Yellow Onion

Name: Yellow onion — the everyday, all-purpose type of common onion (Allium cepa), with golden-brown papery skin and pale yellow flesh, and the type usually meant when a recipe says simply “onion.”

Description

Yellow onions are the most widely grown and used onions in the world, particularly in North America and Europe, and are selected for good storage qualities and a balanced flavour. They contain more sulphur compounds than white or red onions, which gives them a strong, pungent bite raw, but also a deep sweetness when cooked slowly.

They are the best choice for caramelising, French onion soup, stews and sauces, and they store well for months in a cool, dry place. Their skins are also used to dye eggs and fabric a rich golden colour.

Main nutrition value

Yellow onions provide vitamin C, B vitamins and potassium, and are among the best vegetable sources of the antioxidant quercetin, concentrated in the outer layers.

How best to be consumed

Yellow onions are the workhorse of the kitchen, mostly cooked.

1. Caramelise slowly in butter or oil over low heat until deeply golden and sweet.
2. Use as the base of soups, stews, curries, sauces and braises.
3. Roast thick wedges or whole onions until soft.
4. Slice thinly for burgers, soups and French onion dishes.
5. Store in a cool, dry, dark, ventilated place, away from potatoes.

Overconsumption could cause…

Yellow 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, especially after raw onion.
4. Poisoning of dogs and cats, for whom onions are toxic.

GroupsAllium VegetablesAllium (onion family)Low fatLow sodiumFresh

Related foodsOnionWhite OnionWelsh OnionRed OnionSpring Onion / ScallionSweet Onion

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