Everything to Know About Vidalia Onions

Learn how to pick out, store, peel, cut and cook these sweet summer onions.

May 24, 2023
A scene from a farmstand on Cape Cod MA highlighting a full bucket of fresh Visalia onions for sale.

1409495933

A scene from a farmstand on Cape Cod MA highlighting a full bucket of fresh Visalia onions for sale.

Photo by: Judd Brotman/Getty Images

Judd Brotman/Getty Images

Related To:

By Layla Khoury-Hanold for Food Network Kitchen

Layla Khoury-Hanold is a contributor at Food Network.

If you know about sweet onions, you’ve probably heard about the Vidalia variety. These alliums are a seasonal summer treat, and their delicate sweetness makes them versatile in a variety of raw and cooked dishes. Here’s everything you need to know about Vidalia onions.

Vadalia onions growing in a garden.

184401363

Vadalia onions growing in a garden.

Photo by: DaveAlan/Getty Images

DaveAlan/Getty Images

What Are Vidalia Onions?

Vidalia onions are a sweet, mild yellow onion grown in Vidalia, Georgia. Vidalia onions have a higher water content, more sugar and less sulfuric compounds than bulb onions. Vidalia onions are grown in low-sulfur soil, which prevents the bulbs from developing a pungent taste and causes less crying when you slice them.

The Vidalia onion is the official state vegetable of Georgia, and the name is trademarked and owned by the Georgia Department of Agriculture. For an onion to be called a Vidalia, it must be produced in one of thirteen counties in Georgia and portions of seven others.

From a nutrition standpoint, Toby Amidor, MS, RD, CDN, FAND, award-winning nutrition expert and Wall Street Journal best-selling author of Diabetes Create Your Plate Meal Prep Cookbook says, “One medium Vidalia onion has 60 calories, 1 gram of protein, 16 grams of carbohydrates, and 3 grams of fiber. It also contains 15% of your daily dose of vitamin C.”

When Are Vidalia Onions In Season?

Vidalia onions are in season from late April through August. Most large supermarkets carry Vidalia onions when they're in season. Find them near the other onion varieties.

Macro image of Vidalia onions also known as sweet onions with selective focus on foreground top onion.

1264785709

Macro image of Vidalia onions also known as sweet onions with selective focus on foreground top onion.

Photo by: rojoimages/Getty Images

rojoimages/Getty Images

How to Pick a Good Vidalia Onion

To pick a good Vidalia onion, choose onions that are firm, dry and feel heavy, with smooth, dry skin and tightly closed necks. Avoid onions that have begun to sprout.

How to Store Vidalia Onions

Store Vidalia onions in a cool, dry and well-ventilated area. Amidor says you can also store Vidalias in the refrigerator. “Wrap each individual Vidalia bulb individually in paper towels and place in the crisper drawer in the fridge for up to several months,” Amidor says. “You can also use the legs of clean, sheer pantyhose to store them—be sure to tie a knot between each onion and hang in a cool, dry, well-ventilated place.” Amidor cautions against storing Vidalias with potatoes, as it will make the onions spoil quicker.

You can also preserve Vidalia onions to extend their shelf-life. Amidor offers two methods:

How to Dry Vidalia Onions

To dry, evenly chop the onions and spread them on a cookie sheet, then bake at the lowest setting. Remove when dry but not brown. Store in an airtight container at room temperature.

How to Freeze Vidalia Onions

To freeze whole Vidalia onions, peel, wash and core the onions before placing in freezer-safe bags. To store chopped onions, spread on a cookie sheet and place in the freezer. Once frozen, store in freezer-safe bags labelled with date and contents.

Cette photo représente des oignons émincés en cuisine.

931333504

Cette photo représente des oignons émincés en cuisine.

Photo by: Capelle.r/Getty Images

Capelle.r/Getty Images

How to Peel and Cut a Vidalia Onion

  1. Cut: Use a sharp knife to trim the root end and cut off the pointy tip of the onion, place the onion cut side down on a stabilized cutting board and cut the onion in half lengthwise, through the root end.
  2. Peel: Peel both halves of the onion by grasping a corner of the papery outer layer near the onion's flat tip end and firmly pull it to remove. Don't remove any of the large onion layers below the paper; if some paper remains near the tip, slice off that area.
  3. Slice: Slice straight down through the onion half to create half-moons. The farther you move between slices, the thicker your onion slices will be. Use them raw in salads, add them to stir-fries or sautee or caramelize them.

For more info, check out our step-by-step guide How to Cut an Onion.

Chef Name: Food Network Kitchen

Full Recipe Name: 25-Minute Flank Steak with Charred Vidalia Onion Salad

Talent Recipe: 

FNK Recipe: Food Networks Kitchenâ  s 25-Minute Flank Steak with Charred Vidalia Onion Salad, as seen on Foodnetwork.com

Project: Foodnetwork.com, Beat the Clock Dinners / Thanksgiving

Show Name: 

Food Network / Cooking Channel: Food Network

FNK_25_MinuteFlankSteakWithCharredVidaliaOnionSalad_H

Chef Name: Food Network KitchenFull Recipe Name: 25-Minute Flank Steak with Charred Vidalia Onion SaladTalent Recipe: FNK Recipe: Food Networks Kitchen’s 25-Minute Flank Steak with Charred Vidalia Onion Salad, as seen on Foodnetwork.comProject: Foodnetwork.com, Beat the Clock Dinners / ThanksgivingShow Name: Food Network / Cooking Channel: Food Network,Chef Name: Food Network Kitchen Full Recipe Name: 25-Minute Flank Steak with Charred Vidalia Onion Salad Talent Recipe: FNK Recipe: Food Networks Kitchen’s 25-Minute Flank Steak with Charred Vidalia Onion Salad, as seen on Foodnetwork.com Project: Foodnetwork.com, Beat the Clock Dinners / Thanksgiving Show Name: Food Network / Cooking Channel: Food Network

Photo by: Renee Comet ©2013, Television Food Network, G.P. All Rights Reserved

Renee Comet, 2013, Television Food Network, G.P. All Rights Reserved

What to Cook with Vidalia Onions

Vidalia onions’ mild flavor makes them versatile in a variety of cooking applications and dishes, such as raw in salads, baked in vegetable dishes, caramelized for dips or sauteed to accompany grilled meats. You can cook with Vidalia onions in any dish you’d use regular onions.

Enjoy them Raw

Thinly slice raw Vidalias to showcase their delicate sweetness and make them the star of a salad, as with this Quick Vidalia Onion, Mushroom and Parsley Salad. Thinly sliced raw Vidalias also make a great topping for sandwiches, burgers or pizza. Or trying shaving or grating raw Vidalia onions to jazz up burgers, meatloaf and meatballs, like these Oklahoma Onion Burgers or Air Fryer Sweet-and-Sour Meatballs. Sautee Vidalia onions and serve as an accompaniment for meaty mains, as with this recipe for Roast Pork and Sweet Potatoes or Sweet and Spicy Grilled Salmon.

Char Them

Vidalias lend themselves particularly well to charring, as with this 25-Minute Flank Steak with Charred Vidalia Onion Salad (pictured above) or these Cheesy Scrambled Egg Fajitas. Caramelize Vidalia onions to bring out even more of their natural sweetness; try them in French onion soup, yogurt-based dips, or use them to dress up burgers, pizza, sandwiches or salads.

Bake Them

Vidalias add sweetness to braised vegetable dishes as with these Braised Turnip Greens, or baked veggie dishes like these Creamed Vidalia Onions or Provencal Summer Squash and Potato Gratin. Try subbing Vidalias in for red onions to bring more sweetness than bite to dishes like Crispy Sheet Pan Gnocchi with Sausage and Peppers and a Roasted Veggie Grain Bowl.

Fry Them

Vidalias stand up to fried preparations too, so you can use Vidalias to add a sweet bite to fan-favorite recipes like this Almost-Famous Bloomin’ Onion or Beer-Battered Onion Rings.

Related Links:

Next Up

Why You Need to Store Your Onions and Potatoes Separately

The surprising reason these two pantry staples need to be kept apart.

White Versus Yellow Onions: What's the Difference?

A guide to 7 different types of onions.

Everything to Know about Cucumbers

And what to make with summer’s crunchiest, most refreshing veggie.

What Is Celtuce?

This versatile vegetable is a nutritious powerhouse.

Everything to Know About Tomatoes

How to choose, cut, store and cook these juicy jewels of summer.

How to Cut a Jalapeño

Plus: learn how to deal with jalapeno hands.

How to Reheat a Baked Potato

Keep them fluffy and delicious for days.

How Long Does Broccoli Last In the Fridge?

Keep your greens fresh with expert tips.

How to Store Cucumbers

If you're simply tossing them in the produce drawer, you're doing it wrong.

What Are Leeks?

Everything you need to know, including the very best recipe for potato leek soup.

More from:

Cooking School

What's New