# Disgusting onion taste **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 31, 2008, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disgusting-onion-taste/443421 "2008-03-31T18:20:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![cowgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8c91f0/32.png) [@cowgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cowgirl)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2008, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disgusting-onion-taste/443421/1 "2008-03-31T18:20:03Z")
I like onions well enough in most things, but I can’t bear the taste of them cooked with eggs (e.g. in omelets) or milk (e.g. in scalloped potatoes). I cannot force myself to eat such things and there is literally no other food (except straight-up milk, altho i’m fine with it in cream sauces and such) that I have that reaction to. My friend reports the same reaction, to scalloped potatoes in particular. He once went over to a relative’s house and was overwhelmed by the disgusting smell; he discreetly said something to his wife about it (perhaps something had gotten stuck in a vent and died?) and she said “that’s the scalloped potatoes cooking.” I know that cilantro is unbearable for some people and fine for others. Perhaps there’s something similar going on here? Does anyone else have this reaction to them? ---
**Author:** ![Lightray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lightray/32/391_2.png) [@Lightray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightray)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2008, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disgusting-onion-taste/443421/2 "2008-03-31T18:37:29Z")
My brother and his wife loathe onions. I (and my parents) happen to like 'em. The sulfur compounds in onions that cause tears from smelling are probably to blame. You and your friend are probably just recognizing that in situations where those sulfurous compounds aren’t disguised or are actually exaggerated by what they’re with. ---
**Author:** ![BiblioCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ed8c4c/32.png) [@BiblioCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BiblioCat)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2008, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disgusting-onion-taste/443421/3 "2008-04-01T01:53:46Z")
[QUOTE=cowgirl] I like onions well enough in most things, but I can’t bear the taste of them cooked with eggs (e.g. in omelets) or milk (e.g. in scalloped potatoes). I know that cilantro is unbearable for some people and fine for others. Perhaps there’s something similar going on here? Does anyone else have this reaction to them? [/QUOTE] I’m one of those people who absolutely _loathes_ the taste of cilantro, but I love onions, and in my opinion, there’s nothing better than an omelet with onions in it. I think Egg McMuffins would be greatly improved by adding a bit of fried onions under the cheese. YMMV, obviously. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2008, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disgusting-onion-taste/443421/4 "2008-04-01T01:54:53Z")
Moved from IMHO to CS. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2008, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disgusting-onion-taste/443421/5 "2008-04-01T03:13:38Z")
Onions should be used in moderation. They should not dominate the taste of anything but onion soup. ---
**Author:** ![fisha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/da6949/32.png) [@fisha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fisha)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2008, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disgusting-onion-taste/443421/6 "2008-04-01T03:17:00Z")
I only don’t like the taste of onions if the flavor is transferred from not cleaning the knives or cutting boards, and it’s somewhat unexpected. ---
**Author:** ![Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a9a28c/32.png) [@Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oslo_Ostragoth)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2008, 5:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disgusting-onion-taste/443421/7 "2008-04-01T05:49:49Z")
Roasted onions are manna from heaven. ---
**Author:** ![Ogre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ecb155/32.png) [@Ogre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ogre)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2008, 6:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disgusting-onion-taste/443421/8 "2008-04-01T06:08:27Z")
The phrase “too much onion” makes no sense to me. I mean, I understand the words and all, but strung all together like that? Nothin’. ---
**Author:** ![Moglet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Moglet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moglet)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2008, 6:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disgusting-onion-taste/443421/9 "2008-04-01T06:21:59Z")
I love onions. Absolutely love them in practically any savory combination… but I agree with the OP onions in omelette, or scrambled (creamed) eggs suck - it comes across as a odd hint of onion and it’s just nasty. Also, if I’m having the full cooked breakfast no onions on the side please. Strangely enough the hint of onion that’s caused by cutting cheese on a cutting board after cutting onion on the same board is quite pleasant. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2008, 6:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disgusting-onion-taste/443421/10 "2008-04-01T06:29:35Z")
I love onions so much, I can’t get enough of them, especially the big sweet ones (the flat ones are the sweetest). The best thing in the world is a half-pound cheeseburger, made from freshly-ground beef, sharp cheddar and grilled onions. Mmmmmmmmm! ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2008, 9:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disgusting-onion-taste/443421/11 "2008-04-01T09:02:22Z")
Onions are one of the two perfect foods. (Chocolate is the other.) Everything you eat is better with one of them added. (But not both!) ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2008, 10:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disgusting-onion-taste/443421/12 "2008-04-01T10:51:37Z")
I’m pretty sensitive to onion flavor. If it’s in a stew or something similar where the onion pieces are extremely small and it’s very cooked and blended in with the other flavors, then it’s fine. But if it’s not that cooked-down or if I bite into a bigger/raw piece, then I get this awful sulfurous taste and I even gag sometimes. Oddly, onions in salsa (if I don’t bite right into one) don’t seem to produce that flavor when I’d expect that it would. My eyes are very sensitive to the “fumes” when I try to cut up whole onions, as well. During one small onion I usually have to stop at least twice to wipe my eyes and take a quick break, as I can’t even see from all of the stinging. I finally tried the method of putting the onion in the freezer for 5-10 minutes before cutting it up, and it works great! (I’d tried these [Onion Goggles](http://www.amazon.com/RSVP-International-Onion-Goggles-Black/dp/B0014SQU1A) and not only do I have to take off my glasses for them, as for most goggles, but they don’t even fit on my head with the glasses off!) ---
**Author:** ![lobotomyboy63](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobotomyboy63/32/2900_2.png) [@lobotomyboy63](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lobotomyboy63)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2008, 10:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disgusting-onion-taste/443421/13 "2008-04-01T10:59:00Z")
Love 'em. I could almost eat a whole red onion like an apple…might need a little salad dressing on it, but that’s it. Shallots? Mmm boy, king of the onions! Onions in eggs: rock on! Onions in scalloped potatoes…not sure. Caramelized onion would probably not fit with the texture/color. But I’d try them for sure. ---
**Author:** ![Trunk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/87869e/32.png) [@Trunk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trunk)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2008, 11:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disgusting-onion-taste/443421/14 "2008-04-01T11:12:45Z")
I have never seen the onions/eggs or onions/dairy aversion. Onion lover here, though. One should not overlook the raw red onion. . .great addition to hamburgers or any salad or salsa. My stews, spaghetti sauces, soups. . .all onion heavy. Great food. ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2008, 11:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disgusting-onion-taste/443421/15 "2008-04-01T11:52:34Z")
> [@](#): > > My eyes are very sensitive to the “fumes” when I try to cut up whole onions, as well. During one small onion I usually have to stop at least twice to wipe my eyes and take a quick break, as I can’t even see from all of the stinging. I finally tried the method of putting the onion in the freezer for 5-10 minutes before cutting it up, and it works great! I keep my onions in the fridge, and that works too. ---
**Author:** ![lobotomyboy63](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobotomyboy63/32/2900_2.png) [@lobotomyboy63](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lobotomyboy63)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2008, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disgusting-onion-taste/443421/16 "2008-04-01T20:45:42Z")
[QUOTE=Ferret Herder] My eyes are very sensitive to the “fumes” when I try to cut up whole onions, as well. During one small onion I usually have to stop at least twice to wipe my eyes and take a quick break, as I can’t even see from all of the stinging. I finally tried the method of putting the onion in the freezer for 5-10 minutes before cutting it up, and it works great! (I’d tried these [Onion Goggles](http://www.amazon.com/RSVP-International-Onion-Goggles-Black/dp/B0014SQU1A) and not only do I have to take off my glasses for them, as for most goggles, but they don’t even fit on my head with the glasses off!) [/QUOTE] If I take care to keep my mouth shut (the whole time) while I’m chopping onions, I’m usually fine. I don’t know where I picked up this trick or what the science is behind it, however. ---
**Author:** ![Mahna\_Mahna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e47c2d/32.png) [@Mahna\_Mahna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahna_Mahna)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2008, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disgusting-onion-taste/443421/17 "2008-04-01T21:53:21Z")
It’s entirely possible that there is a chemical compound in onions that’s enhanced when they’re cooked in milk and/or eggs, and that both of you are sensitive to this particular compound. In a similar vein, The Boy gags if he gets even the slightest whiff of cooked cruciferous veg (broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, and a few others) and also can’t stand the taste of most of those veg when raw. He does make an exception for coleslaw, but I suspect that’s because the dressing tends to drown out whatever it is that turns his stomach, since he usually prefers the very very vinegary versions. Must be one of those weird genetic quirks, like the ability to smell cyanide compounds.