The Outback Bloomin’ Onion is an appetizer served at Outback Steakhouse restaurants. It features a large onion that is cut to open into petals, battered and deep fried. The Bloomin’ Onion is an iconic menu item at Outback and is shared as an appetizer for the table. However, with its large size and fried preparation, many wonder just how many calories are in an Outback Bloomin’ Onion. In this article, we will break down the calorie count and other nutrition information for this popular appetizer.
Calories in an Outback Bloomin’ Onion
An Outback Bloomin’ Onion contains approximately 1,954 calories. This is according to the nutrition information provided on the Outback Steakhouse website.
Here is a breakdown of the calorie count in an Outback Bloomin’ Onion:
– Onion: 120 calories
– Batter: 438 calories
– Oil for frying: 1,396 calories
So the majority of calories (over 70%) come from the oil used to deep fry the Bloomin’ Onion. The batter also adds a significant number of calories. The onion itself contributes minimal calories.
To put this calorie count into perspective, 1,954 calories is:
– 97% of a standard 2,000 calorie daily diet
– More calories than a Big Mac from McDonald’s, which has 563 calories
– More calories than four Outback Cheese Fries appetizers, which have 410 calories each
– Over 3 times the calories of an Outback House Salad with dressing, which has 585 calories
So the Bloomin’ Onion definitely lives up to its reputation as an indulgent, calorie-dense appetizer. The calorie count for one is off the charts.
Nutrition Facts for Outback Bloomin’ Onion
In addition to calories, here are some other key nutrition facts for the Outback Bloomin’ Onion:
– Total Fat: 128g
– Saturated Fat: 18g
– Trans Fat: 0.5g
– Cholesterol: 15mg
– Sodium: 2,779mg
– Total Carbohydrates: 147g
– Dietary Fiber: 5g
– Sugars: 7g
– Protein: 8g
As these nutrition facts indicate, the Bloomin’ Onion is high in calories, fat, sodium and carbohydrates. It contains nearly a full day’s worth of fat and sodium. The onion provides a small amount of fiber, but minimal protein.
It’s an indulgent appetizer with little nutritional value beyond calories and fat. The protein and fiber are negligible.
Calories by Serving Size
Outback Steakhouse states that a Bloomin’ Onion serves 2-3 people. However, the calorie count listed is for the entire appetizer. Here is a breakdown of estimated calories per serving:
– Serving size for 2 people: 977 calories each
– Serving size for 3 people: 651 calories each
So if you split this appetizer with one other person, you’re still taking in nearly 1,000 calories just from this appetizer. Even when split three ways, each person eats over 650 calories.
In comparison, here are calories for some other Outback Steakhouse appetizers:
– Aussie Cheese Fries: 410 calories
– Sweet Potato Fries: 370 calories
– Bruchetta: 350 calories
– Parmesan Bread Bites: 300 calories
As you can see, most other appetizers range from 300-400 calories per serving. The Bloomin’ Onion far exceeds those with nearly 1,000 calories per serving.
Tips to Reduce Calories
If you want to enjoy an Outback Bloomin’ Onion but reduce the calorie count, here are some tips:
– Split with more people – the more you split it, the lower the calories per serving. Splitting with 4 people reduces calories to around 500 per person.
– Take home leftovers – take the leftovers and enjoy them another day to spread calories over multiple meals.
– Substitute side items – rather than fries or mashed potatoes, choose lower calorie sides like steamed veggies or a house salad.
– Watch portions of other items – be mindful of calories and fat in high calorie menu items like ribs, steaks, pastas. Balance indulgent apps with lighter entrées.
– Drink water – skip high calorie sodas, juices or alcohol and stick to water to avoid excess liquid calories.
With some modifications and smart choices, you can still enjoy the iconic Bloomin’ Onion as an occasional indulgence while limiting the calorie impact.
Calorie Burn Needed to Offset Bloomin’ Onion
The number of calories in the Bloomin’ Onion is so high, it would take intensive exercise to burn it off. Here’s how many calories you would need to burn to offset a serving:
– Split between 2 people: Need to burn off 977 calories
– Split between 3 people: Need to burn off 651 calories
For a 150 pound person, this would require:
– Split between 2: 148 minutes of vigorous cycling or 211 minutes of vigorous walking
– Split between 3: 98 minutes of vigorous cycling or 140 minutes of vigorous walking
As you can see, working off even part of a Bloomin’ Onion requires close to 1-3 hours of strenuous cardiovascular exercise. And that’s for one person’s share – double or triple it if you ate a whole Bloomin’ Onion yourself!
Clearly, trying to burn off all the calories from this appetizer would require an entire day devoted to intensive workouts. It’s best to consider this appetizer an occasional indulgence and balance it out with lighter meals and snacks for the day. Don’t plan on “working it off” through exercise alone.
Bloomin’ Onion Calories Compared to Other Appetizers
To put the 1,954 calories in an Outback Bloomin’ Onion into context, here’s how it compares to some other popular appetizers at chain restaurants:
| Appetizer | Calories |
|---|---|
| Outback Bloomin’ Onion | 1,954 |
| Chili’s Boneless Buffalo Wings (10 pcs) | 1,330 |
| Applebee’s Mozzarella Sticks (6 pcs) | 970 |
| Olive Garden Fried Mozzarella (5 pcs) | 820 |
| Ruby Tuesday’s Loaded Potato Skins (4 pcs) | 910 |
As this comparison shows, the Outback Bloomin’ Onion far exceeds most other appetizers in calories, with nearly double the calories of items like mozzarella sticks or potato skins. It lives up to its reputation as one of the highest calorie appetizer options.
Health Impact of Bloomin’ Onion Calories
With nearly an entire day’s worth of calories coming from mostly saturated fat and sodium, the Bloomin’ Onion is considered an extremely unhealthy appetizer. Here are some of the health impacts of consuming these excessive calories, fat and sodium in one appetizer:
– Weight gain – at nearly 2,000 calories, eating this regularly can easily lead to weight gain in most people unless calories are restricted elsewhere.
– High blood pressure – the combination of high fat, sodium and calories is linked to high blood pressure.
– High cholesterol – the saturated fat can raise LDL (bad) cholesterol levels.
– Heart disease risk – the calories, fat, sodium, carbs can increase risk for heart disease.
– Stroke risk – the high sodium also increases risk of stroke.
– Diabetes risk – spike in blood sugar from the carbs can increase risk of Type 2 diabetes.
This appetizer is extremely high in calories, fat and sodium, all of which are linked to obesity, high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke and other health risks if consumed in excess regularly. It’s best reserved as an occasional indulgence.
Tips for Healthier Appetizer Choices at Outback
If you want to enjoy appetizers at Outback Steakhouse in a healthier way, here are some tips:
– Choose lower calorie options like salads, soups, grilled shrimp or steak bites.
– Share one Bloomin’ Onion between more people to reduce calories per serving.
– Order a smaller size like Petite Bloomin’ Onion or Petite Ahi Tuna.
– Opt for steamed, grilled or roasted veggies rather than fried appetizers.
– Ask for dressings and sauces on the side to control portions.
– Modify items by asking for less cheese, butter, creamy sauces.
– Choose fresh fruit or low fat yogurt for dessert instead of heavy, fried desserts.
With some simple modifications and smarter choices, you can still enjoy appetizers at Outback without going overboard on calories, fat and sodium. The Bloomin’ Onion can be an occasional treat – just don’t make it a regular habit.
Conclusion
The Outback Bloomin’ Onion clocks in at a staggering 1,954 calories, one of the highest calorie appetizers on any chain restaurant menu. Made by deep frying a whole onion in batter, over 70% of the calories come from fat and oil. Each serving contains nearly an entire day’s worth of calories and fat – not a healthy choice for a starter. While it can be an occasional indulgence, limiting portions and frequency is advised. With some simple tips, you can still enjoy appetizers at Outback Steakhouse in a healthier way. But when it comes to the Bloomin’ Onion, moderation is key due to the extremely high calorie count.