo Credit
Margaret Boyles
Written By: The Editors The Old Farmer's Almanac

Cooking Fresh: Know Your Onions

DRY, OR BULB, ONIONS include spring/summer sweet onions, such as Vidalia and Bermuda, and the stronger-flavor, fall/winter storage onions, such as Yellow Globe. They may be white, red, or yellow and are harvested after the tops have died down. Sweet onions have thin skins and a mild taste that makes them perfect for eating raw or using in briefly cooked dishes. Storage onions have thick layers of skin, are more pungent, and do well in dishes that cook for a while.


RED ONIONS are usually the mildest and often are eaten raw or grilled. White onions are a bit more pungent and often are sautéed and used in salsas or Mexican cuisine. Yellow onions have the strongest flavor; they are great for soups and other cooked dishes.

Read Next


True GREEN ONIONS, also called bunches onions, are bred specifically to have a small bulb and long stalks, both of which are edible. (Scallions fall into this category.) You can also use a dry onion as a green onion by harvesting the young green tops before the bulb has grown to full size.


SHALLOTS are milder than onions and often used in French cooking. The small bulbs grow in sections called cloves, similar to those of garlic. The skins can be reddish brown, yellow, or gray.

PEARL ONIONS are small (about 1 inch wide), mild onions with red, white, or yellow skins. Although commonly pickled and used in cocktails, they also can be cooked as a side dish or added whole to stews and casseroles.

Ingredients
About The Author
The Editors

The Editors

The Old Farmer's Almanac

Under the guiding hand of its first editor, Robert B. Thomas, the premiere issue of The Old Farmer’s Almanac was published in 1792 during George Washington’s first term as president.Today, the Almanac...
Read More from The Editors

More Like This

Comments

<span>Georgis</span> Fri, 07/24/2020 - 07:45
Hubs is allergic to the cooking fumes given off by onions. I grew up in a household that cooked with onions All The Time. It's somewhat limiting to have to leave them out. Best solution I've managed is to use frozen onions, and bury them in the stewing ingredients, or add to the cooking liquid early and keep the pot covered all the time. I've also tried making onion preserves (when he's out of town for a week!) which I either can or freeze. This seems to force out most of the offending fumes and still allow me to get onion flavor into cooked foods. I've also made simple fried slices, but they don't store as well. None of these really gives me the taste of freshly cooked onion. Do you know if there is an onion that off-gasses less fumes? Even sliced green onion tops can give him trouble. Garlic is even worse.
<span>Sharifah Syed …</span> Sat, 05/18/2019 - 14:40
Shallots are not just used in French cooking, countries in South East Asia use them in their cuisines - Thailand, Malaysia (where I'm from), Indonesia, Philippines... they're more delicate in taste than the regular big onions. I use them instead of regular onions. 2-3 medium sized shallots are plenty for most recipes.
<span>Karenhcbrown</span> Fri, 01/23/2015 - 16:56
I have been looking for a smallish, white onion that is supposed to be very, very mild. My fiancé is determined that it is out there but I have searched until I am out of options. He actually likes to eat pieces of onion, raw, when eating his meals....What am I looking for??? Where can I get them?? Thank you for any imput!
<span>Janet</span> Mon, 07/31/2023 - 07:19
Should have read your comment in full because I also like to eat raw Spring Onions or Salad Onions with a cheese sandwich or salad at lunch time. Maybe this is what you are looking for? Regards Janet
<span>Janet</span> Mon, 07/31/2023 - 07:17
Hi Karen I saw your comment asking for a small white onion and on reading the article came across this which may help you! I also see this article is from 2017, so hope you get my reply! "• ‘Crystal Wax White Bermuda’: a great onion for pickling when harvested at “pearl” size" Regards Janet
<a title="View user profile." href="/author/editors">The Editors</a> Mon, 01/26/2015 - 09:03

Vidalia are the most mild onions though medium-size.  Pearl onionions are small and much milder than large bulb onions. Spring onions and scallions tend to have a milder taste too. Hope this helps.