Onion

Onions are available in fresh, frozen, canned, and dehydrated forms. Onions can be used, usually chopped or sliced, in almost every type of food, including cooked foods and fresh salads, and as a spicy garnish; they are rarely eaten on their own (except in poor or traditional cultures), but usually act as accompaniment to the main course.

Depending on the variety, an onion can be sharp and pungent or mild and even sweet.

Chopped, it is one of the three vegetables considered the holy trinity of Louisiana Creole and Cajun cuisine.

Cocktail onions, or pickled pearl onions, are used to garnish drinks such as gibsons.

They appear to be at least somewhat effective against colds, heart disease, diabetes, and other diseases and contain antiinflammatory, anticholesterol, and anticancer components.

In many parts of the underdeveloped world, onions are used to heal blisters and boils. In the United States, products that contain onion extract (such as "Mederma") are used in the treatment of topical scars.