Onions come in various types, each with distinct qualities. But do these differences really make a difference? While onions are versatile and it’s often possible to substitute one for another, understanding their differences can be helpful. Here’s a look at the main types of onions and when to use them:
- Yellow Onions: Known for their robust flavour, yellow onions are the most common variety and are perfect for everyday cooking. They’re typically the most accessible in supermarkets, and if a recipe doesn’t specify, yellow onions are your best bet. They have a strong taste when raw but become sweet and tender when cooked. The longer they cook, the sweeter they become.
- Sweet Onions: These onions are larger, flatter, and less vibrant in colour than yellow onions. As the name suggests, they have a milder, sweeter flavour, making them ideal for eating raw in salads or sandwiches. When cooked, they become even sweeter. If you’re looking to avoid a strong onion taste, sweet onions are the way to go. However, if you prefer a more savoury flavour, yellow onions may be more suitable.
- Red Onions: Red onions are best used raw due to their milder flavour compared to other varieties. Their purple colour adds a vibrant touch to dishes, particularly salads. Some red onions can be sweeter than others, but if the taste is too intense, soaking them in water before use can help mellow their flavour.
- White Onions: Slightly stronger than yellow onions, white onions work well as a substitute. They tend to have a more pronounced flavour, especially when raw, but become sweeter when cooked. White onions also retain a firmer texture compared to yellow onions, making them a good choice when a bit of crunch is desired.
M&P Engineering has been manufacturing food production, preparation and filling equipment for many years and offers a range of equipment including its onion peeling machines.
M&P Engineering’s Large Onion Peeling machine uses a dry peeling process, resulting in no waste slurry. It can peel, top and tail onions with diameters between 45mm and 115mm using its self-adjusting floating knife assemblies. The peeler uses compressed air to remove the skin, resulting in optimum end-product appearance.
The large onion peeler has a raw material input rate of 750kg per hour when working at optimum speed but can be adjusted to suit the needs of the processor.
M&P Engineering also have available a range of freshcut machinery, including our Carousel Grid Cutting machine and our Radish Top & Tailer.
If you would like to find out more information about our products, speak to a member of the team on +44 (0)161 872 8378 or contact us here.