Whether using shallots, yellow onions, or red onions,
grating these aromatic bulbs allows home cooks to infuse savory onion flavor
into any dish. Follow this tutorial to learn how to grate an onion using simple
kitchen tools.
What Is a Grated Onion?
Grating onions is one of the most efficient ways to obtain
small, fine onion pieces that cook quickly. Grating a raw onion entails shaving
it down into very small slices, which a dice or even a very fine mince cannot
achieve. This method produces small onion pieces that caramelize quickly and
evenly, as opposed to chopped or diced onions, which must usually be precooked
before being added to a sautéed mixture. Grated onion is ideal for infusing a
strong, savory onion flavor into dishes such as meatballs, meatloaf, and
various gravies.
How to Grate an Onion Using a Grater
A grater is the best way to grate an onion, but a food
processor will suffice. To grate an onion with a box grater or cheese grater,
follow these steps:
1. Peel: Remove the outer peel from the entire onion. If the
sulfoxides in onions make you cry, place the onion in the freezer or soak it in
cold water before cutting.
2. Slice: Cut the onion in half vertically from root to stem
with a sharp knife. Remove the onion's very top or the stem end. Keep the
onion's root intact; you'll need it to help you grate the onion.
3. Grate: Place the cut top end of the onion against
the grater while holding the grater upright. Holding the onion's cut end (or
root), shred it against the grater in a back and forth motion. You can grate
the onion all the way down to the nub of the basal plate.
How to Grate an Onion Using a Food Processor
If you don't have a grater or need to grate several onions
quickly, use your food processor's shredding function. It's important to note
that overprocessing your onion can result in a liquidy pulp that's more juice
than onion. To grate an onion in a food processor, follow these steps.
1. Peel: Remove the onion's outer peel completely. If
your eyes are sensitive to sulfoxides, freeze or soak the onion in cold water
before cutting.
2. Slice the onion: Place it on a cutting board and cut off
the stem and root. The onion should then be cut into quarters.
3. Process: Feed each piece of the cut onion into the food
processor with the shredding attachment, only using the blades as needed to
achieve the desired texture. Instead of just letting the food processor run,
use the "pulse" feature if possible.
4. Drain: Place the grated onions in a cheesecloth and
squeeze out the excess moisture if there is a lot of extra onion juice left
over after shredding.
