Shallots vs. Onions: What's the Difference?

Are shallots and onions the same?

Can you use them interchangeably?

What do shallots taste like anyway?

a photo of shallots and a red onion

Getty Images

Here we answer all of those questions and more.

There may be no more magic ingredients in all of cooking than alliums.

What Is a Shallot?

Ashallotis a member of the allium genus and is related to both onion and garlic.

Shallots are typically found near the onions at your local grocer.

Shallots have a flavor that some people describe as onion with a hint of garlic on the finish.

They are peppery like a red onion when raw but get sweet when cooked.

Their flavor is a bit more delicate than onions.

A shallot is a small bulb-shaped allium that comes in two varieties.

Shallots have pale lavender-tinged flesh and thin, bronzed papery skin (similar to onions).

These shallots taste the same and can be used interchangeably.

Since onions and shallots behave the same way when cooked, technically you might substitute them one-for-one in recipes.

It’s important to remember that shallots are milder.

This matters most in raw applications, such as chopped insalad dressingor sliced thin on a salad.

Shallots are a good ingredient to get to know.

A classic use is to add minced raw shallot to vinaigrette-style salad dressings.

Shallots are a terrific garnish for vegetables, whether pickledorfried.

They can beroasted,sauteed, or poached.

Both shallots and onions should be stored in a cool, dark place.

Although both are rich in nutrients, shallots contain higher levels of certain nutrients.

There are countless ways to enjoy shallots, just as there are with onions.