Small pickling onion and shallots take a
good deal of time to prepare and can result in a great deal of
discomfort. When you cut off the root, which loosens the skins, you
also release the onion juices, along with your tears.
The best way to peel these small onions
is to pour boiling water over them and leave them to soak for 5 minutes
- the skins should then slip off easily. I usually cut away the top of
the onion then peel the papery outer layers away towards the root.
Leaving the root intact while chopping or
slicing helps enormously. Much research has been done and proven that
chilling onions before you chop them reduces the lacrimatory factor and
thus stops tears, but do wrap them well before placing them in the
fridge or their smell will taint everything else. Peeling under running
water also helps by washing the water-soluble factor away.
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