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Fresh Onions

Harvested before curing — milder, sweeter, and more versatile than a storage onion, greens and all.

Store in

Fridge unlike cured onions — these haven't dried

Keeps for

1–2 weeks greens wilt first — use those early

Best eaten

Grilled or sliced thin raw — no soaking needed

Prep tip

Use the greens slice like scallions for raw or cooked use

Fresh onions are onions harvested before they’ve been fully cured — thin-skinned, slightly moist, and noticeably milder and sweeter than storage onions. At Cold Springs Organics they appear in the late spring and early summer box, bridging the gap before storage onions are ready. Both the bulb and the green tops are edible, making them more versatile than a fully mature cured onion.

VIDEO GUIDE Fresh Onions — Prep, Nutrition, and Storage
Bunching & Fresh Onions Field Guide Cold Springs Organics · PDF
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Refrigerate fresh onions — unlike cured onions, they have not been dried and will soften and mould at room temperature. Keep in the crisper drawer loosely wrapped; use within 1–2 weeks. The green tops wilt first — trim and use those early in the week before they deteriorate.

Trim the root end and any dried or damaged outer skin. Rinse well. Use the bulb as you would a mild onion; the green tops can be sliced like scallions and used raw or in cooking. Fresh onions cook faster than cured ones and caramelize beautifully because of their higher moisture and natural sugar content.

  • Grilled whole — brush with oil and grill over medium heat 10–15 minutes, turning once, until softened and lightly charred. One of the best simple sides of early summer.
  • Sautéed — slice and cook in butter or oil over medium heat 8–10 minutes until sweet and golden; excellent as a burger, sandwich, or flatbread topping.
  • Sliced raw — thin-sliced fresh onion in salads or on tacos is milder and less sharp than a cured onion; no soaking or rinsing needed to reduce the bite.

Grilled fresh onions — grill whole fresh onions beside anything else already on the grill. When softened and lightly charred, remove and slice in half lengthwise. Arrange on a plate, drizzle with good olive oil, and finish with flaky salt and a squeeze of lemon. Serve as a simple side to meat, fish, or a grain dish.