# I hate onion. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 6, 2009, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hate-onion/498900 "2009-06-06T02:14:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2009, 5:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hate-onion/498900/21 "2009-06-06T05:35:53Z")
> [@Captain\_Carrot](#): > > Leaper, you’re dead to me. But I really like carrots! That counts for something, right?? ---
**Author:** ![Jeff\_Lichtman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jeff_lichtman/32/1531_2.png) [@Jeff\_Lichtman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeff_Lichtman)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2009, 6:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hate-onion/498900/22 "2009-06-06T06:45:19Z")
I can understand not liking raw onions, or lightly-cooked onions. I can understand not liking to cry from chopping onions. It’s harder for me to understand hating fully-cooked onions, especially in things like stews and sauces where the harshness has disappeared and the flavor has blended with the rest of the dish. Ever had beef and onions cooked in beer? An onion and gruyere tart (where the onions are carmelized)? French onion soup? The onions in these dishes are sweet and mellow. ---
**Author:** ![Mosier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ea924/32.png) [@Mosier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mosier)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2009, 7:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hate-onion/498900/23 "2009-06-06T07:05:37Z")
Onions can be really awful, and I can absolutely understand someone developing hatred for them after a bad onion experience. But if I had to pick just one vegetable to eat for the rest of my life, it would be onions without question. I mix it in gravy, I put it raw on sandwiches, I cook it in stews and soups, I chop it up in ground beef or salads, and I would happily eat one raw if there wasn’t anything tasty to cook it with in the house. ---
**Author:** ![Mojo\_Pin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Mojo\_Pin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mojo_Pin)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2009, 7:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hate-onion/498900/24 "2009-06-06T07:26:26Z")
Love onions, raw on salads, chopped into omelets, in stir frys, grilled along with pig or cow meat, in broths… ---
**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:** [June 6, 2009, 8:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hate-onion/498900/25 "2009-06-06T08:25:09Z")
I probably eat onion in some form or other, every single day of my life. It adds a whole new dimension to so many foods. And if you think onion in mac & cheese is “crunchy,” you need to get a better recipe. ---
**Author:** ![devilsknew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4da419/32.png) [@devilsknew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/devilsknew)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2009, 8:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hate-onion/498900/26 "2009-06-06T08:48:37Z")
See, This is where alton and I part ways, Onion doesn’t go in Homemade Mac and Cheese. Never made it with onions. However, I have sprinkled fresh chopped, yellow onion in my Velveeta Shells and Cheese… they were leftover from the Chilidogs (onion and mustard). ---
**Author:** ![Ichini\_Sanshigo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/d9b06d/32.png) [@Ichini\_Sanshigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ichini_Sanshigo)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2009, 11:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hate-onion/498900/27 "2009-06-06T11:49:44Z")
Onions go great on pretty much everything (savory). The only thing I hate is how the smell gets in my hands after chopping, even with the cold water/stainless steel trick. Ugh. ---
**Author:** ![Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/intergalactic_gladiator/32/112_2.png) [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Intergalactic_Gladiator)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2009, 12:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hate-onion/498900/28 "2009-06-06T12:07:18Z")
I love onions. Carmelized vidalias are frelling awesome on just about anything. ---
**Author:** ![Motorgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e36b37/32.png) [@Motorgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Motorgirl)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2009, 12:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hate-onion/498900/29 "2009-06-06T12:16:46Z")
I don’t even know how to cook without onions. Everything I make starts with onion. Many times I chop an onion, start it cooking in a little olive oil, then go looking at what other ingredients I have on hand, to decide what to make for dinner. If I get home and find out I don’t have onion in the house (rare, but it happens) I just order takeout. ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2009, 12:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hate-onion/498900/30 "2009-06-06T12:17:50Z")
Onions, and their close relative garlic, is one of god’s foods. Most foods are better with it. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2009, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hate-onion/498900/31 "2009-06-06T15:05:22Z")
The problem is people make onions dominate the flavor of the dish. Onion people don’t have much restraint. It is like people who are so proud of their barbecue sauce. It is so dominant that you could put it on cardboard. You can not taste the ribs at all. That is just wrong. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2009, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hate-onion/498900/32 "2009-06-06T15:15:40Z")
I like a small amount of finely chopped onions on some things like hamburgers. The problem I have with onions is that they upset my stomach if I eat more than just a very small amount and sometimes if I eat any at all. I have to avoid them. As for mac and cheese, adding onions is sacrilege but adding bacon or pancetta is a treat. ---
**Author:** ![Rubystreak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Rubystreak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rubystreak)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2009, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hate-onion/498900/33 "2009-06-06T15:18:29Z")
> [@devilsknew](#): > > See, This is where alton and I part ways, Onion doesn’t go in Homemade Mac and Cheese. Never made it with onions. I have made Alton’s baked mac 'n cheese, and the onions are hardly a dominant flavor. I think that’s a mistake that the onion-wary make, assuming that the onions are going to be crunchy, or that their taste will overwhelm everything. A well-constructed recipe like Alton’s will not taste like onions 'n cheese, seriously. If you cook them well, or caramelize them, their flavor mellows considerably and they practically dissolve into the cooking medium. Then, they add a nice, sweet flavor that is distinctly different from how they taste and feel in the mouth when raw. I say this as someone who cooks extensively with onions but will not eat them raw because I can’t stand having that taste in my mouth all day long. ---
**Author:** ![BrandonR](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/779978/32.png) [@BrandonR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrandonR)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2009, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hate-onion/498900/34 "2009-06-06T15:32:41Z")
Onions are easily my most-consumed vegetable. I can’t imagine living without them. Of course, when I was younger, I’d literally eat wedges of raw onion like they were apples. I guess I conditioned myself to love them. ---
**Author:** ![Kyla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/eada6e/32.png) [@Kyla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyla)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2009, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hate-onion/498900/35 "2009-06-06T15:39:47Z")
I am not a fan of raw onions (too strong), they are necessary for pretty much every one of my go-to dishes for actual cooked meals. Last night I made an onionless stir-fry because I realized at the last minute that I was out. It was okay…but definitely missing something. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Shroud](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/439d5e/32.png) [@The\_Shroud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Shroud)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2009, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hate-onion/498900/36 "2009-06-06T16:15:26Z")
Onions make me sick, unfortunately. A very specific kind of sick where I feel like I’m having hunger pangs, but it’s just the onions irritating my stomach. And I do think they tend to be overused; the market that I shop at creates some great prepackaged meals, but they ALL have onions. The only time I’ve really thought an onion added something positive to a meal was the few times I’ve had a crisp raw slice of onion on a barbecued hamburger. Still made me sick, but I loved the taste. ---
**Author:** ![Lissla\_Lissar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8491ac/32.png) [@Lissla\_Lissar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lissla_Lissar)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2009, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hate-onion/498900/37 "2009-06-06T17:08:47Z")
Mr. Lissar has an immediate strong gag reflex if he eats onions. He can’t eat things onions have been on or near, unless they’re pureed and cooked a whole lot. I’ve learned to cook without them, but I still mourn. Thankfully, he loves garlic. ---
**Author:** ![lavenderviolet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/cdc98d/32.png) [@lavenderviolet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lavenderviolet)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2009, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hate-onion/498900/38 "2009-06-06T17:09:36Z")
Wow, adding onions to mac and cheese sounds delicious! I will have to try that sometime. I never eat onions raw like an apple, but sometimes I cook them to eat them by themselves. ---
**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:** [June 6, 2009, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hate-onion/498900/39 "2009-06-06T17:24:28Z")
> [@Lissla\_Lissar](#): > > Mr. Lissar has an immediate strong gag reflex if he eats onions. He can’t eat things onions have been on or near, unless they’re pureed and cooked a whole lot. That’s pretty much my reaction, unfortunately, though not quite as bad. I think it’s from a childhood ‘puked right after you ate it’ learned aversion. I love garlic too, so I’ve been occasionally working at breaking that conditioning by eating garlic chives, regular chives, etc. I’ve gotten far enough that I was able to eat a few fried “onion strings” after my husband assured me that they weren’t sulfurous in flavor. Normally I have a gigantic issue with eating even a cooked-down onion without a lot of other flavors on it, for both taste and texture. He’s another one of those “will eat a raw onion like an apple” types. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Devil\_s\_Grandmother](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/74df32/32.png) [@The\_Devil\_s\_Grandmother](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Devil_s_Grandmother)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2009, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hate-onion/498900/40 "2009-06-06T17:32:12Z")
> [@mariposalabrown](#): > > So yeah. I hated onions until I loved them. Keep on trying them, see what happens. I’m just the opposite. I used to eat onions on everything, and loathed tomatoes. A few years ago, for no reason I can discern, I started liking tomatoes and I lost my taste for onions. I can eat cooked onions in things, but raw onion is so terrible I have to pick it out of all my food. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hate-onion/498900.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hate-onion/498900.md?page=3)