When a Recipe Calls For a Little Onion, Use Pearl Onions

Simple Tip: When You Need a Little Onion, Use Pearls

August 9, 2010

Sometimes it seems like my vegetable drawer is an onion graveyard. I'm always buying onions and only using a half or fourth of it. Since I hate wasting food and often am cooking for just myself, I started purchasing these little bags of pearl onions. They have the same flavor as regular onions, but are much smaller. Once minced, each pearl onion is about 2 tablespoons of onion. Although they can be tough to peel, if you're using one or two for a small amount of onion it doesn't really matter. Do you cook with pearl onions?

12 Comments

ngocnguyen 2 years 40 weeks

I just get shallots :) a lot easier to use up

darc5204 2 years 40 weeks

Never a problem for me, since I go through lots of onion. Also, like potatoes, uncut onions store longer outside of the fridge if you have a nice, dry place.

bluesarahlou 2 years 40 weeks

We have a giant bag of onions from Costco that we go through every few weeks soooo.....this problem doesn't really apply to me. :)

gingirl 2 years 40 weeks

I've had that problem too! I usually buy shallots now and use those in place of a regular onion. Much smaller and taste pretty much the same. :) I love, love Spanish onions but they are usually just too big (and my boyfriend isn't a fan of onions, which I don't understand, so I can never make a lot of them)

Sundaydrive 2 years 40 weeks

I don't have this problem. I cook at home almost every day, and onion goes into just about everything. I usually buy two large onions at a time.

limelindsey 2 years 40 weeks

I've been doing this too! Brilliant, right?

WarEagleNurse 2 years 40 weeks

No, but I might start...

Spectra 2 years 40 weeks

I never have this problem. I go through onions like no one's business. If I only need 1/2, I put the rest in a tupperware container and eat it later on a salad.