Onion Varieties, Health Benefits, and Possible Ways to Prevent Crying When Chopping

Onion Varieties

There are hundreds of onion varieties grown all over the world. Below are examples of some of the common varieties.

Green onions
Green onions, also known as scallions, spring onions, and salad onions, are young onions harvested before the bulb fully develops. They belong to the Allium genus and are closely related to other onion varieties like shallots, leeks, and chives. Unlike mature onions that have a pungent flavor and distinct bulb, green onions offer a milder taste with a delightful balance of sweetness and subtle tanginess.

Leeks
Leeks have a slightly sweet flavor, they belong to the same family as onions and garlic, but have a milder taste. Leeks are long and cylindrical with a white bulb at the base and dark green leaves at the top.

White onions
White onions are characterized by their pale ivory-colored skin. They have a mild and slightly sweet taste and are a great for eating raw in such recipes as salads or salsas.

Yellow onions
Yellow onions have a golden brown skin and are probably the most common variety of onion. They tend to have a more pungent flavor that mellows out during cooking, making them perfect for sauteeing, caramelizing, or using in soups and stew recipes.

Red onions
Red onions have a reddish-purple skin and tend to have a sharper and slightly more tangy taste, and are great for salads, sandwiches, or pickling.

The Health Benefits of Onions

Onions have been used for centuries as a natural remedy for a variety of ailments and modern science has confirmed their many health benefits. Onions are an incredibly nutritious food and below are a few of the many health benefits of onions.

Immunity boosters: Onions are a good source of vitamin C which helps boost immunity by making white blood cells more effective at fighting off foreign invaders.

Improve blood circulation: Onions contain flavonoids that are able to improve blood circulation thereby improving overall health and reducing the risk of developing heart disease and stroke.

Improve digestion: Onions are a good source of sulfides and have the ability to improve digestion by facilitating protein absorption in the small intestine.

Help lower cholesterol: Onions contain quercetin which has been shown to lower LDL cholesterol levels.

Brain function enhancers: Onions have been proven to increase alpha brainwaves as well as reduce heart rate and respiration, which results in an increased state of relaxation for the mind and body.

4 So-Called Ways to Prevent Tears when Cutting Onions

Cutting onions releases a gas that can often result in tears, for some more than others. Here are 5 so-called ways to prevent the tears. We'll let you be the judge on whether they work or not.

1. Freeze the onion: The cold temperature supposedly slows down the release of the irritating gas, making it less potent. Simply place the onion in the freezer for 30 minutes before cutting.

2. Use a sharp knife: Using a very sharp knife will result in cleaner cuts, on the other hand, a dull knife will damage more cells in the onion causing it to release more tear producing gas.

3. Light a candle: The idea behind this method is that the flame from the candle will help burn the gas released by the onion. Just light a candle near your cutting area then chop away.

4. Wear goggles: This method seems to make the most sense. Wearing goggles will create a barrier between your eyes and the onion gas. They even make special onion goggles just for cutting onions, though I'm sure any pair of goggles that fully protects your eyes will do just fine.