Overlook the Skillet—This Microwave Trick Will get You Nice Onions Quick

A few years in the past, my spouse and I co-wrote a column for Reader’s Digest that informed the compelling life story of a unique ingredient every month (you haven’t any thought how fascinating honey is). I all the time provided somewhat recipe—only a easy, written-through factor that I needed to squeeze into not more than a pair hundred phrases on the finish of the column.

When it got here time for us to cowl onions, I encountered a recipe drawback: The editors needed a easy puff-pastry onion tart, however I knew the onions would have to be pre-cooked to melt them correctly for the quick baking time the recipe required. Underneath-cooked, leathery onions weren’t a end result I used to be prepared to accept, however I did not have sufficient house within the recipe to put in writing out a typical onion pre-cooking step along with the tart formation and baking.

That is when a light-weight bulb went off—may I exploit the microwave for this? I organized my sliced onions on a microwave-safe plate, brushed them with oil, and zapped them for a couple of minutes. The end result was excellent: Rounds of tender onion that had gently softened and turned each so barely golden within the microwave—half steaming, half shallow-frying because of the oil. At that time, they have been able to go on prime of the tart to complete roasting within the oven. It is like a really gently sautéed onion, with out the sautéing.

It is an ideal approach—like sautéed onions with out the pan, the mess, or the warmth—and a worthy neighbor to different allium-microwaving strategies, equivalent to crispy fried shallots and garlic. The tart utility is without doubt one of the greatest use circumstances for this methodology, but it surely’s removed from the one one. You do not have to restrict it to sliced onion rounds; it will probably additionally work with onion slivers or wedges, diced onion, and extra.

Right here is the fundamental methodology, adopted by some recommendations for incorporating it into your cooking for simpler and faster cooked onions.

Find out how to Make Microwave-Softened Onions

First, discover a microwave-safe plate: The oil will get extremely popular because the onions prepare dinner, and you don’t need the plate to shatter from the warmth. Subsequent, prepare your onions on the plate in a fair layer and brush or toss frivolously with oil to coat (olive oil or a impartial oil is okay). Sliced onions shouldn’t overlap (or overlap minimally), and diced or minced onions shouldn’t be mounded too excessive—attempt to unfold them out on the plate in a fair disk. If you’d like, you may season the onions with salt, or accomplish that later as wanted.

Subsequent, microwave the onions on excessive energy till they attain your required stage of softness. The timing will rely upon how you narrow the onions (i.e., the thickness and dimensions) in addition to how totally you need them to prepare dinner by means of. The timing will even fluctuate relying on the microwave and its energy stage. I’ve discovered that 10 minutes is usually an excellent ballpark for thinly sliced onions that have to be very tender. Nonetheless, you could want much less time or extra—it is best to microwave in two- or three-minute increments till you get a greater sense of how the timing works in your microwave. For diced onions, you could wish to give them a few stirs as effectively to make sure even cooking.

Find out how to Put These Onions to Use

This methodology of quick-cooking onions has limitless potential functions—anyplace you could want some softened onion, this methodology could also be useful, particularly given the velocity, ease, and hands-off nature of it. Listed here are only a small handful of concepts to get the gears turning for you:

• In a fast onion tart. That is the applying that impressed me to invent* this system, and it is an ideal instance—fixing a small technical problem in a splendidly low-effort and low-mess approach.
• Tame onions for hearty salads. Many hearty salad and grain-bowl recipes name for uncooked onions, however the taste could be harsh. On the identical time, sautéing a skillet of onions to keep away from a little bit of that rawness is usually extra effort than most of us are prepared to place in. Even a minute or two within the microwave utilizing this methodology can take a few of the sharp edge off whereas leaving the onions recent and plump. Examples: tuna salad, grain bowls, bean salads, hearty vegetable salads, pasta salads, and extra.
• Construct a greater onion to layer into toasts and sandwiches. Associated to the salads thought above, sliced onion is a well-liked sandwich add-in. Whereas some uncooked allium piquancy is typically simply what’s wanted, many a sandwich could be improved by including the onion in a extra tender, mellow type. Whereas I would not describe these microwave onions as caramelized, they’re caramelized-adjacent when it comes to utility. Any toast or sandwich that might profit from a caramelized onion layer would additionally pair effectively with these. I might like to eat these with some salty anchovies on toast, or in a young quick rib grilled cheese, or a common outdated grilled cheese, or a hen salad sandwich, or a tuna soften, or a lot extra!
• As a lazy (however nonetheless scrumptious) facet. Lower the onions extra thickly and prepare dinner the slabs till simply tender, and you’ve got a pleasant little facet to go along with roast meats equivalent to hen, pork, beef, and lamb.
• As a simple add-in. More often than not, if a recipe requires sautéed onions, they’re ready early within the cooking course of earlier than the remainder of the elements are added and cooked. However there are moments when you could already be a methods down the cooking street whenever you notice you wish to add sautéed onions to the combo, or maybe you’re intentionally leaving them out till the tip in order that they preserve a few of their plump texture within the completed dish. This method is a simple solution to prep the onions with out having to get out a second pot or pan to prepare dinner them alongside every part else.

These are just some concepts to get you began. The bottom line is this: Microwave-sautéing onions is a precision cooking methodology that produces delicate and tender onions simply and shortly. After that, you may shove them in or on nearly something.

* I am utilizing “invent” loosely right here; I am positive I am not the primary particular person to have considered this, however the thought was new to me after I got here up with it.