Pickled onions for Christmas! Recommendations?

RainbowsInTheSpray

I'm a great fan of pickled onions and used to make my own. Unfortunately illness has meant that I haven't been able to make any for a few years now and I'm reliant on the commercially-available ones.

Can anyone recommend from personal experience any really good ones... by which I mean crunchy and sweet? I seem to find little other than mushy and sour/bitter ones.

Farway

RainbowsInTheSpray said:

I'm a great fan of pickled onions and used to make my own. Unfortunately illness has meant that I haven't been able to make any for a few years now and I'm reliant on the commercially-available ones.

Can anyone recommend from personal experience any really good ones... by which I mean crunchy and sweet? I seem to find little other than mushy and sour/bitter ones.

I found the Waitrose Essentials own brand very similar to those I used to make, Quid a jar so not too expensive to suck them & see

GillyLucy

Drivers are excellent - I usually purchase at a farm shop but have seen them in B&M a few times.

RainbowsInTheSpray

Thanks for those thoughts. I'll ask in Old Style as well as not all of those worthies visit here and they may have good ideas.

twopenny

I'm in the same boat and the last lot were Tescos. They sell different random brands and the last was a good one.

OK so it says Garner's - Sweet Pickled Baby Onions. And there's no Calcium Chloride in them either, just vinegar, sugar, water and spices. 

Probably why I choose them

HillStreetBlues

I thought of getting some but looking at reviews think I will do my own if i can get some pickling onions.
What spices work well  with them?

strawb_shortcake

HillStreetBlues said:

I thought of getting some but looking at reviews think I will do my own if i can get some pickling onions.
What spices work well  with them?

You can buy pickling spice, never used it though.

My husband likes them with whole chillies in the vinegar, and a neighbour used to put ginger in theirs but I'd say that was an acquired taste...

Albermarle

twopenny said:

I'm in the same boat and the last lot were Tescos. They sell different random brands and the last was a good one.

OK so it says Garner's - Sweet Pickled Baby Onions. And there's no Calcium Chloride in them either, just vinegar, sugar, water and spices. 

Probably why I choose them

Garners normal/standard pickled onions are crunchier and stronger than the cheaper ( mainly supermarket ) brands, that tend to be softer/slimier. However they are two to three times the price

mummytummy

Definitely Garners for me, you pay a bit more but worth it 😊 I’ve tried others but then they usually end up in the bin.

twopenny

HillStreetBlues the choice of spices is endless.

I once looked into it and couldn't make my mind up so just slung in Mustard seed and black pepper.

But I like to eat them straight from the jar.

You could probably add to the bottled ones as they are basic.

Cornucopia

Lidl Silverskin Onions - being small, they are crunchy and sweet.