Onions Vs. Shallots: What's the Difference?

We've gotten some great questions for our new video blog series, so please keep them coming! This week, we answer a reader-submitted question: What's the difference between onions and shallots. Check out the video, and please write in with more of those burning cooking questions.

[terryheasley]

Points to the yellow onion and says "red", points to the white onion and says "yellow", points to the red onion and says "white". 😂 That is an unexpected laugh-out-loud start to my day! 😄

[Karmah]

Thank you!  I see many chefs using shallots and have always wondered what the difference is.

[gendoll]

I just cooked with shallots for the first time and OH MY GOD THEY ARE AMAZING!! Not as “sharp” tasting and smelling, much softer in taste (not texture) meaning again, a lighter onion taste and maybe sweeter (I don’t know I sautéed some with balsamic vinegar, fig Jan and chicken concentrate and made a delicious sauce for my pork). But man, I am buying those bad boys from now on. They’d be great with eggs, chicken, sauces, gravy, you name it!

[sharonyates]

Straight forward and to the point. Thanks!

[MatiasBeast]

This has given me a lot of insight into the shallot famoly. Thank for the data soldier.

[Rainbowloveyh]

omg didn't know the differences before thanks for this video 👍

[karenkelly-mcintyre]

Thank you for this informative video. I was not too familiar with shallots until tackling a soup book from Europe, a gazpacho recipe called for them.

[TWidyan]

Thanks, i need the difference for my english study. Because in my language all of those are called onion. 😂😅

Garlic : white onion
Shallot : red onion
Onion : bombay onion (idk why we called it that way)
Red onion : big red onion(not common in that size)

[AittyBB]

Thank you for your explanation.
I usually use onion because it's easier to peel than shallot.

[ytrbro]

"lighter and sweeter" will try to remember to pick one up and test it out,

[tamuforpatienceameih]

Very brief n easy explanation, straight 2 d point. Thanks 👍👍👍

[GoChildMind]

This was very helpful, make many more, yes.

[ShwetasKitchenIndia]

Thanku so much difference between onion n shallots good explain.

[agp]

Thank you, for this awesome video, with awesome facts!!!!

[stanleysandeep]

Thanks mam. One advice, when shooting from front cam of a smartphone, look towards where camera is and not the screen...

[rosayespina]

Thank you for the video very informative

[CasualCat]

A Shallot can go Super Saiyan God and onion can’t.

[hotdog]

Ive been cutting shallots my whole cooking life and I didnt even know I thought twas onion xD

[deborahknezevic]

I'm french so excuse me in advance don't be offended people in comments ok ?
Shallots are not well known in the USA ? i'm chocked cause in France it's a condiment we use everyday like onion and garlic...
I'm sad that it's not known as much cause for me it's the best !! In salads and on raw oysters with wine vinegar : LIFE !!!!

[scottybroker]

I mistakenly thought green onions were shallops.. Thanks for the correction