30 mins•2 servings•Easy
Crispy Potato & Egg Skillet
Golden skillet-fried potatoes, sweet caramelized onions, and eggs cooked to your liking in one comforting cast-iron pan.
7 ingredientsView Recipe →
Produce Guide
How to Cook With, Store, and Substitute Onions
Virtually every great soup, skillet, braise, and sauce begins with an onion sizzling in butter or oil. As onions cook, sulfur compounds soften and complex sugars caramelize into deep savory richness.
Illustrative photo from Unsplash. Guide updated . Storage times are typical estimates; follow package dates and discard food that looks, smells or feels spoiled.
How to Store Onions for Maximum Freshness
1 to 2 months
Dry, Dark, Well-Ventilated Bin
Keep whole dry onions in a wire basket or open paper bag in a cool pantry. Avoid plastic bags which trap moisture.
7 to 10 days
Cut Onions in Fridge
Store halved or diced raw onions in an airtight glass container in the refrigerator to avoid onion smell permeating other foods.
Best Ways to Use Onions
- The foundational aromatic base for every soup, stew, and pasta sauce
- Caramelized low and slow for French onion soups and burger toppings
- Quick-pickled in apple cider vinegar for taco toppings and salads
- Crispy fried onion frittatas and potato skillet hashes
Common Cooking Mistakes to Avoid
!
Using dull knives (dull blades crush cell walls, releasing more tear-inducing syn-propanethial-S-oxide)
!
Rushing caramelized onions on high heat (burns the edges before interior sugars develop)
!
Storing onions next to potatoes (shortens the lifespan of both)
Substitutions
| Substitute | Ratio | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Shallots or Leeks | 1:1 diced | Sauces, soups, and sautés |
| Onion Powder | About 1 tsp per medium onion; start with less and taste | Seasoning rubs, sauces, and emergency pantry cooking |
| Scallions (Green Onions) | 6 scallions for 1 small onion | Stir-fries, scrambles, and garnishes |
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I stop crying when chopping onions?
Use a razor-sharp chef knife, chill the onion in the refrigerator for 20 minutes beforehand to slow the volatile gas release, and keep your face back from directly above the cutting board.
What is the difference between yellow, white, and red onions?
Yellow onions are the workhorse for cooking and caramelizing. White onions have a sharper, crisper bite common in Mexican cuisine. Red onions have mild sweetness and are best raw in salads and burgers or quick-pickled.
Recipes Using Onions
45 mins•4 servings•Easy
One-Pot Garlic Chicken & Yellow Rice
Juicy seared chicken simmered with aromatic garlic, onions, and golden seasoned rice in a single pot. Minimal cleanup, pure comfort.
8 ingredientsView Recipe →
15 mins•2 servings•Easy
15-Minute Pantry Egg Fried Rice
The definitive solution for leftover chilled rice. High-heat wok flavor with scallions, fluffy scrambled eggs, and savory soy sauce.
7 ingredientsView Recipe →
30 mins•3 servings•Easy
Easy Skillet Tomato Shakshuka
Gently poached eggs resting in a fragrant, spiced tomato and onion sauce with cumin, garlic, and fresh herbs.
8 ingredientsView Recipe →
35 mins•4 servings•Easy
Weeknight Skillet Beef Bolognese
A streamlined meat sauce using ground beef, onions, garlic, and canned crushed tomatoes that tastes like it simmered all afternoon.
8 ingredientsView Recipe →
40 mins•4 servings•Easy
Caramelized Sheet-Pan Roasted Vegetables
Crisp-tender roasted potatoes, carrots, onions, and seasonal veggies tossed with herbs and olive oil at high heat.
7 ingredientsView Recipe →