What you didn’t know about the humble onion
To look at an onion you would never know how many nutritional secrets are hiding
inside each layer of deliciousness. Did you know that the humble onion contains
more rich vitamins, minerals and nutrients than most fruits and vegetables combined?
Talk about a super food!
Onions are comprised of a special flavonoid called quercetin, a type of antioxidant
that which helps eliminate free radicals in the body. Common sources of quercetin
are tea and apples, but research shows that absorption of quercetin from onions
is twice that from tea and more than three times that from apples. Who knew?!
According to the National Onion Association, Studies have shown quercetin to have
beneficial effects in fighting against several diseases and disorders.
And if that wasn’t reason enough, the consumption of one serving of onion a day
can reduce cholesterol, and improve bone density. They are a naturally occurring
source of vitamin C, potassium, dietary fiber and folic acid. The humble onion can
even boast a high-protein, no-fat, low sodium, iron enriched existence.
The onion. 45 calories of perfection. I guess it really does have layers!
How to Pick an Onion
There are three fail proof steps to selecting your onions…
First: Use your eyes. Check out the skin. Look for a dry outer skin that is free
from spots and blemishes.
Second: Go ahead…pick it up. The onion should be pretty heavy for its size.
Third: Give it a sniff. Does it smell? A good onion should have no scent until it
is cut.
Storing your Onions
There are a lot of “expert ideas” on the storing of onions. We like the following
method.
Keep your whole onions in a cool, dry, dark and ventilated place like a pantry,
closet or cold storage area. Take note that sweet onions have a shorter shelf life
than other onions, so use sweets sooner rather than later. Do not keep your whole
onions in a refrigerator or in a plastic bag. Lack of air movement reduces storage
life.
Chopped or sliced onions can be stored in a sealed container in your refrigerator
for up to seven days.
© 2010 Utah Onions, Inc. All Rights Reserved.