Ingredients

　　

Bland

Step 1

Dried basil, sage, and thyme and ground ginger are all good seasonings to add to bland cooking onions—or just butter and lightly sugar them.

　　

Crying while peeling or slicing

Step 2

For many, the best solution is to chill the onions. If you have time, put the onions in the freezer for 10 to 15 minutes before slicing. Alternatively, you can peel them under water (just the onion and your hands, no scuba gear needed) or under cold running water. For some people, biting on a piece of bread seems to help, for others not at all. Those of us desperately sensitive to chopping onions have been known to use our snorkeling mask when chopping many onions, or even to use the food processor for just one onion (the cleanup is worth it). Cutting next to an open flame, whether from a candle or your gas stove, can also be helpful. Finally, make sure your knife is nice and sharp. This will cut down on the enzymes being released from your onions, which become the gas that hurts your eyes.

　　

Difficult to peel

Step 3

Hot water loosens onion peels. Drop onions in boiling water for somewhere between 10 seconds (for tiny white onions) and 5 minutes (for big old red ones) and then dip them in cold water; the peel will virtually fall off.

　　

Falling apart while cooking

Step 4

We mean the onions, and not you, of course. When cooking whole pearl onions or cipollini, cut an X on the root end of the onion with a sharp knife and it will help hold loose onions together. (The root end is usually flatter, and it has a little dark spot where the root was.)

　　

Sauteing unevenly

Step 5

You have a recipe that calls for browned onions, but as you brown them, some are dark brown while others are still white. Sprinkle the onions with a bit of sugar as they cook and they should sauté evenly thereafter.

　　

Smelly

Step 6

Spicy smells tend to overcome oniony smells. The simplest spicy smell maker is a few cloves simmering in a pan of vinegar.

　　

Too soft

Step 7

Boiled onions that have become too soft can be firmed up again by dipping them briefly in ice water.

　　

Too strong

Step 8

If you’re using them raw, rinse the onions under cold water to make them less strong. If you’re cooking them, increase the cooking time over low heat. The longer they cook, the mellower they will be.

　　

Wilting

Step 9

When green onions start wilting, you can revive them by replanting them! Simply stick the root end in the ground and it will take root and grow healthy again. This does not work, alas, with most other things, including human beings.

　　How to Repair Food, Third Edition