To think you cook onions first and then add the rest?

[Ribrabrob]

Boring thread alert but I’m curious

Whenever I cook any meal that contains onions, I always always cook the onions first and then add the meat if it’s a bologneiss, chilli etc (I’m vegetarian but use Quorn which I do the same with). Especially in a meal such as a curry - the onions are key for flavour.

I thought this normal and it’s how I was taught at school, but I’ve been watching lots of cooking videos on TikTok and it seems to me a lot of people aren’t adding onion first and will add them later on a dish. For example cooking mince, adding garlic and then later adding the onion. I just find this strange. I just think there’s nothing worse than a crunchy onion in a chilli for example.

Aibu to think onions should be cooked first? Aibu to think it enhances the taste of a dish and that not properly cooked onion in a bologneise will just ruin it? What do you do?

Actually... I did an experiment on this recently and browned the mince then just chucked everything else in and put it on a slow simmer.

(I say an experiment, what I mean is I had a friend round post-lockdown, had wine, got overexcited and couldn't actually be arsed doing the forgotten onions.)

If you do it the wrong way round and cook it for long enough (2 hours minimum) there's hardly any difference. I'd say 5% better. I would challenge anyone to tell the difference.