According to Shrek, one of America’s favorite animated heroes, ogres are like onions, not

because they have a strong smell or make you cry, but because they have layers! Peeling the versatile white onion reveals that while it can make you cry, like Shrek, it may also turn out to be the protagonist of your next meal.

Peri & Sons Farms grow premium onions that should make their way into your next dish. Their Nevada-grown whites are highly sought-after. The unique conditions in Yerington, Nevada—warm, dry days and crisp, clear nights—give their onions an appealing pearlescent coloring and firm feel. Containing a slightly higher water content than yellow onions, they are sweeter, and when kept in the right environmental conditions, these onions will store for several months.

Four generations in, Peri & Sons Farms is a true family farm, solely owned, operated, and sustained by a family with a long farming heritage. Their hands-on approach to every aspect of growing and marketing results in a personal and passionate harvest.

Photo courtesy of Peri & Sons Farms

Did you know that the reason onions make us cry is from an evolutionary trait the onion developed as a self-defense mechanism? The chemical released, lachrymatory factor (LF), is meant to protect the onion against microbes and animals.

Luckily, humans found nifty loopholes to avoid the awkward tearing-up from onion cutting. Decrease the likelihood of tears by chilling onions in the refrigerator or in cold water for 30 minutes prior to cutting.

Quick and easy onion dicing tips:

1. Cut the top
2. For easier peeling, thinly slice down the outside layer
3. Peel the first layer off by hand
4. Cut in half lengthwise
5. Make cuts along the length of the onion half, following the lines of the onion
6. Make evenly spaced horizontal cuts
7. Slice down and chop away!

Note: Cutting your onion evenly, helps them cook evenly.

As one of the world’s oldest and most widely-used vegetable, onions are endlessly versatile and an essential ingredient in countless recipes. They can be baked, sautйed, broiled, fried, roasted, spiced, barbecued, pickled, or even candied.

You can’t go wrong with these vital-veggies in any of your dishes. Their nutritional benefits are extensive. Organosulfur and other compounds in onions help increase circulation, lower blood pressure, and even prevent blood clotting. They detoxify the body and skin and also fight the free radicals that can cause cell destruction and disease. According to studies, generous amounts of a flavonoid called quercetin, a potent antioxidant, may protect against cataracts, cardiovascular disease, and cancer.

Check out our more substantial list of health benefits on our A-Z FOOD GUIDE.

We hope you take advantage of this layered, rich, and healthy vegetable and make them the happily-ever-after to your diet. Try our newest recipe with White Onions here!

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