is a sweet onion the same as a vidalia onion

Youve probably seen them in the produce section of your grocery store, along with yellow onions, red onions, and others—but what sets Vidalia onions apart? They have a “distinct sweet and crisp taste and are a favorite among chefs because of their versatility,” says Cliff Riner, chairman of the Vidalia Onion Committee, a growers group.

We spoke to experts to learn everything you need to know about the vegetable, from what it looks like to how to store and cook with it.

A Vidalia onion is a type of sweet onion. It has a mild flavor, a uniquely flat shape, and a relatively high sugar content. The soil in Vidalia, Georgia has an unusually low amount of sulfur — that’s why this variety is more sweet than sharp.

What Are Vidalia Onions?

Vidalia onions are a type of sweet onion that originated in Toombs County, Ga., and are exclusively grown within 20 counties in South Georgia. While someone else can grow this type of onion, the Vidalia Onion Act of 1986 states that only Vidalia onions grown in those specific counties can be marketed as Vidalias.

The beloved vegetable got its name from tourists who purchased the onions at the Vidalia Farmers Market in Toombs County. Riner says the vegetable gets its “distinctive taste from the combination of weather, soil, and water found in these counties.” Although theyre only grown and harvested in a specific part of the country, about 200 million pounds of Vidalia onions are distributed across the United States and Canada every year.

According to Riner, you can identify a Vidalia onion by its uniquely flat shape, golden brown exterior, and white interior. In stores, Vidalia onions will have a produce identification sticker that has a product lookup code of 4159—and youll find them from April until Labor Day,

Vidalia Onions vs. Other Onion Varieties

The sweet, crisp onion is often confused with yellow onions because of its similar golden color, but theres a major difference between the two. According to Riner, Vidalia onions are grown from a specific seed variety that is tested for a minimum of three years to ensure it meets proper standards. “Vidalia onions have a sweeter taste because of their high water and natural sugar content, compared to other yellow onions which have a milder taste when cooked,” says Riner.

In addition to being confused with yellow onions, people also have a hard time understanding the difference between Vidalias and other sweet varieties. According to Rodrigo Velásquez, produce category manager at Imperfect Foods, “all Vidalias are sweet onions, but not all sweet onions are Vidalias.” He says the key difference is in the flavor: “What sets them apart is their sweetness and sulfur levels—[Vidalias] have the highest sugars and lowest sulfur levels of all sweet onions.” Anina von Haeften, co-founder of the food delivery service Farm to People notes that this leads to a lighter, less offensive onion flavor than other sweet varieties.

Why are sweet onions sweet? Can you really eat Vidalia onions like apples?

FAQ

What’s the difference between Vidalia onions and sweet onions?

What is another name for a sweet onion?

Which onion is sweeter Vidalia or Walla Walla?

Is Vidalia a sweet onion?

There are different types of sweet onions with varying levels of sweetness, and Vidalia onions happen to be the sweetest among the other types of sweet onions. It has a whopping 12% sugar content compared to the 5% of other onions. Because they are basically the same onion type, Vidalia and sweet onions share similar characteristics.

Are boiled and fried onions the same as fresh onions?

Boiled and fried onions are not the same as fresh onions. During the cooking process, whether by cooking in water or by frying, there is a change in the composition of the onions. Fried onions are not recommended for consumption as they can be harmful to health.

Why do Vidalia onions taste sweet?

“Vidalia onions have a sweeter taste because of their high water and natural sugar content, compared to other yellow onions which have a milder taste when cooked,” says Riner. In addition to being confused with yellow onions, people also have a hard time understanding the difference between Vidalias and other sweet varieties.

Why are Vidalia onions so popular?

They have a “distinct sweet and crisp taste and are a favorite among chefs because of their versatility,” says Cliff Riner, chairman of the Vidalia Onion Committee, a growers group. We spoke to experts to learn everything you need to know about the vegetable, from what it looks like to how to store and cook with it. What Are Vidalia Onions?