White Onions Vs. Red Onions

Dry Onion Description

• After harvest in late summer and early fall, dry onions are cured in an arid, well-ventilated place to preserve them and dehydrate their skins. Dry onions, also called storage onions, have several layers of papery skin to protect them and contain less sugar and water than fresh varieties, which gives them more pungent taste than fresh onions. Their flavor mellows during slow cooking, caramelizing or braising. Yellow onions are also part of the dry onion family.

White Onions

• With flavors slightly less biting than yellow onions, white onions have thinner skins than yellow ones and are easier to peel. They often have a hint of green on the outer skins near the sprout end. White onions have more moisture than yellow varieties and their lower acidity makes them good raw in salsas, salads and on top of burgers and sandwiches. This type also adds subtle flavor to cooked dishes such as roasts, stews, soups and casseroles as heat dissipates their bite. The moisture in white onions makes them more prone to molding, so store them in a basket or colander at room temperature with good air circulation on all sides.

Red Onions

• Despite their name, red onions have deep purple skins and flesh tinged with shades of light purple. Their taste is comparable to yellow onions but their insides are not as tender to the bite. Raw red onions add color and flavor to burgers, salads and salsas but their color fades when cooked. To cut the acidity of red onions, briefly soak slices in ice water before serving.

Other White and Red Onions

• Sweet onions such as Walla Walla and Vidalia strains are white and very low in acidity, which make them favored as raw ingredients for sandwiches and salads. They are flatter than other white onions and require refrigeration to stay fresh. Torpedo onions have elongated bodies, reddish purple skins and are much sweeter than the more common red onions. Bermuda onions, which originated in the Bermuda Islands, range in color from white and yellow to purple and have flavors comparable to sweet onions.