Andrew F. Smith

Onion Rings

Appears in
Oxford Encyclopedia of Food and Drink in America
Oxford Encyclopedia of Food and Drink in America

By Andrew F. Smith

Published 2004

  • About

Onion rings are made by cutting a large, mild onion (Allium cepa) crosswise into 1/4- to 1/2-inch slices that separate into rings. The onion rings are battered (or breaded), deep fried until golden brown and crisp, and served hot.

Some observers claim that onion rings were invented by the Pig Stand restaurant chain of Dallas, Texas in the 1920s. No primary source evidence supports this claim, however, and recipes for batter-dipped fried vegetables, including onions, were present in American cookbooks well before the twentieth century. However, the Pig Stand did serve onion rings beginning in the 1920s, so it has been credited as possibly the earliest retail seller of this irresistible snack food.