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.
Pre-peeled onions are available in the freezer section of most markets — and while you can certainly purchase them, 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 Four Easy Steps
1. 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.
2. Drain, and then shock them in ice water. 
3. Drain and dry the onions. Then slice off the root ends.
4. Gently pinch the other end and the skin should slide right off. 
(More detailed instructions are below.)
A few Pearl Onion Recipes:
How to Peel Pearl Onions
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
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Lana says
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
Christina says
How simply marvelous! Love this idea!
Marissa says
This is genius, Valentina. I had no idea!! This trick will come in handy for holiday cooking!
valentina says
Thanks, Marissa! It’s a life saver if you love pearl onions. 🙂 ~Valentina
Dawn - Girl Heart Food says
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 🙂
valentina says
Thanks, Dawn. Yes, so delish in comfort food dishes. Here’s to many of them this winter. 🙂 ~Valentina
Kelly | Foodtasia says
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!
valentina says
Yay! So happy you found this exciting — at least in the food world. 😉 It is a huge time savor. Thanks so much, Kelly. 🙂 ~Valentina
Kathy @ Beyond the Chicken Coop says
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!
valentina says
When I started doing it this way, I started using pearl onions so much more. Thanks so much for checking out this method. 🙂 ~Valentina
David @ Spiced says
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!
valentina says
I used to do the same. It’s life changing. In terms of cooking. 😉 ~Valentina
Jeff the Chef @ Make It Like a Man! says
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!