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Difference between Onions and Scallions: Do you know the difference?

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In this blog we are going to tell you about Difference between Onions and Scallions, so read this blog carefully to get the complete information.

Vegetables are the most important part of our food. Some vegetables are eaten raw while some taste better when cooked. However, all vegetables are a rich source of nutrition. Two such extremely healthy vegetables which are most often eaten in all parts of the world are Onions and Scallions. Both of these vegetables are known by different names in different places and this is the reason people usually get confused if they are the same or not. Due to similarities between them, most people also think that scallions and onions are the same but it is not so. If you also wonder what could be the differences between these two, then continue reading the article as we will focus on what onions and scallions are and how they differ from each other. 

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What are Onions?

Onions are also known by different names including bulb onion or garden onion. The genus of onions is also allium but the species is Allium cepa or A. Cepa as there are also other species of onions under allium that include A. Fistolosum or Japanese onion and A. Proliferum or Egyptian onion. So the onions differ from each other depending on the species. Onions are harvested once they reach their full-blown bulbing which means they have a big bulb structure. Onions have many uses around different parts of the world but are mainly used for their aroma in cooking. Onions have a stronger taste in comparison to scallions. This vegetable is extensively used in different countries like India, Pakistan, and Iran. It is a basic ingredient in curries. In western countries, it is used in side dishes like chips and fish, for instance in the UK and Australia. The size of onions is bigger in comparison to scallions. They also differ in color like the red onion which is best used for broiling and grilling, the white onion which is used in Mexican dishes, and the yellow onions which are best used in French dishes. 

What are Scallions?

Scallions are known by many names including green onions, spring onions, green shallots, or onion sticks. The genus of the scallion is allium but the species varies. Scallions do not form bulbs once they reach their maturity stage. In western countries, it is cultivated only as salad onion or scallion. They are already being harvested once there is a small bulb formation and thus they do not form big bulbs. Scallions are much smaller than the average onions. They are cooked and known for their mild taste. You can cook them or they can also be eaten and mixed raw among salads. It is mostly done in Asia. They are also used for making sauces, sandwiches, and curries or are also just plain still fried like vegetables. 

Major Differences between Onions and Scallions

Scallions and green onions are the same type of onions but if we talk about onions there are many significant differences between onions and scallions. The following are the major differences between onions and scallions as mentioned below: 

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  • Both onions and scallions belong to the same genus which is allium but the main difference between them is their species. 
  • The size of scallions is much smaller in comparison to onions because scallions are harvested before having a bulb structure whereas onions are harvested once they become bulb. 
  • Another difference lies in their taste as scallions have a milder taste in comparison to onions.
  • Both scallions and onions are used in different parts of the world but they vary in various dishes as onions are used in different cuisines around the globe while scallions are used in specific dishes. 

The final words

So overall, Onions and Scallions belong to the same genus but their species vary. The most common difference between onions and scallions is that onions are much bigger than scallions and are widely used in different parts of the globe. Another difference is in their taste as scallions are milder than onions. Due to the differences, they are specifically used in different dishes. We hope that this article was helpful and now you have got the differences between the two vegetables so you can easily identify them and make correct use of them.

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Conclusion

We Hope this blog is sufficient enough to provide the information about Difference between Onions and Scallions. Thanks for reading this blog.

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