When you see a recipe that calls for a yellow or red onion, you probably think you can just use whatever kind of onion you have hanging around the fridge in its place. But when some recipes call for a particular kind of onion, you might be surprised to hear that they actually MEAN that kind of onion.
Red, yellow, and white onions all vary slightly in flavor, texture, and color, but can usually be substituted for one another. In terms of cooking, they will all behave the same in the pan, but may have a slightly different taste.
Before going into the differences between your most common types of onions, how do you know which onion to buy at the store?
When buying onions, go for ones that feel heavy in your hand and firm. Avoid soft onions or ones that have a sharp odor before peeling; these signs indicate that the onion is old. Except for sweet onions, all these onions can be stored for several weeks in a cool, dark pantry or cupboard.
Why are sweet onions stored differently? Well, read on to discover why and other crucial differences between common onion varieties.
The answer in the next page …
