Fresh onions?

[Clara]

Um, a bit of a stupid question but...

Obviously to get the brown papery skin on a onion you need to leave it outside to dry, but should we do this just for storage purposes or does it do something to the taste of the onion?

My onions are coming to the size where I could harvest some as they become big enough to use and leave the rest room to grow into the empty spaces for later. Will an onion plucked from the ground and used immediately taste as good (or better even?) as a traditionally dried onion?

Clara x.

[Andy Hamilton]

I tend to dry some and use some straight from the ground. You are supposed to dry them especially if you want to store them for a while. To be honest I have never noticed that much of a difference. I am sure that someone will disagree though.

incidentally, did you know that your onions will be sweeter than mine as you live nearer the equator. I am not sure why it is possibly something to do with hours of daylight.

[Clara]

Thank you, I thought it wouldn´t matter, but you never know...

incidentally, did you know that your onions will be sweeter than mine as you live nearer the equator. I am not sure why it is possibly something to do with hours of daylight.

No I didn´t, but another piece of random knowledge to commit to memory. Assuming that human intelligence is limited, I´m sure one day I shall lose the ability to do something useful, like feed myself, with the amount of random facts I seem to accrue

Clara x.

[Cornelian]

Like potatoes, allowing them to dry in the open air hardens off their skins for storage. I always dry mine for long term storage and it works well. I have tried to store -non-hardened ones long term and they've gone mouldy, so I am a committed hardener-offer.

[Clara]

Yep I can see that you need to dry off ones for storage, my question is if I take them from the ground as I use them (and harden off the rest later), will there be any difference in taste or quality of the ones I´m using fresh?

common sense suggests not, but then my common sense can be questionable!

Clara x.

[red]

we used to have a veg box every week - first we would get spring onions, then fat spring onions, then onions with green bits attached then brown onions as the seasons progressed.

if you think about it - spring onions must originally have been early onion thinnings. (hough there are particular types just for spring onion now)
so, ok to eat at any stage

[Wombat]

Thank you, I thought it wouldn´t matter, but you never know...

incidentally, did you know that your onions will be sweeter than mine as you live nearer the equator. I am not sure why it is possibly something to do with hours of daylight.

No I didn´t, but another piece of random knowledge to commit to memory. Assuming that human intelligence is limited, I´m sure one day I shall lose the ability to do something useful, like feed myself, with the amount of random facts I seem to accrue

Clara x.

It's called having a fly paper mind. I used to have one but now the sticky bit is starting to wear out.........

Nev

[Millymollymandy]

Boy you are way ahead in Spain!!!

Yes you can eat your onions straight from the ground, I do! They taste just like onions!

[ina]

I imagine that whether they taste the same fresh and dried might also depend on the variety. After all, there are special varieties more suitable to storing, or more suitable for eating fresh.

In case of doubt - try out!