Types Of Onions
A Quick Guide To The Different Types Of Onions
A quick pass through the produce section of your local grocery store lets you know that there are many different types of onions: green onions, or scallions, red onions, yellow onions, purple onion, and so on. All of these types of onions are divided into two simple categories: green onions and bulb, or dry onions.
The green onion, also called a scallion, is in a group by itself. These are the small shiny white onions with dark green stems you see in bunches on the produce shelf. This type of onion is harvested young, which gives them their tiny size. They have a mild spicy flavor and are commonly used in salads or just to munch on their own.
The dry onion category is further broken down into two more groups: sweet onions and storage onions. Sweet onions are also known as spring or summer onions because that is when they are grown. Storage onions are more common in the fall and are so-called because they have a longer shelf-life than their sweeter cousins.
Two of the most common varieties of sweet onions are Vidalia onions, named for the town in Georgia where they are widely grown, and Walla Walla onions, also named for their hometown, this time in Washington. Sweet onions are extremely popular and are so delicious it is not uncommon for people to eat them raw in salads, on sandwiches or with a burger. These types of onions also make a tasty relish and add a nice flavor when chopped up in pasta salads and slaws.
Sweet onions have very little spice in their taste and are the mildest variety of onion. These onions are full of natural sugars, which is what gives them their sweetness, so they don’t store well and should be used within a couple days of purchase for the best flavor. Other popular sweet onion varieties include the Texas 1015, Spring Sweets, Maui Sweets, the Sweet Imperial and the Italian Red.
Storage onions have a longer shelf-life than sweet onions because they are dryer and contain less natural sugar. This class of onions includes your red onions, yellow onions, shallots and Spanish onions. These types of onions are most commonly used in cooking and are especially useful with slow cooked dishes like soups and stews.
White onions, or boiling onions, are also included in this group, as they are simply smaller versions of the red or yellow varieties. Although, storage onions are great for cooking they can be eaten raw as well. They have a crispy spice to them, some more spicy than others. Red onions can really spruce up a salad or sandwich platter with the deep, almost purple skin.
Besides being attractive and tasty, onions also have a number of health benefits and should be a regular feature in a balanced diet.