The Difference between Yellow, White, and Red Onions

There are many onions out there, each with

their different purposes, but typically they fit into two categories, green and dry onions. This post discusses the dry onions (red onions, yellow onions, and white onions). Although there are many types of each of these dry onions, the general rules for them are as follows.

Yellow Onions

Yellow onions are the most popular cooking onions in Europe and America, they add excellent flavor to most stews, soups, and meat dishes. Yellow onions have a yellow-brown papery skin on the outside and a white flesh.

It has such high sulfur content, and more pungent flavor and smell, which typically makes it too strong to eat raw unless there are other ingredients to counter-balance the flavor. In my own cooking, I use yellow onions in stews, soups, sautéed dishes. They have excellent flavor when cooked, and I rarely cook without them.

White Onions

White onions have an all-white skin (I’ve seen them with an off-white tint before) and an all-white flesh. They have a slightly milder flavor than the yellow onion and are a great substitute if you’re in need of an onion flavor, but don’t want it to be too powerful. White onions are not so common in African dishes, but commonly used in Mexican cuisines.

Red Onions

You’re most likely to see red onions in non-cooked dishes, such as salads and sandwiches. Of the different colored onions, the red onion is the most mild, sweet onion. Red onions have the purplish-red skin which color is layered though it’s white flesh.

How to Pick a Good Onion

In general, when you’re choosing onions in the store, the best ones will be firm, have a crackly outer skin, and have a mild scent. If their scent is overwhelming it’s a good sign the onion is starting to spoil. Avoid onions with dark spots or mold as well. On another note, onions tend to store better in a slightly cooler, darker area, although the fridge is not recommended. The onion smell has a tendency to spoil the flavor of other foods in the fridge. Thanks for reading. Yours in the garden Farm2Mark.