It’s understandable that this confusion happened, as green onions and scallions are often used interchangeably, but there is a slight difference. Here’s a breakdown:
- Green Onions: The term “green onion” is commonly used in the U.S. to refer to both green onions (with a mild flavor) and scallions. They have a long white stalk with a small bulb at the base and long green leaves. Green onions typically have a slightly more pronounced bulb at the bottom and can have a sweeter, milder flavor.
- Scallions: Scallions are technically the same vegetable as green onions, but the name “scallions” tends to refer to the entire vegetable, especially in terms of its mild flavor. They do not have the pronounced white bulb as green onions do.
In essence, they are the same plant, but the names can vary depending on the region or the context. The main difference people may be referring to is the size of the bulb or the region they’re from.
For your MIL, it’s likely more of a personal or regional preference, but both are used similarly in cooking.