Best Onion For Soup - The Instant Pot Table

Whether you’re a huge fan of soup or want to try a delicious french onion recipe for the first time, you’ll want to know the Right Onion For Your Soup. Today, we’ll discuss the different types of onions and which is best for soup. So hang around; you may be surprised by the answers.

Contents

Different Types of Onions

The most popular onions are yellow, white, red, and shallots.

Yellow Onions

Yellow onions have a strong, pungent flavor, and golden skin. They are great for soups, stews, marinades, stir-fries, or other cooked dishes.

White Onions

White onions are milder than yellow but have a good flavor with white flesh. They are great for soups, salads, onion rings, and sandwiches.

Red Onions

Red onion is a bit sweeter than yellow and white onions and has a crunchy texture, making them great for adding to salad dressings, salsas, or other raw dishes.

Shallots

Shallots have a milder flavor than other onions and are often used as a substitute for garlic.

Vidalia Onions

Vidalia onions are a sweet type of onion and have a light, mild flavor. These sweet onions do not have the same punch as other onions, but they make up for them in sweetness and crunch.

Spring Onions, AKA Green Onions

Spring onions have a mild and slightly sweet flavor. They add to salad dressings, stir-fries, soups, or garnish.

Ideal Onion for Soup:

Which Onion is Best for Soup?

The best onion for soup is the yellow onion. Yellow onions have a strong flavor, making them great for use in soups and stews, as they help to add depth of flavor.

Yellow onions balance sweetness and sharpness, making them ideal for recipes like French Onion Soup, where you want to get the perfect balance of flavors.

Best Onions for Vegetable Soup

When making vegetable soup, yellow onion is the best.

Recipe to Make Instant Pot French Onion Soup

To make Instant Pot French Onion soup, you’ll need the following ingredients:

Ingredients for Instant Pot French Onion Soup

1/4 Cup Olive Oil
10 Cups Thinly Sliced Yellow Onions
1 tablespoon Brown sugar
1/4 Cup Orange Juice
1 1/2 teaspoons Salt
4 Cups Low Sodium Beef Broth
1 Teaspoons Worcestershire Sauce
1/4 Teaspoons Freshly Ground Black Pepper
1 Teaspoons Fresh Thyme Leaves
2 Bay Leaves (optional)

Method

Here are the step-by-step instructions for making the best French onion soups.

Step One: Saute Onions

Turn on the saute function and add the olive oil. Once heated, add the sliced onions, brown sugar, and salt. Saute on low heat for 15 minutes, occasionally stirring until you have caramelized onions. Sautéing or sweating onions is one of the first steps to building a flavor base for soups.

Step Two: Deglaze Instant Pot

Add a little beef broth to the Instant Pot and scrape the bottom of the Pot to ensure there is no food stuck to the bottom of the Instant Pot. This will prevent the burn notice during pressure cooking.

Step Three: Add Ingredients to Pot

Add the orange juice, remaining beef broth, Worcestershire sauce, pepper, bay leaves, and thyme leaves to the Instant Pot.

Step Four: Pressure Cook French Onion Soup

Set the Instant Pot to pressure cook for 5 minutes on high pressure. Once the cooking is complete, allow the Instant Pot to release naturally. A natural release will prevent any liquid from spewing out of the top of the Instant Pot.

Step Five: Garnish and Serve

Pour the soup into bowls and garnish with your favorite toppings. You can add baguettes and cheese and place them under the broiler for extra flavor. This is one of my favorite French onion soup recipes.

Best Onions to Make Caramelized Onions

If you’re looking for the best onion for caramelized onions, you’ll want to go with either a white or red one.

The caramelization process needs onions with a good amount of natural sugars, which these sweet onion varieties have in abundance.

White onions have a milder flavor and, when cooked slowly, will become sweet and deep golden.

Red onions are slightly sweeter than yellow onions, so they may produce sweeter caramelized onions. However, both types of onion work great for caramelizing.

Lastly, remember that the size of your onions will affect the cooking time – smaller onions will cook faster than larger ones!

5 Soup Recipes That Use Onions

Here are some fantastic soup recipes that use raw onions.

Instant Pot Asparagus Soup

Asparagus Soup with yellow onions is a simple yet delicious way to enjoy asparagus.

Cauliflower Soup

This cheesy cauliflower soup has a whole yellow onion added for extra flavor. Try this Cauliflower Soup recipe today.

Mexican Street Corn Soup

Try using onion in this delicious Mexican street corn soup. This Street Corn Soup recipe is super tasty.

Minestrone Soup

This classic Italian Minestrone Soup is loaded with onions for a flavorful broth. Enjoy this copycat minestrone recipe.

More Questions About Onions

Are Green Onions Good for Soup?

Green onions add a mild flavor to salads, salsas, and other dishes. They do not have the same depth of flavor as yellow or white onions, so they are not used in most soups.

Green onions are much more tender than yellow or white onions and will become soggy when cooked in soups. Having said that, you will find green onions in Instant Pot Chinese Dumpling Soup and Instant Pot Egg Drop Soup.

What Is the Most Crunchy Onion?

When deciding which onion is the most crunchy, you should start by looking at the varieties of onions available. Onions range in size, shape, and flavor, some being sweeter than others.

But for that crunchy texture, Red Onions are the top pick among chefs and home cooks alike. This variety has a crisp texture when raw and is sweet yet sharp when cooked. The bright purple hue of a red onion makes any dish pleasing to the eye.

What is the Best Onion for Pickling?

Pickling onions is one of the most enjoyable ways to preserve the harvest! When picking out the best onion for pickling, red onions are a popular choice.

Red onions have a mild flavor that pairs well with traditional pickling ingredients like vinegar and spices. Red onions also provide a beautiful deep purple color once they have been pickled, which can add visual appeal to your dish.

What is the Best Onion for Burgers?

If you’re looking for the best onion to top off a burger, look no further than a sweet onion. Sweet onions offer a milder flavor and crunch that regular yellow onions don’t have.

They help to add the perfect hint of sweetness without overwhelming the rest of your delicious flavors while adding a beautiful pop of tender texture.

When grilling them up to top off a juicy burger, they won’t flame up or scorch, so you can be sure they’ll stay intact even when open-flame cooking.

What is the Best Onion for Chili?

The best onion for chili depends on what the recipe calls for, but sweet onions like Vidalia or Walla Walla are always good choices.

They’ll help bring out the additional sweetness in tomatoes, peppers, and spices– perfect for adding a little zing to a rich-tasting, slow-cooked recipe.

Their mild taste means no need to worry about overpowering other flavors. Use sweet onions to give your chili recipe an extra bit of flair without sacrificing its signature taste.

What is the Best Onion for Fajitas?

When making the perfect fajitas, white onions are where it’s at! With their white papery skin and slightly pungent flavor, white onions add sweetness to veggies or meat dishes.

Not only that, but they also hold their shape in high heat while still browning nicely when sautéed, a definite bonus when trying to make the best fajitas possible. The white onion is definitely your best bet for divinely delicious fajitas!

What is the Best Onions for Tacos?

Regarding tacos, the white onion should be your first choice. Whether you’re making a classic Mexican street taco or tuna tacos, white onions provide the perfect amount of crunch and flavor.

Furthermore, white onions are commonly consumed in Mexican cuisine – their mild flavor profile is essential to many dishes. When preparing tacos with white onion, always slice them thin for the most even cooking. For extra flavor, sauté them in a bit of oil before adding them to the mix.

What is the Best Onions for Grilling?

While any onion can be grilled, some varieties hold up better than others. Thick-skinned yellow onions are firm enough to withstand turning on the grill yet maintain their flavor and overall texture.

Red onions offer a slight sweetness that infuses into whatever heartier foods you may be cooking simultaneously, while pearl onions become caramelized on the outside when cooked over an open flame. Grilling will transform it into something special regardless of the type of onion you use.

What is the Best Onions for Stir Fry?

When it comes to stir-fries, choosing the perfect onion is key! Of all the varieties available, red onions are a great choice due to their sweet flavor. They hold up well under high heat and take on caramelized edges as they cook, giving your final dish an extra layer of deliciousness.

Yellow onions are also famous for their ability to absorb marinades and sauces, which helps infuse your stir fry with additional flavor. If you’re looking for something a bit crunchier, try spring onions that add texture and sweetness to the mix.

What is the Best Onions for Sandwiches?

Raw red onions are a favorite onion for sandwiches, and with good reason. Their savory flavor is perfect for classic deli sandwiches or even burgers. These onions have just enough crunch to stay pleasantly noticeable but not overwhelming.

Since raw onions contrast so well with rich mayo and tasty cheeses, raw red onions make for the perfect sandwich topping. Highly versatile and safe to use raw (unlike other types of onions), raw red onions are definitely one of the top picks for making your sandwich pop!

What is the Best Onions for Pizza?

Red onions are a good choice for those looking for a mild and sweet flavor, while white onions are a good substitute if you’re looking for something with a bit more depth.

For those who want an even bolder full-bodied flavor, yellow onions pack an impressive punch. Be sure that onions are thinly sliced, and sauté them beforehand to bring out their flavor.

What is the Best Onions for Picco de Gallo?

Regarding the best onions for Picco De Gallo, there are a few different options. Generally, white and yellow onions work best in this salad dressing or other raw preparations due to their sweetness and mildness. For those looking for a bit more kick or crunch, red onions are often favored for Mexican food recipes like tacos and burritos.