Sweet Onion

Name: Sweet onion — onions bred or grown to be low in pungency and high in water, such as Vidalia (Georgia), Walla Walla (Washington), Maui (Hawaii) and Texas Sweet, and imports like Spanish and Peruvian sweet onions. They are not necessarily higher in sugar than other onions, but taste mild.

Description

Sweet onions get their mildness from growing in soils that are low in sulphur, and from varieties with low levels of the pungent sulphur compounds, so they are less sharp and make less tears. The Vidalia onion, grown in a small region of Georgia, is protected by state law and a federal marketing order, and is the best-known sweet onion in the United States.

Sweet onions are juicy and thin-skinned, so they do not keep as long as storage onions, and are usually available seasonally. They are prized raw in sandwiches and salads, and for onion rings.

Main nutrition value

Sweet onions provide vitamin C, B vitamins and potassium, similar to other onions, with fewer pungent sulphur compounds.

How best to be consumed

Sweet onions are best raw or lightly cooked, to enjoy their mildness.

1. Slice raw into burgers, salads and sandwiches, where they are crisp and sweet.
2. Bread and fry for onion rings, which are especially good with sweet onions.
3. Roast or grill thick slices, which become jammy and sweet.
4. Use for quick caramelising, though they cook faster because of their water content.
5. Store cool and dry, wrapped individually, and use within a few weeks, since they spoil faster.

Overconsumption could cause…

Sweet onions are safe in food amounts for people, but toxic to pets.

1. Bloating, gas or heartburn, since alliums contain fermentable carbohydrates (fructans) that bother many people with IBS.
2. Allergic reactions or skin irritation in a small number of people sensitive to alliums.
3. Heartburn or reflux in some people, even though they are milder.
4. Poisoning of dogs and cats, for whom onions are toxic.

GroupsAllium VegetablesAllium (onion family)Low fatLow sodiumFresh

Related foodsSpring Onion / ScallionChivesWelsh OnionWhite OnionYellow OnionOnion

Wikipedia — Vidalia onion, used for origin, naming and history: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vidalia_onion