A little reason to celebrate
National Onion Day
Food · June 27
A look at the onion, the layered bulb behind countless soups, stews and sautés, and simple ways to cook with it.
National Onion Day falls on Sunday, June 27, 2027. That is 243 days away.
Most savory cooking starts the same way: a pan, some oil, and a chopped onion going soft. The onion is a bulb vegetable built from tightly stacked layers, and it shows up in kitchens nearly everywhere.
There are several common kinds. Yellow onions are the everyday workhorse, sharp when raw and sweet after long cooking. Red onions are milder and colorful, so they often go into salads and onto sandwiches raw. White onions are crisp and clean tasting, and sweet varieties are gentle enough to slice thick for a burger. Shallots, a close relative, are smaller and more delicate.
Cooking changes an onion completely. A few minutes over medium heat makes it translucent and soft. Given much longer at low heat, it turns deep brown and jammy as its natural sugars caramelize. That slow version takes patience, but it is the base of French onion soup and a fine topping for almost anything.
The famous tears come from compounds released when the onion's cells are cut. A sharp knife crushes fewer cells than a dull one, and chilling the onion briefly before slicing helps some cooks. Leaving the root end on until last also seems to keep things calmer.
Store whole onions in a cool, dry, dark spot with some air around them, away from potatoes. Once cut, wrap the rest and keep it in the refrigerator.
Ways to celebrate
- Try caramelizing a batch of onions slowly over low heat.
- Make a pot of onion soup to share.
- Quick-pickle sliced red onions in vinegar for tacos or salads.
- Compare yellow, red and white onions side by side in one dish.
- Practice slicing with a sharp knife, leaving the root end on.
Dates
| Year | Date |
|---|---|
| 2026 | Saturday, June 27 |
| 2027 | Sunday, June 27 |
| 2028 | Tuesday, June 27 |
| 2029 | Wednesday, June 27 |
| 2030 | Thursday, June 27 |
Also on June 27
Categories: Food days