Raw onions-having trouble finding good ones

[Beth]

I must have tried every kind of onion, yellow, red, white. I even bought ones that were labeled "Mayan Sweet". I would like to have a small bit of onion in a lettuce wrap with avocado and tomato. I find them all too harsh, they burn my throat and I don't really find any of them sweet.

Are there any onions available now that are mild and good to eat raw? Maybe they just don't agree with me. :o

[SamuelWilson]

Sweet vidalia onions are great. Even people who would normally do not eat raw onions, will eat these onions raw. Less harsh than other onions. The 2005 crop of Vidalia Onions has unfortunately come to an end though. This is a good idea for next year though.

As an alternative, leeks will give an onion taste with out all the harshness. A leek is like an oversized green onion. You can't miss them at the supermarket. They are tall with white tip on the root end and long green stalks.

[Beth]

Thanks for your reply! That answers my question. I won't bother trying any more onions until the next crop of Vidalia onions comes out. I will look for leeks though. :)

[Rawkinlocs]

Yes, until the Sweet Vidalia's come out, leeks are VERY mild. I was pleasantly surprised at how mild they were when I bought them for that chili recipe posted here.

[rawpriestess]

Also, to cut the harshness of onions, keep them unrefridgerated, and then when you are ready to use them, peel, cut out the core at the bottom, and toss the amount you want into icey cold water, allow to soak for about 30 minutes to an hour, this will leach out some of the onion oils, and allow the flavor to be not so harsh,

this should help.

or you can use green onions, which are just immature baby large onions, so they are very mild. You can use the white and the green parts.

[Sharon in Colorado]

You may want to give shallots or green (spring) onions a try. They are much milder. Onions are generally an irritant so your body knows what its doing.

[Beth]

Yes, I will also try some green onions and shallots.
Thanks for the idea about soaking the onions. I can try that with ones I had already purchased. I'm trying all kinds of new foods eating raw.

[Autumn]

My husband and I are so crazy for Vidalia onions we go through about 30lbs during the season.

Texas Sweets are very mild as well. :)