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Vegetable

Onions

Onions are a bulb vegetable that forms the flavour base of most savoury cooking. Brown onions are the everyday cooking onion, sharp when raw and sweet when cooked slowly. Red onions are milder and suit salads and pickles. White onions are sharper and crisper. Onions are cured and stored, so they are available all year in Australia, though fresh new-season onions come in spring and summer. Onions are a modest source of fibre and vitamin C. Soften them in oil for soups, curries and sauces, caramelise them over 30 to 40 minutes for a sweet jam, or roast them whole. Cutting an onion releases a gas that stings the eyes, so use a sharp knife and chill the onion for 30 minutes first.

In season in Australia

Best Jan to Mar
  1. January: in season
  2. February: in season
  3. March: in season
  4. April
  5. May
  6. June
  7. July
  8. August
  9. September
  10. October
  11. November
  12. December

National guide. Local seasons vary by state.

Need help growing onions? Try Planting Season

Fresh onionsIllustration generated with AI

How to choose

Choose onions that feel heavy and hard, with dry, papery skins and no soft spots, damp patches or green shoots. The neck should be tight and dry. Avoid onions that smell strong through the skin, which suggests rot. Red onions should have glossy, deep-coloured skin.

How to store

Keep whole onions in a cool, dark, dry, well-ventilated spot, not in the fridge, for 1 to 2 months. Do not store them next to potatoes, as they spoil faster together. Cut onion keeps in the fridge in a sealed container for 5 to 7 days.

Freezing

Yes, for cooking. Peel and chop onions, spread them on a tray, freeze, then bag them. There is no need to blanch. They keep for up to 10 months, but go soft when thawed, so use them straight from frozen in soups, curries, stews and sauces.

Too many onions?

Caramelise a large batch slowly, then freeze it in portions for soup, pies and burgers. Make French onion soup, onion jam or pickled red onions. Chop and freeze raw onions for quick weeknight cooking, or roast whole onions until soft and sweet.

Onions recipes

Know what is in season

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Grow it Growing onions at home On Planting Season

Onions questions

How do you stop onions making you cry?

Chill the onion for 30 minutes, use a very sharp knife and cut quickly, leaving the root end for last. Cutting releases a gas that irritates your eyes. Ventilating the kitchen or cutting beside a running fan can also help.

How long do onions last?

Whole onions keep for 1 to 2 months in a cool, dark, dry place with good airflow. Cut onion lasts 5 to 7 days in a sealed container in the fridge. Throw out any that are soft, mouldy or leaking liquid.

Can you freeze onions?

Yes. Peel, chop, and freeze them in a single layer, then bag them. They keep for about 10 months. They soften after thawing, so use them in cooked dishes like soups and curries, and cook them straight from the freezer.

What is the difference between brown and red onions?

Brown onions are sharp and become sweet and savoury when cooked, making them the standard cooking onion. Red onions are milder and sweeter, and their colour suits raw use in salads, salsas and pickles. You can use either in cooking.