Tips and Tricks from the Professionals
Onion
Chilly weather or no space for a garden doesn’t have to stop you from growing your own food. A trip to the garden store for some bulbs—which you can even get in cold weather months—some soil, and a five liter plastic bottle are all you need for a near-infinite supply of fresh onions. Kitchen Scraps …
Cut both ends off of the onion and place in the microwave for 30 seconds. No tears!
The peak “eye watering” time for an onion is about 30 seconds after you cut it. From there, the effect diminishes rapidly and is gone completely within about five minutes after cutting.
Most recipes don’t specify what type they mean when they call for onions. While using whatever kind you already have won’t necessarily ruin a dish, using the best one for what you’re cooking will definitely make your food taste better. There are no strict guidelines for what onions goes with what, or what onion should …
Did that recipe say white onion or red onion? Will it matter if you just buy the sweet onions that are on sale? The answer should come as no surprise. Different types of onions are good for different types of foods. Here’s a quick look at how to choose. While you’re free to experiment and …
Soak raw onions in water before using (raw – in salads). This removes the sulfates.
Instead of placing a chicken on a roasting rack, cut thick slices of onion, put them in an oiled pan, then place the chicken on top. The onion will absorb the chicken juices. After roasting, let the chicken rest while you make a sauce with the onions by adding a little stock or water to …
Anytime you are using raw onions in a salsa and you are not going to eat that salsa in the next 20 minutes or so, be sure to rinse the diced onions under cold running water first, then blot dry. This will rid them of sulfurous gas that can ruin fresh salsa. It’s really important …
Freeze green onions in water bottles – shake out the right amount and return to the freezer.
Caramelize onions very quickly by cooking them in a dry nonstick sauté pan over medium-high heat. They will caramelize beautifully in a lot less time than with traditional methods.Michael Mina – Bourbon Steak and Michael Mina restaurants, multiple locations
To help keep an onion together while dicing, do not remove the root.To Slice Onion Cut Off Pointy Stem Then in Half. Slice off the pointy stem, then cut the onion in half through the root; peel. Make Cuts to Onion Parallel to Board. Put each half cut-side down; make horizontal cuts parallel to the board. Make …