Onions                                                                Allium cepa

 
 

Storage Tips

Bulb onions can be stored in a cool, dry place for several months. Once cut, onions should be stored in the refrigerator in an air-tight container to prevent their strong aroma from getting into other foods.

Green onions or scallions should be wrapped in a moist paper towel or plastic bag and stored in the vegetable crisper drawer of the refrigerator.

 

Cooking Tips

Use onions as a flavor enhancer in soups, stews, casseroles, and pasta. The longer you cook onions, the milder they become.

 

Uses

▸Toss with Mexican seasonings and a little olive oil and grill

▸Thread onto skewers with other vegetables and meat or seafood for shish kebabs

▸Cook until caramelized and serve with pasta or over meat

▸Add to bread dough or cornbread batter
 

Onions belong to the allium family and are close relatives of scallions, shallots, garlic, and leeks. They are considered a staple in almost any regional cooking.

There a many types of onions available in the market. They can be grouped as storage onions including red & yellow globe, Spanish, white, cipolline and pearl onions. Or they can be sold as spring/summer onions, such as scallions, which are considered “sweet” and are much more perishable than storage onions.

Onions range in pungency from very sweet and mild to very strong. The same type of onion that is grown in a different location can vary considerably in pungency. Freshly harvested onions will have a much stronger flavor than those that have mellowed with time.

To avoid watery eyes when chopping large amounts of pungent onions, refrigerate the onions prior to cutting or cut them under running water.

           

What to Look for When Purchasing

Choose storage onions that are firm and dry with no soft spots. Be sure the neck is dry and closed. Scallions should have crisp, green tops with slender bottoms.

 
 
Text Box: Storage onions are available in late summer and fall while scallions are available in spring and early summer

Provided to you by

Wisconsin Fresh Market Vegetable Growers Association

 

 
 

Nutrition Facts:

Serving Size = 1 c cooked

·  Calories  – 92

·  Proteins (g) – 2.8

·  Carbohydrates (g) – 21

·  Fiber (g) – 2.9

·  Fat (g) – 0.4

·  Vitamin C (mg) –11

·  Folate (mcg) – 31

·  Potassium (mg) – 348

 

 

 

Onions are low in calories, fat, and most nutrients but do provide fiber, vitamins C and B6, and potassium.