FOOD NEWS
The Onion Peeling Hack You Already Know But
Aren't Using
By Heidi Chaya
An onion’s outer layer doubles as natural packaging and allows for long-term storage, but we all know it can be frustrating to remove. Cutting the ends of the onion does help peel it, but there’s a better way to prep it for peeling, and it’s similar to whacking garlic cloves with the flat side of your kitchen knife.
The pro move is to slice your onion in half, place it cut-side down, and hit it with your fist. Just be sure to strike down onto the onion to avoid launching it somewhere it's not supposed to go or thrusting your cutting board into hazards nearby.
Before slicing the onion in half, you'll want to determine which angle you'll need to cut it. For onions that break down quickly — like caramelized onions — cut your onion from end to end, and for crisper onions — like for sandwich toppers — slice them equatorially.
Don’t forget to save the peels, because they’re rich in antioxidants and vitamins A, C, and E, and are a great addition to dishes like soups, stocks, and even rice if they haven’t been sprayed with pesticides. You can also compost onion peels along with your other produce scraps.