| Believe it or not, I actually hate onions in my food. | | | | varieties we've just discussed. But if you noticed, |
| Whenever I detect the sharp and pungent flavor | | | | The top onion producer in 2005, according to the |
| of an onion in my meal, I cringe to myself a little | | | | UN Food and Agriculture Organization, was China, |
| and slowly pick through my food, trying to avoid | | | | followed by India, who was followed by the United |
| the onions at all costs. So why am I writing an | | | | States. The third top onion producer, Americans |
| article about them? Well as it turns out, I'm alone | | | | harvested 3.3 million tons of onions in 2005. |
| in my opinion on onions...and the rest of you | | | | Celebrating the Onion Idaho-Eastern Oregon Onion |
| Americans and world-class citizens love the bulby | | | | Festival Why do onions make us cry? You've |
| oddities. So who am I to deny you an onion | | | | probably noticed that when you cut up a raw |
| education -we wouldn't want you crying over an | | | | onion, your eyes start to tear. A common |
| onion, would we? Oh but you already have. So | | | | problem for every onion chopper, this happens |
| here's my guide to the onion. I hope you find it | | | | because of the enzymes in an onion. Since the |
| helpful as we'll go through some of its history, | | | | onion is being chopped, the cells are being broken |
| some interesting facts, and of course - the best | | | | - allowing the enzymes to be released. The |
| of the best onion recipes. The National Onion | | | | enzymes in an onion are called allianases and they |
| Association classifies onions into two categories: | | | | react to the sulfides in the onion-chopping |
| spring/summer fresh onions and the fall/winter | | | | environment to create a sulfuric acid gas. This gas |
| storage variety. These fresher onions are | | | | is immediately composed and released into the air, |
| available April through August while the dryer | | | | therefore reaching your eyes. Our eyes' nerve |
| storage onions turn up more often August | | | | endings are irritated by sulfuric acid, therefore |
| through April. Both come in red, white and yellow | | | | inducing uncontrollable "crying." Cooks Thesauraus |
| forms, but the spring/summer onions are said to | | | | recommends chilling onions first to avoid tearing. |
| be sweeter, moister, and milder. Therefore used | | | | "If you're prone to crying while cutting onions, try |
| in sweeter dishes, the fall/winter kind is used for | | | | chilling them first, then peeling them under running |
| savory dishes. The most common onion is the | | | | water. Always cook onions over low or medium |
| yellow onion. Not only is most of American onion | | | | heat, since they become bitter at high |
| production (for more information on domestic | | | | temperatures." Onion Recipes Worth Crying Over |
| onion production, click here) focused on yellow | | | | Onions turn up in all sorts of dishes, from |
| onions, but their full flavor is suitable for a wide | | | | appetizers and soups even to desserts. They are |
| range of cooking, most notable French Onion | | | | one of the most widely used ingredient, not just |
| Soup. Red onions are used more often in salads, | | | | across dishes but across cultural cuisine. Here are |
| and other fresh uses, or for grilling or broiling, | | | | some recipes worth trying out: Recipes that focus |
| according to the National Onion Association. White | | | | on onions: Tandoori Onion Salad Onions Au Gratin |
| onions show up quite a bit in Mexican cuisine and | | | | Caramelized Red Bell Peppers and Onions French |
| have a sweet flavor when sauteed. Others argue | | | | Onion Soup Brown-Braised Onions Baked Onions |
| All of these varieties range in size - from 1 inch to | | | | Onion Tart (Pissaladiere) Onion Bhajis Indian Pickled |
| 4.5 inches in diameter. For a more specific guide | | | | Onions Tomato and Onion Salad with Tahini |
| to the different varieties of onions including vidalia, | | | | Dressing Onion Rings Recipes that use onion as a |
| walla walla, and Texas, click here. "Onions should | | | | supplement: Onion Meatball Supper Braised |
| be firm and heavy for their size. Avoid onions | | | | Artichokes with Little Onions and Bacon Grilled |
| that have sprouted or that have an odor, or that | | | | Sirloin and Red Onions with Blue Cheese Butter |
| have green or moldy blemishes," says Cooks | | | | Onion Chicken Breasts Cranberry Onion Pork |
| Thesaurus, who offers up some helpful advice on | | | | Roast Grilled Bratwurst and Onion Sandwiches |
| purchasing and cooking onions. Another way to | | | | Onion-Beef Fettucine Corn and Onion Casserole |
| classify an onion is by its type: bulb, multiplier (a | | | | Sources: National Onion Association Cooks |
| derivation of the bulb onion) or tree onions. The | | | | Thesaurus UN Food and Agriculture Organization |
| most common form is bulb, which includes the | | | | Hillary Marshak is a writer and editor for an up |
| sweet onions like vidalia, and all the colored | | | | and coming recipe sharing Website. |