Yes, you can absolutely buy pre-cut onions from most grocery stores. Pre-cut onions provide a convenient and time-saving option for busy home cooks who want to skip the tear-inducing process of chopping onions themselves. Major grocery chains like Walmart, Kroger, Safeway, Publix, and Whole Foods all carry pre-cut onions in the refrigerated produce section. You can find bags of diced, sliced, or julienned onions ready to be added straight to recipes. There are a few factors to consider when buying pre-cut onions, such as freshness, price, and intended use. But overall, pre-cut onions deliver an easy way to skip chopping while still enjoying onions’ flavor and versatility in cooking.
Where to Buy Pre-Cut Onions
Most major grocery stores sell pre-cut onions in the refrigerated produce section, often near other pre-cut vegetables like broccoli florets or stir fry mixes. Here are some of the most common places to find pre-cut onions for sale:
Grocery Chains
– Walmart – Look in the produce section for plastic bags of diced, sliced, or julienned onions. Walmart’s store brand is Great Value.
– Kroger – Kroger sells pre-cut onions under its private label Simple Truth brand. Find them with other packaged produce.
– Safeway – Safeway’s Signature Farms brand offers pre-cut onions. Check refrigerated produce.
– Publix – Publix GreenWise brand has pre-cut onions in the fruits and vegetables section.
– Whole Foods – Whole Foods sells pre-cut onions under its 365 organic brand. Check the produce department.
Warehouse Clubs
– Costco – Large bags of diced or sliced onions can be found in produce sections at Costco warehouses. Kirkland Signature is the Costco brand.
– Sam’s Club – Members can buy Member’s Mark brand pre-cut onions in the club’s fresh produce.
– BJ’s Wholesale Club – Wellsley Farms brand pre-cut onions are sold at BJ’s stores.
Online Stores
Many grocery delivery services also offer pre-cut onions:
– AmazonFresh
– Instacart
– FreshDirect
– Peapod
– Walmart Grocery Pickup & Delivery
You can add pre-cut onions to an online grocery order just like in-store shopping.
Types of Pre-Cut Onions
When buying pre-cut onions, you’ll typically find these common cuts available:
Diced Onions
Diced onions are small, evenly cubed pieces of onion ranging from 1/4 to 1/2 inch in size. The uniform pieces make diced onion a versatile option to use in everything from soups and stews to omelets and salads.
Sliced Onions
Sliced onions consist of thin, flat oval slices cut across the onion. They work well for burgers, sandwiches, pizza and anywhere you want an onion flavor with a less intense crunchy texture than diced onions.
Julienne Onions
Julienne cut onions are matchstick shaped pieces cut lengthwise from the onion. Their long thin shape makes them ideal for stir fries.
Chopped Onions
Chopped onions are less uniform in size than diced onions. The pieces vary from small diced to larger chunks. They provide a more rustic, chunky texture while still being easier to use than a whole onion.
Minced Onions
Minced onions are tiny, finely diced onion pieces about 1/8 inch or smaller. The tiny pieces distribute well throughout a dish and provide a strong onion flavor. Minced onions are a common ingredient in meatloaf, meatballs, and burgers.
| Cut | Description | Uses |
|---|---|---|
| Diced | Small, evenly cubed onions. | Soups, stews, omelets. |
| Sliced | Thin, flat oval onion slices. | Burgers, sandwiches, pizza. |
| Julienne | Matchstick cut onion pieces. | Stir fries. |
| Chopped | Irregular, chunky pieces. | Chunky sauces, salsas. |
| Minced | Tiny, finely diced pieces. | Meatloaf, meatballs. |
Onion Options
Pre-cut onions are most commonly available using yellow or white onions. But other varieties can also be found pre-cut:
– Yellow – The most popular choice, yellow onions have a balanced, mildly pungent flavor.
– White – White onions are sweeter and more mellow in taste than yellow.
– Red – Red onions add a pop of color and are the mildest in flavor.
– Sweet – Vidalia and Walla Walla are two sweet onion types that may be pre-cut.
– Shallots – The small, elongated shallot onion has a delicate flavor.
– Green (Scallions) – Scallions are mild onion-garlic hybrids. The green tops are chopped, not the bulbs.
Organic and specialty onion varieties like cipollini may also be available pre-cut in some stores.
Onion Flavors
The type of onion affects the flavor intensity and sweetness:
– Yellow – Yellow onions are the classic all-purpose onion with a moderately pungent bite. They have some natural sugar so taste slightly sweet when cooked.
– White – White onions are the mildest in taste and have the highest sugar content. Great for serving raw in salsa or sandwiches.
– Red – Red onions fall between white and yellow onions for pungency. They have bright, crisp flavor when raw.
– Sweet – Vidalia, Walla Walla and other sweet onion varieties are bred to be lower in sulfur compounds for a very mild, sweet taste.
– Shallots – Shallots offer layered, complex flavor with hints of garlic. More subtle than regular onions.
– Scallions – Scallions (green onions) provide fresh onion and garlic undertones without an overwhelmingly strong bite.
How to Store Pre-Cut Onions
To maximize freshness and shelf life, proper storage of pre-cut onions is important:
– Refrigerate – Keep pre-cut onions chilled in the refrigerator, optimally at 32-34°F.
– Reseal packaging – Make sure bag or container is well sealed to lock in moisture after opening.
– Use quickly – Try to use within 5-7 days for peak flavor and texture.
– Check for spoilage – Discard any onions that are slimy or moldy.
– Freeze extras – Diced or sliced onions can be frozen in airtight containers for longer storage.
Proper refrigeration and air-tight packaging helps pre-cut onions retain moisture versus chopping onions yourself. But pre-processed onions will still have a shorter shelf life than whole onions.
Pre-Cut Onion Safety
Like any fresh produce, pre-cut onions come with a minimal risk of foodborne illness. Follow these tips for safe handling:
– Inspect – Check that pre-cut onions look and smell fresh when purchasing. Avoid bags with visible moisture or slime.
– Refrigerate promptly – Get pre-cut onions into the refrigerator within 2 hours of purchasing. Don’t leave at room temperature.
– Practice good hygiene – Wash hands before and after handling onions. Avoid cross-contamination.
– Cook thoroughly – Cook onions and dishes containing them to safe internal temperatures to kill potential bacteria. 165°F for leftovers and casseroles.
– When in doubt, throw out – Discard any onions that smell bad, look slimy, or are moldy. Don’t taste questionable onions.
Following basic food safety practices minimizes risks when using pre-cut onions.
Price of Pre-Cut Onions
Pre-cut onions come at a price premium versus purchasing whole onions. Some average prices for reference:
| Onion Type | Whole Onion Average Price | Pre-cut Onion Average Price |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow | $1.00 per pound | $3.00 per 12 oz. bag |
| White | $1.25 per pound | $3.50 per 12 oz. bag |
| Sweet | $2.00 per pound | $4.00 per 12 oz. bag |
As shown, pre-cut onions can cost 2 to 3 times more compared to purchasing whole onions. Convenience comes at a price.
Pros of Buying Pre-Cut Onions
Here are some of the benefits to buying onions already pre-cut versus chopping them yourself:
– Saves preparation time – Skipping chopping saves 10-15 minutes of hands on onion slicing time.
– More convenient – Ready to use right out of the bag instead of first cutting up an onion.
– Uniform pieces – Even size for dicing, mincing, etc. Great for recipes when presentation matters.
– No onion tears – Pre-cut onions spare you from crying over the cutting board during prep.
– Grab and go – Easy to toss in your cart at the store versus buying whole onions.
– Less food waste – Use just what you need instead of leftover onion halves going bad.
– Longer shelf life – Whole onions can sprout and go bad if not used quickly once cut.
– Flexible portions – Purchase the exact amount of onions your recipe needs.
Cons of Pre-Cut Onions
The drawbacks to pre-cut onions typically revolve around cost and freshness:
– More expensive – Pre-cut onions can cost 2-3 times as much as buying whole onions.
– Shorter shelf life – Lasts around 5-7 days refrigerated versus weeks for whole onions.
– Potential added processing – Some commercial methods for pre-cutting involve acid washes or other processing.
– More packaging waste – Individual plastic bags have a larger environmental footprint than whole onions.
– Loss of aromatics – The chopped edges release more aromatics versus an intact onion.
– Less variety – Usually limited to basic white/yellow/red onions versus unique heirloom options.
– Can’t control sizing – Dicing or slice thickness may not match your exact preferences.
– Spoils faster once opened – Chopped onions lose freshness quicker than whole onions.
For many home cooks though, the time and tear-saving benefits outweigh the costs.
Uses for Pre-Cut Onions
Pre-cut onions provide a quick cooking shortcut for:
Sautés and Stir Fries
Sliced, julienned or diced onions caramelize up fast in a hot pan for flavorful sautéed veggies and stir fries.
Soups, Stews and Chilies
Add diced or chopped onions right into the pot without prep work for extra flavor.
Salads and Salsas
Diced red or white onions add a punch of flavor and crunch to fresh salads, pico de gallo and salsa.
Casseroles and Roasts
Mix prepared onion pieces into everything from veggie and breakfast casseroles to pot roasts.
Sandwiches and Burgers
Slice or dice onions to mix into burger patties or top hot sandwiches.
Pizza Toppings
Pre-sliced onions make an easy topping to sprinkle over homemade or frozen pizzas.
Garnishes and Mix-Ins
Minced onions can quickly garnish tacos, nachos, dips and more or get mixed into meatballs and loafs.
Any recipe requiring chopped, diced, sliced or julienned onions is made easier with store-bought pre-cut onions.
Cooking Tips for Pre-Cut Onions
Here are some tips for getting the most out of cooking with pre-cut onions:
– Sauté over medium-high heat to caramelize and bring out sweetness
– Use in any recipe you’d normally chop onions for like soups, chili, casseroles
– Add raw to fresh salads, salsas and dressings for a punch of onion flavor
– Mix into ground meats for burgers and meatballs to distribute onion evenly
– Freeze portioned pre-cut onions in air-tight containers for longer storage
– When simmering in soups/stews, add towards end to better preserve texture
– Toss sliced onions with olive oil, salt and pepper for quick roasted onion side dish
– Use either yellow, white or red onions based on recipe and desired flavor
Pre-cut onions provide home cooks with an easy convenience product perfect for today’s busy lifestyle. Just keep proper storage and food safety in mind, and enjoy letting someone else do the slicing and chopping!
Conclusion
Pre-cut onions offer a handy shortcut for saving chopping time in the kitchen. Nearly all major grocery stores provide diced, sliced, and julienned onions ready to add straight to recipes for soups, salads, pizzas, burgers, and more. While pre-cut onions come at a higher price point and don’t last as long as whole onions, many home cooks find the time and tear-saving benefits worth the tradeoff. Properly stored and handled, pre-cut onions can conveniently boost flavor while minimizing prep work. So next time a recipe calls for any sort of onion chopping, consider taking advantage of pre-cut options to make life easier.