How Many Onions In A Pound? – Answered!

Last Updated on May 26, 2022 by

How Many Onions In A Pound? Almost every home chef has experienced being halfway through a recipe only to be halted in their tracks when the next item specified is “one pound of onion.” You’re not alone if you’ve ever scratched your head and wondered what constitutes one pound of onion. We questioned the same thing and researched to determine what constitutes one pound of onion.

One pound is two or three medium onions, the size of an ordinary apple or navel orange. Stick to the center ground and choose medium-sized onions when presented with onions ranging from a shallot to softball-sized behemoths.

How Many Onions Make A Pound?

If you’ve ever spent a lot of time in the produce section, you’ve noticed that onions are usually sold by the pound. If you buy onions by the individual onion or prefer a pre-packaged bag, you may be asking how many onions are in a pound. The answer varies since onions come in such a wide range of sizes. We have discussed how many ounces a small, medium, or big onion contains. As a guide, use those measurements.

  • 4-5 small onions make a pound.
  • 2-3 medium onions equals a pound.
  • One large onion will weigh under a pound.

How Many Cups Is A Medium Onion?

Not every home cook has a kitchen scale to weigh onions to assess their size. Knowing how many cups of chopped onions are comparable to a medium onion is helpful if you don’t have a scale and are estimating the size of your onion. Substitute these measurements as needed to solve your onion problem.

  • Use 1/2 cup chopped onions in place of a small onion.
  • Substitute 1 cup chopped onions for a medium onion.
  • Use  1/2 cup chopped onions as equivalent to a large onion.

What Do Onions Look Like and How Do They Taste?

Brown onions, sometimes known as yellow onions, have a strong taste and may be utilized in various cuisines. They have a thin covering of papery brown skin and are spherical—the multi-layered, white-ish flesh underneath the skin.

The exterior of red onions, sometimes known as purple onions, is dark crimson, nearly purple, while the layered meat is white with a hint of red. They are popular in salads since their flavor is nice and not as intense as the brown/yellow.

Brown and red onions are softer and milder than white onions. They retain the characteristic onion flavor but do not have a lasting aftertaste, making them ideal for ‘raw ingredient’ meals like salads. You may reduce part of their intense flavor by soaking onions in cold water before using them in any meal. Spring onions, also known as green onions, are plucked before they are fully grown. They feature little white bulbs with long, velvety green stalks and are far sweeter than the other types.

The onion family also includes shallots and leeks. Shallots resemble elongated and stretched onions, but when peeled, you’ll discover cloves in clusters (similar to garlic) rather than multi-layered rings. Leeks are long, green vegetables that resemble green onions but are considerably larger and have a milder flavor. Onions, shallots, and leeks all have unique flavors, and it’s not a good idea to substitute one for the other while cooking; use what your recipe specifies.

Is It Possible To Freeze Onions And If So How?

You can freeze onions! It’s unnecessary to blanch or pre-treat them; peel, cut, and freeze.  Frozen sliced or chopped onions don’t need to be defrosted; add them to soups, stews, sauces, and even sautéing with other veggies right from the freezer. Remember that freezing onions affect their texture, so it is not smart to use frozen onions in fresh foods like salsas or salads.

To freeze the onion pieces, lay them on a baking pan and set them in the freezer for a few hours, ideally overnight. Place the frozen onions in freezer containers or bags and return them to the freezer. When freezing onions, some people like to blanch them first. Enzyme activity is inhibited when onions are blanched, avoiding taste, color, and texture loss. Whole onions may be blanched until thoroughly heated in the middle (usually between 3 – 7 minutes, depending on the size). Cool thoroughly before placing the onions in freezer containers.

How Much Do Onions Cost Per Pound At Walmart?

Let’s talk about typical onion costs at Walmart now that we know how many onions comprise a pound. Onions exist in various sizes and varieties, many of which are called by their color or taste. When searching for a price, the onion kind is crucial to consider. According to our research, Walmart offers both yellow and sweet onions for $.97 a pound. 

White onions are somewhat more expensive, at $1.18 per pound. Red onions are available for $2.98 per 3-pound package at Walmart. If chopping onions isn’t your thing, pre-chopped onions are available. Genius! However, they will set you back $2.58 for 8 ounces of chopped yellow onion at Walmart.

Which Onions Are the Biggest?

While we consider a pound of onion pretty enormous, Guinness World Records states that the biggest onion ever weighed nearly 18 pounds! The biggest onions, categorized as Super Colossal by the National Onion Association, usually are 4-6″ in diameter and weigh around a pound on our grocery store shelves; a few kinds that reach this size or even larger include the Ailsa Craig, Kelsae, Rossa di Milano, Scout, and Walla Walla.

How To Clean Onions

While onions don’t need to be washed because of their brown papery coating covering the interior layers, a short wash with water is still a good idea.

Sulfuric acid interacts with the moisture in your eyes when you cut into an onion. This generates an immediate burning sensation and causes your eyes to moisten. Cutting your onions underwater will prevent this; otherwise, chop them as fast as possible to avoid being exposed to the onion for any longer than required.

How to Dice or Mince Onions

Wash the onion well with water. Slice the onion lengthwise from root to stem on a chopping board. Remove the stem but leave the other end in place since it will help keep the onion rings from splitting. Pull the thin, papery skin from the onion after being halved and the stem removed.

Place the flat onion side down on the cutting board and slice it crosswise so that the chopped pieces resemble crescents. Cut the ends of a tiny stack of these ‘crescents’ as small as you need them to be. Wipe off the cutting board with a moist sponge or cloth after finishing the cutting. You may alternatively mince your onion in a blender. Instead of cutting the onion, cut it into quarters and throw it in the blender.

What Are the Benefits and Uses of Onions?

Onions are one of the most versatile ingredients. They may be roasted, grilled, caramelized, deep-fried, or eaten raw (thinly sliced or diced) in salads, sandwiches, dips, and burger toppings. Sauces and gravies thicken with chopped onions.

Spring onions make excellent crudités when served whole, and their stems may be utilized in salads and dips. They’re very popular in prepared foods because of their sweet, mild flavor. Onions were so valuable that they were used as cash and were given as presents throughout the Middle Ages!

What Is The Name Of A Small Onion?

Small onions come in various sizes and shapes, some of which may be used interchangeably in recipes. Shallots, cipollini onions, and pearl onions are three little ones that are not your typical small ones. 

Shallots resemble little red onions and have a strong garlic smell. Cipollini onions are little golden onions with a flattened appearance and a sweet taste. The smallest is the pearl onions. When a recipe calls for a tiny onion, it usually refers to a typical type that weighs 3-5 ounces. The little variety we just reviewed in most recipes is requested by name. If you’re in a hurry, make do with what you have. While each kind of onion has small characteristics, they all have enough in common that it’s generally OK to experiment with them.

Are Pearl Onions Tiny Onions?

The pearl onion is a master of aliases. Baby, cocktail, and creamer are all names for these little onions. Pearl onions come in white, yellow, and red variants and have a sweet and mild taste. Pearl onions should not be mistaken for little onions, as described in this article, even though they are onions and are exceedingly small (3-5 ounces). 

A pearl onion is not called for in a dish that asks for a bit of onion. Pearl onions are often utilized in different ways than regular tiny onions. Pearl onions benefit from not needing to be cut since they are so small. Pickle them, roast them, glaze them, or even cream them!

Conclusion on How Many Onions In A Pound?

The most popular vegetables, onions, are a kitchen staple and may be more intriguing than you think. Now that we’ve cleared up the age-old mystery of what a recipe means when it calls for a specific onion size, you may confidently cut those onions.