How to size up onions for recipes

The Baltimore Sun

What is the correct size for an onion in recipes? Some recipes call for small, medium and large onions. Compared to what?

In general, a large onion is about the size of a 1-cup measuring cup, a medium onion would be about the size of a half-cup measure, and a small onion would be about the size of 1/4 cup.

Or a small onion could be a different beast all together, such as a shallot (the small, pointed onions with gold/purple skins) or a spring onion.

But notice the important words in that description: "In general" and "about." In most cases, onion size isn't a big deal. Onion is an ingredient that can be added based on what the cook prefers.

If a recipe depends on a more precise amount of onion, it will usually specify the amount - " 1/2 cup chopped onion" rather than just "half a large onion."

In most recipes, changing the amount or using a different type of onion is part of customizing the dish and making it your own. And that's what we call "cooking."

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