Kitchen Classics: The Vidalia Onion

The state of Georgia is known for its sweet peaches. Did you know it’s known for sweet onions as well?

One of the newest additions to the genus Allium, the Vidalia Onion was discovered in Georgia in 1931. Named for its hometown, sweet Vidalia Onions are one of the most successful agricultural products in the history of the Peach State. A highly versatile vegetable, the Vidalia is an unusually sweet, mild onion that can be enjoyed cooked or raw. It is for this reason that it is a common ingredient in numerous world cuisines. The Vidalia is large, with a light-brown exterior, a rounded bottom, and a slightly flat top.

Grown exclusively in a 20-county region of Georgia, Vidalia Onions are available from late April through mid-November. Because of its high water and sugar content, these gourmet onions have a slightly shorter shelf life than most other onion varieties. On average, a bag of Vidalia onions should last for two to three weeks.

Health Benefits of Vidalia Onions

Like many other ancient foods, the onion was once considered a panacea that could cure everything from baldness to freckles to more serious, even life-threatening conditions. But one thing we know for certain is that Vidalia Onions are a good source of vitamin C and dietary fiber. Of course, that doesn’t tell us why most cooks consider them a staple ingredient. So, what exactly makes them so special?

How to Use Vidalia Onions

Because they are sweeter and contain more water than most other onion varieties, the Vidalia is one of the few onions that can be baked, sauteed, steamed, or eaten raw. In fact, their amazing versatility makes them a favorite of both professional and amateur cooks alike.

Here are just a few of the ways you can enjoy Vidalia Onions:

1. Raw. Like red onions, raw Vidalia onions are sweet and watery enough to be used in salads. They can also be added raw to burgers and sandwiches without overpowering the overall flavor (few other onion varieties can be used this way).

2. Cooked. Like most other onions, Vidalia’s can be steamed, baked, fried, or sautéed in any dish that requires cooked onions. They are especially popular in dishes that require caramelized onions, since they contain more sugar than most other onion varieties.

How to Store Sweet Vidalia Onions

Since they are not available all-year round, it is often a good idea to purchase Vidalia’s in bulk shortly before the season ends and store them properly.

Because they have a higher water content than most other onion varieties, Vidalia’s bruise quite easily, so be sure to handle them with care. Unlike other onions, sweet onions do better when stored in the fridge – to keep them from drying out, remove Vidalia’s from their packing and storage them separately in your refrigerator’s produce drawer to ensure freshness (avoid stacking them).

It is possible to freeze whole Vidalia Onions, but they should only be used for cooking, since freezing changes their texture when used raw.

Where to Find the Best Vidalia Onions

Can’t find Vidalia’s at your local farmers markets or grocery store? You can buy Vidalia’s online from Pittman & Davis!

Buying your sweet onions online from us ensures you get the best quality onions shipped directly to your door. They also make great gifts – as a cooking staple, your recipient is sure to use every last one, and probably sooner rather than later. So, check out Pittman & Davis’s own gourmet onion offerings…you may find you want to get yourself a box or two as well!