Best way to peel an onion?

Pixabay public domain
Eugene, Oregon
January 20, 2017 10:03am CST
I'm sure you know, but I am relatively new to onions and to cooking anything that might be called elaborate. Anyway, I heard a recipe for "Baked Golden Onions" one day on a show I often listen to called "Splendid Table." It had some great seasonings in it and so I looked it up, printed the recipe and got ready to prepare it as a side dish for one of those nights Anne goes to Tai Chi class and I cook. Just after she walked out the door though, I read the first line of the recipe. It said "peeled onions, cut in half." Having never peeled one really, I began cutting, scratching and trying to get the brown peel off. One fell in the sink and got a little wet. That made peeling easier. I cut the end off one and that helped too. I was using four onions. Peeling took a while, so they were not quite ready when Anne got home. They did turn out great! Anne said that I should both ends off and they would peel easily. So, I wondered if out there in myLot land there were other methods? Is there an onion peeler gadget I need? I love kitchen stores, but Anne tries to keep me away from them.
11 people like this
13 responses
@DianneN (247186)
• United States
20 Jan 17
I peel onions the same way as Anne. Cut off both ends, slide a knife down the side to loosen the first layer, and remove it with my hands. However, breathe through your mouth to avoid tears!
2 people like this
• Eugene, Oregon
21 Jan 17
@Marty1 I think I will try the cold onions first.
1 person likes this
• Eugene, Oregon
21 Jan 17
@Marty1 I needed help and thought the answers would be interesting. I hope it works for you.
@DianneN (247186)
• United States
21 Jan 17
@Marty1 I've tried the bread on a knife technique. It didn't work.
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@LadyDuck (471459)
• Switzerland
20 Jan 17
I cut both ends, then I make a small incision on the side of the onion and peel, it takes no time. If you want to avoid to "cry" when you chop the onions, keep them in the refrigerator about two hours before chopping. It works.
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@marlina (154131)
• Canada
20 Jan 17
Doing it that way too.
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@LadyDuck (471459)
• Switzerland
20 Jan 17
@marlina @JamesHxstatic The small incision helps a lot to peel the onions quickly.
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• Eugene, Oregon
20 Jan 17
Oh yes, I recall Anne telling me about the cold onion method. That small incision would also help a lot.
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@RasmaSandra (79932)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
21 Jan 17
Well I looked online and perhaps this can help you. I find that there are onions that seem easy to peel, those that seem to pop out of their skin and those I find difficult to peel so I will try this out as well.
Few people enjoy peeling onions, especially not when the tears start to fall. To get around this, try one of the following ways to cut and peel any sized onion in seconds! Cut an onion in half vertically.
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• Eugene, Oregon
22 Jan 17
Thanks, I will take a look at that after I work today.
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@Namelesss (3365)
• United States
6 Feb 17
Since you've already gotten great answers I'll just beat a different drum, lol. Why not just cry your little eyes out (and don't forget to blow the ole nose as well). Onions are great for opening up the sinuses and clearing the senses.
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• Eugene, Oregon
7 Feb 17
They certainly are. It is kind of hard to go ahead and finish your meal prep in that condition.
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@Hannihar (130218)
• Israel
8 Jan 18
Onions are not fun to peel. They brown stuff goes all over the place. It is not fun to clean up. It sounds like you do a lot of cooking James. Is that so?
1 person likes this
• Eugene, Oregon
8 Jan 18
Yes, I do like to cook, sometimes I prepare the whole meal, but always help.
@Hannihar (130218)
• Israel
8 Jan 18
@JamesHxstatic You are a good husband and good helper.
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@Kandae11 (55035)
20 Jan 17
What I dislike about peeling onions is the inevitable tears.
1 person likes this
• Eugene, Oregon
20 Jan 17
Did you see @LadyDuck's comment about getting them cold? I am going to try that.
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@Kandae11 (55035)
20 Jan 17
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@allknowing (136541)
• India
20 Jan 17
Cutting both ends and then cutting the onion into two will make peeling easy. A running tap will stop your 'tears'
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@PatZAnthony (14749)
• Charlotte, North Carolina
21 Jan 17
Haven't ever seen an onion peeling gadget, but they might exist.
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• Eugene, Oregon
21 Jan 17
They must!
@amadeo (111938)
• United States
20 Jan 17
there is.At this time I cannot think of.You can find this online and a video .Youtube should have it.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (340216)
• Rockingham, Australia
21 Jan 17
I think most would just peel onions with their fingers after cutting off both ends and perhaps scoring the outer layer so you can get a grip to peel off the skin. Did peeling them make you cry? Vince loves kitchen stores too and is like a kid in a toyshop. It's surprising what he discovers he needs from these places.
@teamfreak16 (43418)
• Denver, Colorado
20 Jan 17
Yes, I also cut off both ends.
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• Eugene, Oregon
20 Jan 17
Can't imagine why that did not occur to me at the time. I know it doesn't help with apples.
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@FayeHazel (40243)
• United States
20 Jan 17
Aw good for you! I know it's weird to try to "open" foods that you haven't worked with before. (I just opened a pineapple). I'm with Anne on this one however. I like to cut both ends off. Sometimes I will run my knife under the outermost layer of onion and peel that off with the paper skin.
1 person likes this
• Eugene, Oregon
20 Jan 17
I have a pineapple "gadget" that makes it pretty easy. I was concerned that if I cut off both ends that the onion might fall apart while baking.
21 Jan 17
Although this is not new to me.. But happy that you found it too.. Peeling will be easy for you now