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    Home » How To (Cooking Techniques) » How to Peel Pearl Onions

    How to Peel Pearl Onions

    Nov 11, 2021 · by Valentina · 13 Comments

    This post may contain affiliate links.

    Jump to Recipe
    With this instructional, photographic guide, you will learn how to peel pearl onions, and be daunted by this task no more. They are so delicious when freshly peeled and can be added to all kinds of recipes. peeled red pearl onions on cutting board with knife

    If you don't know how to properly peel pearl onions, it can be incredibly frustrating and take a very long time. 

    Once you learn the below technique, you'll never hesitate to use these beautiful onions.

    First, what are pearl onions?


    • Pearl onions are little, marble-sized sweet onions.
    • There are a few varieties: white, gold/yellow and red. White are usually the most pungent, while red are the most mild.
    • Since they’re so small, they’re typically not cut, and are eaten whole.
    • Pearl onions are fantastic braised in stews, glazed, pickled, sautéed, and roasted.

    dozens of red, yellow and white pearl onions on cutting board

    Pre-peeled onions are available in the freezer section of most markets. While you can certainly purchase them, if time permits, I would highly recommend doing it yourself instead.

    The final result of the recipe they're being added to will be superior.

    How to Peel Pearl Onions in 4 Easy Steps


    Step1: Add the onions to a pot and fill it with enough water just to cover them, bring to a boil, and simmer for about two minutes.

    Sauce pot filled iwth water and red pearl onions

    Step 2: Drain, and then shock them in ice water. red pearl onions in bowl of ice water

    Step 3. Drain and dry the onions. Then slice off the root ends.One pearl onion with root end cut off

    Step 4: Gently pinch the other end and the skin should slide right off. one red onion that's peeledd with skin next to it on cutting board

    (More detailed instructions are in the recipe card below.)

    Peeled purple pearl onions with peels on dark wood cutting board.

    A few Pearl Onion Recipes:

    • French Onion Mushroom Casserole
    • Braised Chestnuts and Pearl Onions
    • Balsamic Glazed Pearl Onions
    peeled red pearl onions on cutting board with knife

    How to Peel Pearl Onions

    Valentina K. Wein
    Learn how to peel pearl onions in 4 easy steps and be daunted by this task no more. They are so delicious when freshly peeled and added to all kinds of recipes.
    Print
    Prep Time 15 mins
    Cook Time 2 mins
    Total Time 17 mins
    Course Ingredient
    Cuisine American
    Servings 6 servings
    Calories 30 kcal

    Equipment

    • paring knife
    • saucepot
    • mixing bowl
    • kitchen towel

    Ingredients
      

    • 1 pound pearl onions any color
    • water

    Instructions
     

    • Prepare a medium-sized bowl with ice water and set it aside.
    • Place the onions in a sauce pot, and add just enough water to barely cover them. Bring to a boil, immediately turn off the heat, and let them sit for about two minutes.
    • Drain, and then add the onions into the bowl with ice water and let them sit just long enough to cool off a bit, about 2 minutes. Drain the onions again, pour them onto a kitchen towel and gently pat them dry.
    • Use a paring knife to cut the root off the bottom of each onion.Then gently pinch the other end and the skin should slide right off.

    Notes

    Calorie count is only an estimate.
    Keywords easy ways to peel onions, pearl onions
    Have you tried this recipe?I'd love to see it on Instagram! Tag me at @cookingontheweekends or leave a comment & rating below.

    Cooking On The Weekends is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. 


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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Lana

      December 27, 2013 at 3:04 am

      Valentina, thanks for the tutorial! I dread when I have to make a recipe using the pearl onions! I will definitely adhere to your advice from here on! XOXO

      Reply
    2. Christina

      December 27, 2013 at 6:18 am

      How simply marvelous! Love this idea!

      Reply
    3. Marissa

      November 06, 2019 at 2:30 pm

      This is genius, Valentina. I had no idea!! This trick will come in handy for holiday cooking!

      Reply
      • valentina

        November 06, 2019 at 7:33 pm

        Thanks, Marissa! It's a life saver if you love pearl onions. 🙂 ~Valentina

        Reply
    4. Dawn - Girl Heart Food

      November 07, 2019 at 4:24 am

      Love this post, Valentina! Peeling those pearl onions can sometimes be a pain, but so necessary in some dishes because they're delish! I use them a lot, especially in the cooler months with comfort food dishes. Love all the instructions and pinning for sure! Hope you have a lovely weekend ahead, my friend 🙂

      Reply
      • valentina

        November 08, 2019 at 4:58 pm

        Thanks, Dawn. Yes, so delish in comfort food dishes. Here's to many of them this winter. 🙂 ~Valentina

        Reply
    5. Kelly | Foodtasia

      November 07, 2019 at 5:29 am

      Valentina, this post really did excite me! What a time saver! It always takes me forever to peel them, and I like fresh so much better than the pre-peeled ones in the store. They look amazing braised with the chestnuts! Yum!

      Reply
      • valentina

        November 08, 2019 at 5:00 pm

        Yay! So happy you found this exciting -- at least in the food world. 😉 It is a huge time savor. Thanks so much, Kelly. 🙂 ~Valentina

        Reply
    6. Kathy @ Beyond the Chicken Coop

      November 08, 2019 at 5:13 am

      Oh my goodness! This makes it look so easy. I have actually avoided using pearl onions because I felt like I lost most of the onion trying to peel them. I never thought about blanching them. I can't wait to give this a try!

      Reply
      • valentina

        November 08, 2019 at 4:04 pm

        When I started doing it this way, I started using pearl onions so much more. Thanks so much for checking out this method. 🙂 ~Valentina

        Reply
    7. David @ Spiced

      November 14, 2019 at 4:19 am

      So that's how you peel pearl onions!! Several years ago, I made a soup and really wanted pearl onions in it. So I stood there peeling them for like an hour. Silly me. Thanks so much for sharing this, Valentina!

      Reply
      • valentina

        November 14, 2019 at 2:28 pm

        I used to do the same. It's life changing. In terms of cooking. 😉 ~Valentina

        Reply
    8. Jeff the Chef @ Make It Like a Man!

      November 15, 2021 at 4:51 am

      Thanks, Valentina. The first time I came across a recipe that used pearl onions was a stew in a Julia Child cookbook, and I had the hardest time finding them! Your peeling method couldn't be easier!

      Reply

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