What is the difference b/t white, yellow and red onions

[serryjw]

when do I use one vs the others?

[flvegan]

1. I use red exclusively.

I think that it's a difference in sweetness, but I'm not sure. Basically, all I've done here is give my opinion on which is my favorite, offering you no help whatsoever.

[Warpy]

5. I usually use red when I use them raw

in salads, mostly because I like the color. I use ordinary, cheap yellow onions when the color won't be an issue and when I'm cooking them down in soups and stews and spaghetti sauces. I don't ever use white onions, but I can see they'd be an advantage in anything you didn't want a speck of color in, like bechamel based sauces.

When I want onions on my veggie burgers, I get Texasweet or Vidalia, both of which are carried by my local supermarket. They're also especially good grilled.

[smbolisnch]

2. I use yellow...

but only b/c it's the only organic kind my grocery store carries! I always preferred red though :) I too, am absolutely no help :P

[curse10]

3. they have very different flavors

I like all three :-) And all sorts of other onions.

I use red onions when I want a strong, oniony flavor- or if I want color. I also love grilling big chunks of red onions- I also add them to pasta salads.

I use yellow onions in my spaqhetti sauce and for just about everything. Yellow onions are used for onion rings and for French onion soup. I think they are milder than reds- and really sweeten when sauteed.

White onions I use when I'm cooking Mexican. I add them to fresh salsa, guac, and make enchiladas with them. I think white onions are the sweetest of the three.

[SiouxJ]

4. I always thought of it this way:

red are the hottest, most intense (and I believe they are highest in vitamins and antioxidants)

Yellow are milder and sweeter (like those Vidalia sweet onions)

and white are mildest, not as hot or as sweet

For really "oniony" taste, I'd go with scallions.