Are Green Onions Scallions?

Are green onions scallions?  I have no idea...some say yes, others say no.  I think I CAN say that green onions fall between scallions and large bulb onions.  Unlike scallions, green onions should have a small, not fully developed white bulb with long green stalks.  Although many use scallion and green onion (spring onion) interchangeably, this slight difference of the green onion having a bulge beginning to appear at the base makes them different.  Green onions are milder tasting than large bulb onions and ARE young shoots of the onion.  

Although green onions are not a mature vegetable, they offer the same health benefits as a large bulb onion.  All onions have been shown to help lower blood sugar, high cholesterol and blood pressure, the risk of colon cancer and other cancers, and inflammation .  Onions are known for the antioxidant quercetin.  Green onions are also a good source of vitamin C, fiber, manganese, vitamin B6, potassium, and copper.  Overfall, eating onions is good for your health: bone, immune system, heart, eye.  They are on the list of foods  to eat to reduce your risk of cancer.

Store green onions unwashed, removing rubber band if any, wrapped in plastic and in the crisper drawer.  They should keep for up to 5 days, but using them sooner is best as they will begin to wilt.  

Green onions are a versatile veggie.  As always, wash your produce prior to using.  Remove the last inch or so from the base.  Now you are ready to add flavor, beauty, and health to your meal.  Chop them raw, sautee, grill or roast whole.    Add them to salads, salsa, dips, soups, eggs, for a few suggestions.  Please click on the button below for recipes.

Thank you for reading my blog.

-Dawn Swope, CHHC, AADP