Originally published by: Bon appetit
Onions are members of the allium family, a genus of pungent plants that also includes garlic, leeks, chives, ramps, and hundreds of other species. Even among onions there are many, many different types, each with its own special qualities—a distinct onion personality, if you will. But since we can’t possibly cover all alliums (all-iums?) in one article, we’ve divided just a fraction of those we reach for frequently into the three unofficial categories:
- Storage Onions
- Softies
- Little Guys
So what do we like about the different types of onions? And in what situation do we prefer one over the others? These are the great questions of our time…or at least of your most recent Google search. This article tells you what you need to know about the different types of onions.