# The Onion Is the Best Vegetable PERIOD! **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 29, 2001, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-onion-is-the-best-vegetable-period/78792 "2001-08-29T20:25:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Turbo\_Dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ce73a5/32.png) [@Turbo\_Dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Turbo_Dog)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2001, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-onion-is-the-best-vegetable-period/78792/21 "2001-08-29T22:36:25Z")
Onions rock, but they aren’t spuds. Potatoes are meals in themselves. Onions are a condiments, especially for potatoes. Nobody has fried onions with some potatoes thrown in, or mashed onions with some carmelized taters in them, or Onion Tots with Real Potato flavoring. What’s wrong with you? You probably think that a bowl of mustard with a slice of bratwurst on top is soup. But be careful, Bill. You know what happened the last time you stated a preference on something 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![mobo85](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mobo85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mobo85)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2001, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-onion-is-the-best-vegetable-period/78792/22 "2001-08-29T22:42:48Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Lucky \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > The tomato can also be used raw or cooked. You use them for salads and hamburgers **but not hotdogs** but I guess you do because tomatoes also make ketchup which I like alot. > > **Blasphemy!** > > Good God, man, what _are_ you talking about? Let’s review: > > A proper dog is topped with mustard, relish, onion, pickles, tomato, celery salt and hot peppers. > > **Ketchup** on a hotdog? :::shudder::: \*\* Behold this creature who walks like a man-he wants…aw, you know. ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2001, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-onion-is-the-best-vegetable-period/78792/23 "2001-08-29T23:20:34Z")
POTATO Note that the potato pretty much kept the people in Ireland alive until the potato crops failed in 1845 and 1846. Not many veggies can do this – certainly not onions. _From the [Idaho Potato Expo](http://www.ida.net/users/potatoexpo/pages/nutrition.html) on nutrition:_ > [@](#): > > The potato is a near perfect food. The US Department of Agriculture has stated that “a diet of whole milk and potatoes would supply almost all of the food elements necessary for the maintenance of the human body.” _From [Spudfacts](http://www.mvproduce.com/spudfacts.html) on nutrition:_ > [@](#): > > Percentage of U.S. Recommended Daily Allowances for a Medium Potato > Protein … 6 % > Vitamin C … 50 % > Thiamin … 8 % > Riboflavin … 2 % > Niacin … 10 % > Iron … 8 % > Vitamin B6 … 15 % > Folacin (folic acid)… 8 % > Phosphorus … 8 % > Magnesium … 8 % > Zinc … 2 % > Copper … … 8 % > Pantothenic acid … 4 % > Iodine … 15 % Now let’s see what your onion can provide. Oh, and let’s not forget the importance of Mr. and Mrs. Potato Head in the promotion of the nuclear family. ---
**Author:** ![Kamandi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5daacb/32.png) [@Kamandi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamandi)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2001, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-onion-is-the-best-vegetable-period/78792/24 "2001-08-29T23:24:50Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by erislover \* > \*\*Err, actually I was of the opinion that potatoes aren’t vegetables… err, are they? > > I thought they had their own wacky family like-- well, the Bundys?\*\* According to the [National Potato Promotion Board](http://www.potatohelp.com/), potatoes are vegetables. They may be biased, though. Oftentimes people group potato with other “starches” like pasta, rice and breads, but I think this is incorrect in this context. Rice is a grain like wheat - and corn, too, **Scylla**. Pasta and bread are made out of wheat, but I guess a way could be found to make them out of potato - they make potato pancakes. I think the “starches” should be split into grains and vegetables. Thanks for the backup, **Turbo Dog** and **Muffin**. Spuds rule! What other vegetable has not only a mascot like [Mr Potato Head](http://www.mrpotatohead.com/), but also [Spuddy Buddy](http://www.idahopotato.com/SpuddyBuddy/SB_index.html)? Some [statistics](http://www.potatohelp.com/potato101/statistics.asp) from the National Potato Promotion Board site: > [@](#): > > Production Facts, 1998 > > Total U.S. potato area harvested in 1998 was 1.388 million acres. U.S. potato production in 1998 was 475.8 million cwt (cwt=100 pounds) > > Usage Facts (How were all of the varieties used in 1997?) > > Fresh market 26% > Frozen products (mostly fries) 35% > Potato chips 11% > Dehydrated products 12% > Canned products (soups, stews) 1% > > Per Capita Consumption > > 144.7 pounds, 1999 > 137.9 pounds, 1995 > 114.7 pounds, 1980 > All statistical information above from United States Department of > Agriculture; Economic Research Service. > > [http://www.ers.usda.gov/](http://www.ers.usda.gov/) ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2001, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-onion-is-the-best-vegetable-period/78792/25 "2001-08-29T23:49:46Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Wildest Bill \* > \*\*I can not believe Gaudere had the audacity to move even shooing this very important topic to our survival FOOD out of the great debates into this forum.(not saying anything bad about this forum or anything I like this forum) but this was such an important debate. \*\* Hey, I know! Why not start a Pit thread about it? That would work out great! ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2001, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-onion-is-the-best-vegetable-period/78792/26 "2001-08-30T02:55:14Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Smeghead \* > \*\*Hey, I know! Why not start a Pit thread about it? That would work out great! \*\* ::Muffin ducks under the table as the food fight breaks out:: ---
**Author:** ![techchick68](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ea5d25/32.png) [@techchick68](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/techchick68)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2001, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-onion-is-the-best-vegetable-period/78792/27 "2001-08-30T03:13:24Z")
While I think the potato is the best plant life to munch on (first only to the tomato then the onion) if you’d like to learn more about potatoes and onions, have at it: [Potato](http://www.epicurious.com/run/fooddictionary/browse?entry_id=9720) [Onion](http://www.epicurious.com/run/fooddictionary/browse?entry_id=9363) By the way, onions are a bulb, potatoes a tuber…and by the description on [dictionary.com](http://dictionary.com) I would say they both are vegetables. > [@](#): > > veg·e·ta·ble (vjt-bl, vj-t-) > n. > > a. A plant cultivated for an edible part, such as the root of the beet, the leaf of spinach, or the flower buds of broccoli or cauliflower. > b. The edible part of such a plant. \< where fruits fit in to this, I do not know I guess it has something to do with the family of plants it belongs to. \> ---
**Author:** ![Trucido](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ea5d25/32.png) [@Trucido](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trucido)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2001, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-onion-is-the-best-vegetable-period/78792/28 "2001-08-30T03:22:06Z")
I think that this thread only goes to prove that good food is more about careful mixing and matching than some feckless quest for an ubervegetable. Onions are good, potatoes are good, but the same could be said of any one of a thousand ingredients. Only when properly combined and cooked would any of us consider those ingredients a meal. Except for those God-forsaken carrots, vegetable of the damned that they are. Oh, and **techchick** , a fruit is defined as the swollen ovary of the plant in question. Puts a whole new spin on the idea, doesn’t it? Have a swollen ovary, er, tomato, I mean. ---
**Author:** ![thermalribbon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@thermalribbon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thermalribbon)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2001, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-onion-is-the-best-vegetable-period/78792/29 "2001-08-30T03:34:30Z")
Yes, I agree. The Onion is a very fine satirical newspaper. That’s what you meant right? > **[The Onion | America's Finest News Source.](https://www.theonion.com/)** > > The Onion brings you all of the latest news, stories, photos, videos and more from America's finest news source. ---
**Author:** ![slortar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6bbea6/32.png) [@slortar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slortar)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2001, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-onion-is-the-best-vegetable-period/78792/30 "2001-08-30T13:17:43Z")
I scoff. The avocado is the ultimate vegetable. Guacamole is the food of the gods. ---
**Author:** ![vanilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/f19dbf/32.png) [@vanilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vanilla)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2001, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-onion-is-the-best-vegetable-period/78792/31 "2001-08-30T13:46:50Z")
I hate onions. I don’t like peppers either. Anything spicy is out for me. I used to live with a guy who put onions in everything, including salads! I had to pick thru the food carefully, removing the onions as I ate. ---
**Author:** ![pldennison](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9fc29f/32.png) [@pldennison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pldennison)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2001, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-onion-is-the-best-vegetable-period/78792/32 "2001-08-30T13:59:23Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Turbo Dog \* > \*\*Onions rock, but they aren’t spuds. Potatoes are meals in themselves. Onions are a condiments, especially for potatoes. Nobody has fried onions with some potatoes thrown in, or mashed onions with some carmelized taters in them, or Onion Tots with Real Potato flavoring. \*\* Oh, man, are you nuts! Take three or four nice Vidalias, slice them in half, put them in a roasting pan or glass casserole dish face down, put some butter and honey on them, and roast for 10-15 minutes. Spectacular. Peta T.'s relatives, who had a farm, have been known to pick up fresh onions, peel the skin, and eat them like an apple. I myself have had lots and lots of sandwiches consisting of little more than two slices of rye, several slices of red onion, and some mayo or cream cheese. Onions forever!! ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2001, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-onion-is-the-best-vegetable-period/78792/33 "2001-08-30T14:02:45Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by slortar \* > \*\*I scoff. The avocado is the ultimate vegetable. Guacamole is the food of the gods. \*\* Philistine. Bill is right; onions are the greatest vegetables God has seen fit to create. Take your limited avocado. Guacamole is a fine food, but that’s a one-trick pony. And potatoes are great things, but a potato is really jsut a vehicle for other tastes; the delicious butter-and-sour-cream taste of a baked potato, or to deliver Thanksgiving gravy, or as the base for a big honkin’ bowl of poutine. The onion, however, has its own magnificent taste. Truly, onions are the very peak of the vegetable concept. ---
**Author:** ![vanilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/f19dbf/32.png) [@vanilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vanilla)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2001, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-onion-is-the-best-vegetable-period/78792/34 "2001-08-30T14:04:52Z")
I really liek broccoli. ---
**Author:** ![Wildest\_Bill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Wildest\_Bill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wildest_Bill)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2001, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-onion-is-the-best-vegetable-period/78792/35 "2001-08-30T14:11:16Z")
Rickjay and Pld ya’ll are both gentlemen and scholars and have extremely good taste in vegetables. Vanilla, Broccoli? Your favorite vegetable? Man, I bet your family doesn’t like to be around you after you eat alot of that stuff. EEEEhhhh smelly. ---
**Author:** ![Stella\_Fantasia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/74df32/32.png) [@Stella\_Fantasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stella_Fantasia)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2001, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-onion-is-the-best-vegetable-period/78792/36 "2001-08-30T14:13:26Z")
Why must we pick only ONE vegetable? Just as there is room in my heart for a thousand loves, also is there room in my stomach for a hundred vegetables. (Not all at the same time, though.) I can love a tomato in August and a potato in December and an artichoke in April…and each one is the best vegetable, until I eat the next one. If there’s a vegetable I don’t like, I haven’t found it yet. They are all special & wonderful in their own way. Treat them with respect, pick them fresh & prepare them with care & you will be rewarded. Let’s stop arguing & share the looooooooove, y’all. ---
**Author:** ![Wildest\_Bill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Wildest\_Bill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wildest_Bill)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2001, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-onion-is-the-best-vegetable-period/78792/37 "2001-08-30T14:19:11Z")
> [@](#): > > _Originally posted by Stella_Fantasia \* > Let’s stop arguing & share the looooooooove, y’all. \*\* Stella I think you have been listening to too much John Lennon lately. That was just a pipe dream he had when he was stoned on some really good stuff. ONIONS RULE!!! ---
**Author:** ![vanilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/f19dbf/32.png) [@vanilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vanilla)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2001, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-onion-is-the-best-vegetable-period/78792/38 "2001-08-30T14:21:23Z")
Well, its not my favorite. I also like sweet potatoes. And corn. What? Eating broccoli makes you smell? Never happened to me. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2001, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-onion-is-the-best-vegetable-period/78792/39 "2001-08-30T14:23:26Z")
WB, I would have to agree, but put potatoes as a CLOSE second. It may be a tie. But that’s only because cheese is not a vegetable. ---
**Author:** ![Wildest\_Bill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Wildest\_Bill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wildest_Bill)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2001, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-onion-is-the-best-vegetable-period/78792/40 "2001-08-30T14:54:29Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by vanilla \* > > What? Eating broccoli makes you smell? Never happened to me. \*\* Corn is good. You never heard there is nothing worse smelling than a broccoli fart. I don’t know why that is. Hmmm, making that would be a question for the GQ forum. Why Does Broccoli give you such rank smelling farts?(manhattan would just loovvee it) 😉 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-onion-is-the-best-vegetable-period/78792.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-onion-is-the-best-vegetable-period/78792.md?page=3)