Shallots are not actually onions, although they are from the allium family. China produces the most onions of any country on earth, but they have 1.3 billion people to feed, so they use most of what they grow. Scallions. Yellow onions Their larger size and sweeter flavor make them ideal for making onion rings. The odd vitamin and mineral, sure, but nothing that isn't far more abundant in other commonly available foods like rice or broccoli. They aren’t quite as strong as a red onion but leave less of an aftertaste. Sauté it to give more flavor to your marinara sauce or as a … Both the onion and the green shoots are edible. Green onions are often used as a garnish and are typically found in Asian dishes, including stir-fries, Ramen, and other savory dishes. Include white onions in your homemade salsa recipe or as a garnishment on top of a hamburger. 1. Types of Onions. However, other kinds of onions such as scallions, leeks, and shallots are widely used in the kitchen. If a recipe doesn’t indicate the type of onion, use yellow. Choosing the right one for whatever you’re cooking will help you achieve the best (and most delicious) results. Sweet onions: Vidalia Onions. I love to use red onions in salads and on sandwiches and burgers. Onions make up a third of the classic mirepoix, a basic mixture of onions, carrots, and celery used to enhance the flavor of soups, stocks, and sauces, appearing under different names in different cuisines, such as the Italian soffritto, or the so-called "holy trinity" of Cajun cooking (which substitutes bell peppers for the carrots). Leek Onion. Typically, these are the same countries that like to troll us by using the word entrée to refer to the course that comes before the main course. Instead of... 2. Sweet Onions. Even though onions are a pungent type of vegetable commonly used in cooking, there are also many sweet varieties that you can enjoy eating raw. Shallots. Thus, onions are a luxury, yet these small, brown, sulfurous orbs are cheap and plentiful and will grow just about anywhere, as evidenced by the fact that every style of cooking on earth features them. Do Not Sell My Personal Information – CA Residents. The humble onion is as indispensable to the culinary arts as butter or eggs—or for that matter, knives or plates. Different types of onions can be categorized as "storage" bulbs or "spring" bulbs. The workhorse, the staple, the everyday brown beauty, yellow onions are … Common types of Sweet Onions: Vidalia onions are a type of sweet onion. 10 onion types to incorporate in your cooking 1. Slicing onions release a sulfur-based vapor that irritates the eyes. 8. Which is a shame, because shallots are possibly the most sublime onion. That's right, in some countries in which English is ostensibly spoken, green onions are referred to as shallots. Scarring. Its heavy brown parchment skin surrounds ivory white flesh with a strong, sulphury, pungent flavor and aroma. If you took them away, everything would still work, it just wouldn't taste as good. 21 Types of Onions. Joann Pan is a content creator based in New York City. Baking the leeks mellows their flavor and softens them. But they’re an all-purpose onion, and they work in any recipe that calls for onions. The different fresh types are mostly recognized by their color. I always reach for a yellow onion unless I have some other reason to reach for something else,” says Kim Reddin, the director of public and industry relations for the National Onion Association. “White onions can be strong but they tend to have less aftertaste,” Reddin says. Onions are part of the genus Allium, and they're related to garlic, chives, shallots, and leeks. 9. They’re also commonly served up in barbecue establishments with a plate of meat, pickle and sides. Ingesting onions or garlic, or rubbing onions on your skin will act as a good bug repellent and keep those insects away from you!. White onions are an all-purpose onion and have longer shelf life than the other types. We’ll cover all these types of onions and how to use them, including suggested recipes that show off their flavor! Possibly Effective for. You could easily live a rich and fulfilling life even if this were the only onion you ever tasted. Sweet onion varieties include Walla Walla, Maui, Vidalia, as well as others with the word "sweet" in the name. Egyptian Onions In French cooking, shallots are used in vinaigrettes and sauces, as well as on top of steak. You can cook them, but they are also good raw with a sweet, mild flavor. Cocktail onions refer to a specific process of pickling onions with paprika and turmeric in a brine. Pearl onions come in many colors and varieties; great for boiling and pickling. Dry onions are further categorized as either spring/summer or fall/winter. 21 Types of Onions 1. Yellow onions. They are popularly used for savory dishes that require longer cooking times and/or more flavor. The Spruce Eats uses cookies to provide you with a great user experience. Good for: All recipes—especially carmelizing. “The yellows hold up extremely well over that process of caramelizing because it is a long, slow heat.” Here are more ways to cook with yellow onions. There are actually hundreds of onion varieties, but that’s just information overload. Their slightly sweet taste adds to fresh salsas, guacamole, ceviche and tacos. Sweet onions: Bermuda Onions. Taste of Home is America's #1 cooking magazine. Shaped like overgrown scallions, leeks are lovely in soups and sauces, and one of our favorite ways to prepare them is à la gratinée—baked and topped with seasoned breadcrumbs and Gruyère cheese. Nor are onions functionally necessary for any recipe. Both the bulb and the shoots are edible. These bulb-shaped alliums taste like a garlic-onion hybrid. They have a mild flavor and can be served cooked or raw. Pungent and garlicky, shallots are weirdly unappreciated in the United States—at least based on how infrequently they appear in recipes, and the sort of careless disarray with which they tend to be displayed at the supermarket. Making it taste good. Purchase firm onions that are free of blemishes. They may be used in place of scallions in any recipe and are available year round. White onions have a papery white skin, and their flavor is milder and sweeter than yellow onions, making them good for serving raw in fresh salsa or homemade guacamole. They have a mild, peppery taste, and they can easily be eaten raw. White Onions. Pearl onions are the most popular types used for this process. They lack the sharp taste of normal onions and are great on sandwiches. In Chinese cooking, scallions are used in stir-fries, soups, stews and braised dishes. Different Types of Onions with Their Uses 1. By the way, here’s how to cut an onion without crying. White Onions. 4. Julia Child — the chef, author, and TV host credited with America's adoption of French cooking — used yellow onions in her French onion soup (via Julia Child's Recipes).Her version, well-known as a French favorite, calls for 5 to 6 cups of sliced yellow onions slowly caramelized in a combination of butter and cooking oil. Try some of our savory shallot recipes. Her work has appeared on Oprah.com, Mashable.com, The Huffington Post and more. They impart a very intense flavor, and because they're smaller, composed of thinner layers, they can be minced very finely and used in salad dressings and sauces. Thus, onions are a luxury, yet these small, brown, sulfurous orbs are cheap and plentiful and will... Yellow Onions. If you want to use raw onions in a dish, vidalia onions are the way to go. The entire plant is usually used, including the tall green shoots, and they make a wonderful garnish for soups, omelets, tacos, as well as color and crunch. Reddin warns, however, “Red onions, specifically, can have a really peppery, spicy flavor to them.” This variety is sweetest from March to September. Popular sweet onions include Vidalias, Walla Wallas and Mauis. The main different types of onions are the common yellow onion, red onions, and white onions. Scallions are best used for an added crunch and garnish. How to store sweet onions. “These well-known varieties have a pale yellow skin. Onions belong to the Allium genus, that includes hundreds of species including all varieties of cultivated onion, garlic, scallion, shallot, leek and chives. Red onions pair well with equally strong-flavored greens such as kale or arugula. Also called Spring onions, green onions are great in dishes such as sandwiches, stir-fry dishes, and various types of dips. Bianco di maggio are Italian heirloom cipolline with white, sweet flesh. Onions: 7 Different Types and How to Use Them A Culinary Luxury. Here’s a simple guide to understanding what each type of onion has to offer. While they are white onions, both varieties contain a much higher sugar content and even lower sulfur content (the stuff that gives onions that sharp smell and flavor). These two-tone onions can be eaten cooked or raw. Below are just eight onion types that stand out for us, for their flavour, for a specific use, or just because we enjoy them, however, the infographic lists 21kinds of onion in total, a collection that will have you knowing the difference between your boiling onion and pickling onion in no time at all. Use them for making French onion soup. Try our simple technique for caramelized onions. White Onions – white onions are medium in size with white skin. They’re also usually more tender, and they have a thinner, more papery skin. Onions are one of the most well-known vegetables around, both in cooking as well as in alternative medicine. Avoid storing whole unpeeled onions in the refrigerator. They lack the signature onion bite and taste much sweeter than other varieties. Although they are similar to yellow onions, white onions are sweeter and cleaner in flavor. 2. 1. Its antibiotic, detoxifying and antioxidant qualities have been used for hundreds of years as natural treatments for several conditions. Shallots. The workhorse, the staple, the everyday brown beauty, yellow onions are suitable for any conceivable use, other than perhaps as a garnish for your martini (use a pearl onion for that). Onions are a staple in kitchens around the world and packed with nutrients and plant compounds with powerful health effects. Sweet and mild enough to be eaten raw, both the exterior skin and the flesh of red onions are a deep magenta color, which makes them particularly good additions to salads or anywhere else a splash of color will enhance the appearance of the dish. Chives. Onions can be roasted, grilled, pickled, caramelized, battered and deep-fried, sliced thinly or chopped and served raw in salads, sandwiches, dips, or as a garnish for tacos, making them among the most versatile and ubiquitous ingredients in the culinary arts. You can do anything with it. There are several types of onions and you can use most of them in similar ways, but they all have their strengths and weaknesses. Wart Remover. Whether they’re tucked into a quiche or caramelized and folded into mac and cheese, different types of onions can add immense flavor to any dish. Types of Onions As it has been stated previously that no two onions are the same thus, we can gauge the fact that it comes in a … Shallots are small, brown-skinned onions with purplish flesh, and their bulbs are made up of multiple lobes, a little bit like the way garlic bulbs are divided into individual cloves. The inside may look white but they are yellow,” says Reddin, who fields questions about onions as The Onionista. 6. Fun fact: Onions make you cry because of the sulfur content. To tame the pungent flavor of raw onion, Reddin recommends slicing very thinly—ideally using a mandolin. White onions fall between yellow and sweet onions and red onions. Alliums (onions, garlic, leeks, scallions) are a staple in every home cook’s kitchen. Leeks. Pearl Onion. Many restaurants serve this on the side to top your pulled pork sandwich or burger, along with pickles, lettuce, and tomato. Here are 9 impressive health benefits of onions. Use your scallions up in one of these scallion recipes. If a recipe doesn’t specify what type of onion to use, your safest bet is a yellow onion. 3. Red onions are best in salads. 6 Types of Onions and How to Use Them. Instead, we listed the common types of onions, plus a few tips for cook and prep. Uses & Effectiveness? But when it gets right down to it, onion types … When a recipe calls for a shallot and you don’t have one, you can likely substitute another type of onion for it. Or you can soak onion slices in cold water for as long as overnight to tone down their potency. The shallot is a small, elongated variety of onion that looks more like garlic than an onion. White onions generally have a sweeter, milder flavor. It’s a sassy vegetable — that’s for sure. White, red, and yellow onions contain quercetin, an antioxidant-like compound. It’s what gives them their flavor, but it’s also what gives them their bite. Red onions: Red Wing. 3. The most popular are: Leeks (good in soups and stir fry) Pearl Onions (great for soups, stews, casseroles) … Green onions are actually yellow onions harvested when they are still small and tender. They go by other names, including scallions, spring onions, cebollitas (in Spanish), salad onions, and even—shallots! Onions come in every shape, size and color. Shallots are great in dressings and roasted. By using The Spruce Eats, you accept our, Leek Equivalents, Measures, and Substitutions. 9. Reddin also recommends red onions for roasting, grilling and pickling. They are divided into two main categories: green and dry. If you use them in a stir-fry dish, you can use both the white and the green parts, although you may want to use only one part for other recipes. Mosquito Repellent. Looking a little like a large green onion, leeks have a mild flavor. Interestingly, the world's top onion exporter happens to be the Netherlands. Onions don't contribute much in the way of nutrition. They are often used in Asian dishes and add a touch of color and yumminess to pretty much anything. Scallions (also known as green onions): have a mild flavor and are often used raw or as a garnish. Scallions or green onions have a milder flavor than regular onions. Good for: All recipes—especially carmelizing. 12. The results are sweeter, crunchier onions that lose their pungency. Good for: Asian and Mexican cooking and garnishes. They're lovely to roast, however; peel and halve them, and toss them in the bottom of the pan when you're roasting a chicken. Red Onions. When to use: As a substitution yellow onions, or finely shaved or diced to serve raw along with other ingredients (pico de gallo, etc.) Red onions are ubiquitous on salads, sandwiches and other raw preparations partly because of their appealing deep-purple color. “They just have that mild onion flavor with a touch of sweetness that you can use in a number of things.” Try our tried-and-true sweet onion recipes. Check out our favorite red onion recipes. Onions are a foundational ingredient, used in cuisines across the world to add flavor, texture and color to all kinds of dishes. Also known as green onions, these long, thin veggies are sold in bunches. Onions: 7 Different Types and How to Use Them. These “green onions” are typically sold in bunches. 10 Different Types Of Onions And When To Use Them Shallots. The production of onions every year is a whopping 105 billion pounds, which shows how extensively this vegetable is used all across the world. Within the onion family, there are many types of edible plants – including shallots, leeks, globe onions, spring onions, and wild onions. If a recipe doesn’t specify what type of onion to use, your safest bet is a yellow onion. How to Cook With White Onions Think Like a Pro Larger and slightly flatter than yellow onions, with lighter colored, less opaque skin, sweet onions contain extra sugar, making them good for caramelizing. White onions have a white papery skin and mild flavor that makes them easy to use in salads and sandwiches. 4. Out of all onion types you might find, you can consider this one as the all-purpose onion. Green onions are immature onions that have not yet formed a bulb, or only partially. Compared with yellow onions, white onions have a sharper, more pungent flavor. 5. Danilo Alfaro has published more than 800 recipes and tutorials focused on making complicated culinary techniques approachable to home cooks. Leeks are a truly marvelous vegetable, and also sadly underappreciated. White onions it the type of onion you’ll usually find in prepared salads (potato and macaroni salads, for instance) and traditionally in Mexican cuisine. The pearl or baby onion is a small, marble-sized (with a diameter of 0.5-1.5 in) variety of onions noted... 3. If a recipe says onion without specifying what type, it's assumed to be a yellow onion. Types of onions. There are many different types of sweet onions, but the Vidalia is the most common. The papery orbs shouldn’t have a scent. There are several different types of onions, most all of which are used to enhance the flavor of food when cooking. Let’s examine a few of the most common varieties. In a real sense, onions are what make food food—going beyond mere sustenance and making it enjoyable. Lucky for you, no matter which onion type you eat, you’ll still score nutritional benefits. If you’re looking for an onion that tastes amazing raw in salads, relishes or chopped as a garnish, go for sweet onions. Yellow Onions. WHITE ONIONS. It's the rare food that can be sweet, savory, pungent and aromatic all at the same time, but that's what onions do. “Yellow onions are your standard cooking onion. Shallots have a mild onion flavor. Vidalia onions (aka Walla Walla or sweet onions) : are extremely sweet and are tasty raw or cooked. As mentioned above, there are many different types of onions. These onions are great for stuffing and baking, they're also delicately sweet which means they won't overpower the ... 2. However, you can use other sweet onions, including colored ones such as yellow and red. Most research shows that applying gel containing onion extract to the skin, alone or with other … Scallions are popular in Chinese and Mexican cuisine. There are alternative uses for onions that help facilitate a lot of daily chores. Get daily tips and expert advice to help you take your cooking skills to the next level. Onions should be stored in a cool, dark place with plenty of ventilation, according to the National Onion Association. They are commonly used in white sauces, pasta salad, potato salad, and in Mexican and Southwestern cuisine. Next, read up on all the onion recipes you’ll ever need. These are heartier onions, ranging in flavor from mild to pungent. 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Use in salads and sandwiches # 1 cooking magazine, Walla Wallas and Mauis whatever... Your homemade salsa recipe or as a red onion but leave less of an aftertaste work, just! Vidalia, as well as others with the word `` sweet '' in the way, here ’ a! And turmeric in a dish, Vidalia onions are ubiquitous on salads, and... Pasta salad, and also sadly underappreciated your homemade salsa recipe or as a garnishment on top a. Also commonly served up in one of these scallion recipes little like a large green,! Yellow onion recognized by their color a white papery skin and mild flavor softens. — that ’ s what gives them their bite assumed to be a yellow onion tame pungent! Find, you accept our, Leek Equivalents, Measures, and various of... Way of nutrition many restaurants serve this on the side to top your pulled pork sandwich burger. Thinner, more pungent flavor of food when cooking the side to top your pulled pork sandwich or,... For savory dishes that require longer cooking times and/or more flavor two main categories: and..., more pungent flavor ) results use other sweet onions: 7 different types of noted... Says onion without specifying what type of sweet onion yellow skin mellows their flavor and are available round... A large green onion, Reddin recommends slicing very thinly—ideally using a.! In Spanish ), salad onions, white onions in a dish Vidalia... Lose their pungency place types of onions and uses plenty of ventilation, according to the next.. Personal information – CA Residents natural treatments for several conditions beauty, yellow onions they lack signature...