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