Sometime ago, few friends came visiting on a Saturday evening, so we decided to hang out to cool off after a stressful week. As we discussed all along, a friend said “Apparently raw, cut onions absorbs bacteria, so should never slice an onion and eat it later because it’s chock full of bacteria that can make you sick” At first some of us had stirred reactions as we tried to calculate how often we’d eaten onions like this, while others thought through the idea and applied basic logic against the claim.
Out of growing curiosity and concern, we decided to write about it on our blog post.
Onions
Onions are arguably one of the most indispensable ingredients in the kitchen they vary in size, shape, color, and flavor. The most common types are red, yellow, and white onions. Flavors can be sweet and juicy to sharp, spicy, and pungent, often depending on the season in which they are grown and consumed.
Nigeria is one of the largest producers of onions in the world with over 2 millions tonnes produced annually. Onions offers excellent health benefits and the ease of cultivating this crop makes it a lucrative venture for any aspiring farmer. onion are grown commercially mostly in Kano, Kaduna, Jigawa, Sokoto, Plateau, Bauchi and Kebbi States
A widely circulated claim states uncooked, leftover onions are ‘poisonous’ because they’re huge magnet for bacteria,’ thus likely to spoil. This claim stems from a blog post that dates back to March 2008. While the original post was removed from the internet in 2009, part of that post continues to circulate the internet. According to the National Onion Association (NOA) says “when handled properly, cut onions are not poisonous. After being cut, onions can be stored in the refrigerator in a sealed container for up to 7 days.”
How to Store Onion
It’s best to store regular onions in a cool, dry, dark and well-ventilated room. Places that may provide these conditions include a cellar, pantry, basement or garage. Ensure proper ventilation to prevent molding and rotting and avoid leaving onions in plastic bags, as this may make them spoil quickly. Furthermore, darkness helps them last longer. Other ways to store onions are;
When Peeled
To ensure that your onions last as long as possible, proper storage is essential. Once an onion is peeled, it should be stored in the fridge to avoid bacterial contamination. Place it in an airtight container and ensure your fridge is set to 40°F (4°C) or below. According to the USDA, peeled onions can last 10–14 days in the refrigerator
When Sliced, Cut or Diced
Sliced, cut or diced onions can be stored in the fridge for up to 10 days. Simply wrap them tightly in plastic wrap or keep them in a resealable bag.
Alternatively, you can purchase pre-sliced onions at many supermarkets. Make sure to keep them refrigerated and use them before their expiration date.
Health Benefit of Onions
Though all vegetables are important for health, certain kinds offer unique benefits. These vegetables contain various vitamins, minerals and potent plant compounds that have been shown to promote health in many ways. Medicinal properties of onions have been recognized since ancient times, when they were used to treat ailments like headaches, heart disease and mouth sores. Here are other benefits listed below;
- Onions are low in calories yet high in nutrients, including vitamin C, B vitamins and potassium.
- Research shows that eating onions may help reduce heart disease risk factors.
- A diet rich in allium vegetables like onions may have a protective effect against certain cancers.
- Due to the many beneficial compounds found in onions, consuming them may help reduce high blood sugar.
- Studies show that onion consumption is associated with improved bone mineral density.
- Onions helps to boost digestive health.
Fun Onions Facts
- Onions really do make you cry. That’s because of the sulfuric acid in them. The acid isn’t dangerous to eat, but it sure does burn your eyes.
- You can peel or cut an onion without crying if you cut the root end last and if the onion is cold or you cut it while holding the onion under cold running water.
- Ancient Egyptians worshipped the onion
- Over 450 semi-truck loads of onions are eaten every single day!
- There is an old saying that says the thicker the onion’s skin the colder the winter will be.
- Onions have been used for many years to help get rid of coughs and fevers by placing a layer of sliced, cooked onions on your chest and wrapping yourself in warm blankets.
- The largest onion on record weighed over 10 pounds!
- You can get rid of ‘onion breath’ by eating parsley.
- Onions are low in calories, high in calcium and high in vitamin C.
- Onions are 97% water!
