Know thy Onions

Onions! They come in all shapes and sizes and in a variety of colors. Their textures and flavours can also be quite different. There are 9 types of onions and each one can’t necessarily be substituted for one another. If this is the case, then how do you know which onions are the best for which dish?

Here is a list of the most common onions used and what kind of dishes it can be used for.

Yellow Onion

When a recipe says, use onion, it is best to use the yellow onion as it is the most commonly used onion in cooking.

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Yellow onion[/caption]

White Onion

The white onion, is crunchy in texture and tasty. It is best used for salsa and stir-fry dishes.

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White Onion[/caption]

Red Onion

Like your onion raw? Then the red onion is your best bet. Try it in guacamole or slice it thin and mix it in salads

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Red Onion[/caption]

Sweet Onion

Due to its low content of sulphur, these onions get its sweet taste because of this. Best used for frying and grilling

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Sweet Onion[/caption]

Pearl Onions

Pearl onions are small and taste sweet with a subtle flavor. These onions are good for roasting

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Pearl Onion[/caption]

Ramps

Native to North America, these onions taste sweet when cooked

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Ramp[/caption]

Spring Onion

Both the green and white part of this plant is edible. Highly flavourful but is milder than mature onions

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Spring Onion[/caption]

Cippolini

This flat and squat Italian onion is smaller than typical onions. It is less pungent and good for roasting whole

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Cippolini[/caption]

Shallots

These aren’t exactly onions but has a very delicate onion flavor. Best for dressings

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Shallots[/caption]