Tips to Soften the Taste of Raw Onions

Onions are essential cooking ingredients. They boost the flavour of a dish—but sometimes too much, especially when they’re raw. Luckily, it’s easy to dampen this intense flavour that can be a little too hot on the tongue. Here are tips on how to do this.

To soften the taste of raw onions, slice them thinly or cut them into larger chunks and soak them in very cold water for about 15 minutes. This will soften the taste, making them ideally suited for a salad.

Salads

Quinoa, Ricotta, Spinach and Red Onion Salad

EXPRESS MEALS

American Salad

A Quick Dip, Perhaps?

You’re pressed for time? Put the onion in slightly lemony, salty water to reduce the soaking time. For a sweeter taste, soak it in cold water with 1 tsp each of sugar and salt. Then your onion will be ready to be added to salsa or burgers.

APPETIZERS

Shrimp with Mango Salsa

VEGETARIAN

Veggie Cheeseburgers

Choose Your Onions Wisely

It’s impressive to see how many varieties of onions are available on the market. If you are particularly sensitive to their strong taste, choose red onions, which are among the sweetest, or white onions, which are among the mellowest.

For more tips on cooking with onions, read our article, “3 Ways to Chop an Onion Without Crying.”