Ways to Take the Sharp Bite Out of Raw Onion (2024)

Raw onion can be intense! These tools can help tame them for your next bite.

By

PJ O'neal

Ways to Take the Sharp Bite Out of Raw Onion (1)

PJ O'neal is one of New York City's dynamic food educators, writers, and food advocates. He has over five years creating food programming and cooking curriculum for many sectors. He also curates NYC food guides and tours on his travel website thestudioemcee.com.

Published on October 31, 2022

Ways to Take the Sharp Bite Out of Raw Onion (2)

The quintessential onion is one of the foundations of cooking. Need a mother sauce? An onion is involved. Need a stock? An onion is involved. No matter how you slice it (pun intended), it's a staple in the kitchen. This bulb vegetable is a key ingredient in many of our favorite recipes. And they are versatile. Onions can be served fried, caramelized, roasted, or even raw.

Raw onions, however, can have a bad rep. You may have heard someone say they can eat cooked onions, but not straight up. Raw onions have a certain sharpness to them that can deter some. With the right choice and preparation, we can help dispel that fear.

How to Tame the Sharp Taste of Raw Onion

Ways to Take the Sharp Bite Out of Raw Onion (3)

Know Your Varieties

One of the most important things about working with and consuming onions is knowing the varieties. There are white onions, yellow onions, red onions, Vidalia onions, scallions (green onions), shallots, and leeks. All onions are not the same, and some are better suited for different things. White and red onions are milder in flavor and are better in raw form. Vidalia onions, sometimes called sweet onions, have more sugar and therefore are usually caramelized. Leeks and shallots may seem fancy, but they are just less commonly used in home kitchens. They are often sautéed or roasted. Scallions are mainly used for garnishing and texture. It is helpful to know the varieties and their uses. The next time you scoff at a raw onion, make sure it is the "right" onion.

Ways to Take the Sharp Bite Out of Raw Onion (4)

The Cut Matters

The last thing anyone wants to encounter is a big chunk of raw onion in their mouth. It is startling at best and can overpower the palate. The knife cut of the onion is crucial. Not only does it help to use a sharp knife to avoid tears, but the way they are cut makes a difference in how they taste in a dish overall. Raw onion should always be served with the least amount of surface area possible. Meaning, thin and/or small. A small dice is great for pico de gallo. A fine mince is great for topping hot dogs or making a flavorful, easy vinaigrette. A thin slice is great for salads or sandwiches. Anything larger should make its way to a sauté or roast pan.

Submerge Them in Cold Water

After you have cut your onions, try putting them in cold water. Soak them for at least 15 minutes (longer is even more beneficial), properly drain, and eat away! Submerging them in cold water takes away that intense, sharp bite from the raw onion. The cold water helps the enzyme that causes onions to have their pungent flavor to leach out. Similarly, storing onions in the refrigerator will help mellow them out when you go to use them.

Onions will always be a foundational ingredient in the kitchen that will never go away. Whether they are cooked or served raw, with the right tools, that sharp bite can be a distant memory and you will find a new way to enjoy fresh onions.

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Ways to Take the Sharp Bite Out of Raw Onion (2024)

FAQs

Ways to Take the Sharp Bite Out of Raw Onion? ›

Submerge Them in Cold Water

How do you get the bite out of raw onions? ›

Submerge Them in Cold Water

Soak them for at least 15 minutes (longer is even more beneficial), properly drain, and eat away! Submerging them in cold water takes away that intense, sharp bite from the raw onion. The cold water helps the enzyme that causes onions to have their pungent flavor to leach out.

How to take the sting out of an onion? ›

Submerge Them in Cold Water

Soak them for at least 15 minutes (longer is even more beneficial), properly drain, and eat away! Submerging them in cold water takes away that intense, sharp bite from the raw onion. The cold water helps the enzyme that causes onions to have their pungent flavor to leach out.

What helps with pain from cutting onions? ›

Preparing onions often causes a chemical reaction that results in tears for most people. Some people are more sensitive to onions than others. Try chilling onions in ice before cutting to help reduce their sting.

What does soaking onions in vinegar do? ›

Then you just have to wait long enough for the vinegar to do its job, rinsing away the harsh sulfurous compounds, softening the onion, and giving it a pleasantly tart pop of flavor. If you use red wine vinegar, my personal favorite, the onions also turn an amazing hot-pink color.

What does soaking onions in water do? ›

When preparing raw onions, soak in cold water before hand to remove some of the pungency and soften the flavor. However since soaking too long will dilute the flavor, soaking in cold water for 5 to 10 minutes is recommended. Squeeze out excess water before using.

Can you take a bite out of an onion? ›

The Trick for Taking the Bite Out of Onions

In culinary school, I was taught to soak onions and other alliums like shallots in an ice bath—a bowl filled with water and ice—for 10 to 20 minutes to tame the bite and mellow the flavor while crisping up the texture.

What neutralizes onion acid? ›

Drink lemon water

Lemon juice may help to neutralize the odor of onions or garlic on the breath. Try adding a squeeze of fresh lemon juice (approximately 1 tablespoon) to a glass of water and drinking it after an onion- or garlic-rich meal.

What neutralizes onions? ›

Lemon juice works to remove onion smell due to its acid level. This is why vinegar is also a solution, as well as tomato juice, celery juice, mustard, and rubbing alcohol.

What neutralizes onion in mouth? ›

Drink Milk

Therefore, when you feel the stench of onion or garlic in your mouth, a glass of milk will reduce the smell.

How do you get rid of onion burns in your mouth? ›

Swish with salt water

Add 1/8 teaspoon of salt to a 250 ml glass of warm water, swish it around in your mouth gently and then spit it out. Salt is a natural antiseptic that can reduce swelling and pain, and ease your burn symptoms.

Why does raw onion sting? ›

When an onion is sliced or diced, the onion's cells release these compounds into the air. When this occurs, "enzyme" works to alter the amino acids into lachrymator compounds. This form of sulfuric acid irritates the nerves around the eyes making them tear. How can we prevent this reaction?

How do you not get hurt from onions? ›

The best onion-cutting tips to prevent crying
  1. Tip 1: Chill your onions. ...
  2. Tip 2. ...
  3. Tip 3: Cut under cold water. ...
  4. Tip 4: Sharpen that knife. ...
  5. Tip 5: Work on your knife skills. ...
  6. Tip 6: Cut near an open flame. ...
  7. Tip 7: Cut off the top of the onion. ...
  8. Tip 8: Wear goggles.

How do you get raw onions out of your mouth? ›

Drinking water after meals can wash garlic or onion remnants from the tongue or between the teeth. It also stimulates the production of saliva, which helps to remove some of the odor-producing bacteria from the mouth.

Why do you soak raw onions in water? ›

When preparing raw onions, soak in cold water before hand to remove some of the pungency and soften the flavor. However since soaking too long will dilute the flavor, soaking in cold water for 5 to 10 minutes is recommended. Squeeze out excess water before using.

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