Red onions have an assertive and spicy flavor when raw, but they become sweeter when cooked, while still retaining a strong onion taste.
Here's a breakdown of their flavor profile:
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Raw: Red onions offer a sharp, pungent, and slightly spicy bite. Their flavor is often described as more intense than white or yellow onions when consumed raw.
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Cooked: When cooked, the spiciness mellows, and the natural sugars in the onion are released, resulting in a sweeter, more mellow flavor. The intensity is reduced, but the distinctive onion taste remains.
Therefore, you can expect a potent and somewhat spicy experience when eating them raw and a milder, sweeter onion flavor when cooked.