Guide Note

The onion is a vegetable from the allium genus, a bulbed plant grouping. They are one of the most common vegetables used in salads, sandwiches, and grilled dishes. The chemical compounds found within most onion species lend it a sharp, sweet flavor that mixes well with many meats.

There are around a dozen varieties of onion available and commonly used in cooking in North America, most popularly the shallot, Western Yellow, Walla Walla and Vidalia onion.

Many people experience eye irritation when slicing onions. This is caused by the sulphenic acids that are released as enzymes break down amino acids during the slicing motions.

Fast Facts

1. Scientific name: Allium cepa
2. Originated in Central Asia
3. Main ingredient in French Onion Soup
4. Used in almost every type of cooking to add flavor
5. Green onions also known as scallions
6. China is the world's largest producer of onions
7. Ancient Egyptians believed that onions symbolized eternal life
8. Pilgrims brought onions to North America on the Mayflower, though some varieties already existed

1. China
2. India
3. United States
4. Turkey
5. Pakistan
6. Russia
7. South Korea
8. Japan
9. Egypt
10. Spain