Ask the Food Editor (2024)

By Susan WestmorelandPublished: Aug 26, 2003

susan westmoreland

Can you substitute a sweet onion, such as a Vidalia, for a regular yellow onion in a recipe?

You can, but you'll probably need to cook the onions slightly longer because sweet varieties (such as Vidalias, Walla Wallas, and Texas Spring Sweet) have a naturally higher water content. Your dish may also have a little less bite; these onions contain more sugar and fewer of the sulfuric-acid compounds that give onions their characteristic flavor.

Be careful, too, when you're storing sweet onions -- they're more susceptible to bruising and nicks. All onions should be kept in a cool, dry environment that allows for adequate air circulation. You can also use a pair of clean, sheer pantyhose (a great way to recycle those with a run): Place an onion in the toe, tie a small knot, then drop in another, make a knot, and so on, until you fill the leg of the hose. When you need an onion, simply cut below a knot. I don't recommend storing onions in the refrigerator, but if you do, wrap each one separately in a paper towel to absorb moisture and ensure adequate air circulation.

Susan Westmoreland

Culinary Director, Kitchen Appliances & Technology Lab

Susan Westmoreland is the culinary director in the Kitchen Appliances & Technology Lab at the Good Housekeeping Institute. She is a graduate of New School for Social Research in New York and the Cordon Bleu Cooking School in London, where she earned a prestigious Grand Diplôme professional chef degree. Prior to working with the Good Housekeeping Institute, Susan ran the magazine’s Test Kitchen for 20 years. A respected food expert and culinary authority, Susan is the author of Good Housekeeping’s signature Good Housekeeping Cookbook, newly updated in 2018, as well as over 20 other cookbooks and special publications. She is a member of The Smithsonian American History Museum’s Kitchen Cabinet, Les Dames d’Escoffier and the James Beard Foundation and is frequently called upon to judge food contests and awards programs. Her favorite food gadget is a microplane grater/zester.