Bermuda onion is one of the most popular sweet onion varieties and is a perfect choice for cooking and adding crunch to sandwiches and salads. It’s a versatile choice and takes around 95 days to ensure the onion becomes mature. These are flat-topped bulbs with a flattened and short shape. These onions are known to have yellow or white, papery, and thin skin. In addition, Bermuda onion has a juicy texture and you don’t need to worry about the spicy undertone. However, if you are unable to find Bermuda onion, let’s check out the substitutes that you can try!
Bermuda Onion Substitutes
- Sweet Onion
As the name suggests, the sweet onion has a mild and sweet flavor as compared to regular onions, which is why they can be consumed raw. The onions are juicy and crunchy and can be added to sandwiches, salads, and salsa. The onions are perfect for caramelizing because they can retain the sweet flavor when cooked. These onions have a higher water content, and since the sulfur content is low, they won’t have a snappy bite. Sweet onions are commonly known in California, Washington, Texas, Tennessee, and Oregon. All in all, the sweet onion tastes delicious in French onion soup.
- Spanish Yellow Onion
The second substitute for Bermuda onion is Spanish yellow onion – it’s a juicy onion variety and is known for its deep and rich flavor. These onions can be used in cooking when you want to add mild sweetness to the recipe but you can also use them raw to add crunchiness. It can be used for braising, roasting, sautéing, and grilling. So, if you need to replace Bermuda onions as the primary ingredient, you can opt for Spanish yellow onion.
In their raw form, these onions have a stronger flavor but complement other ingredients pretty well. However, we recommend that you caramelize the onions to mellow down the snappy and strong bite.
- White Onion
The white onion is a perfect choice for people who want to replace Bermuda onion because they are too sweet for them. In addition to low sugar content, the white onions have higher water content. These onions have become a great addition to Latin American cuisine. The onions have white juice, skin, and flesh. The onions have a sharp and crisp flavor but the onion-y flavor is quite mild. The sweetness of the onions intensifies when you cook them, so it’s recommended that you caramelize them.
The raw white onions can be used in sandwiches and salads for a crispy and clean flavor. In addition to this, they can be used as a pizza topping.
- Maui Onion
This is a common variety of sweet onions grown and used in the United States. In particular, it’s grown on the Hawaiian Island since it has a unique climate. These onions are known for their oblong shape. The onions tend to have a mild flavor and can be used for cooking as well as raw usage. The onions have a high water content as compared to Bermuda onions, which results in less bite if you consume them in raw form. In fact, the high water content of these onions makes them easier to caramelize.
- Red Onion
As the name suggests, these onions have a reddish appearance and have a sweet and mild flavor. For this reason, you can use these onions in raw recipes, such as crudités platters and salads. The best thing about red onions is that they add a visual appeal to the recipe, which is why it’s preferred by professional chefs. All in all, it has a mild yet sweet flavor.
- Vidalia Onion
This variety of onions is great for people who are looking for a mild aroma and taste. This is because the onion has a lower sulfur percentage – sulfur is responsible for adding a strong and spicy flavor to the onions. These onions can be expensive as they need special growth conditions. In addition, they can be used in sandwiches, salsa, and salads. As far as the flavor is concerned, they taste the best when caramelized and grilled, so you can serve them as sides.
So, which of these onion varieties will you choose?