How to Microwave Whole Onions

Vidalia onions are so sweet you can eat them whole! But can you cook them fast? The test results are in: Microwaved Vidalia onions are great! Our Vidalia onion series is sponsored by the Vidalia Onion Committee. Vidalia Onions are available from late April through early September in grocery stores across the country. The season is short and sweet just like the delicious onions themselves, so make sure you look for them in your local retailer and learn more at www.vidaliaonion.org.

If you love baked Vidalia onions but don’t have an hour to wait (who does?!), you can get pretty close by cooking them in the microwave. Compared to their oven-baked counterparts, the microwaved onions aren’t as strongly flavored, but they are virtually identical in texture. The microwave method is best for cooking just one or two onions, since most microwaves and/or containers can’t fit larger quantities. Follow these easy instructions to have butter-soft onions in under 10 minutes!

Step #1

Peel your onion, leaving the root intact. If your onion sits level, you can leave it alone. If not, cut a thin slice off the root to create a flat bottom.

Step #2

Use a paring knife to cut a 1-inch deep cone into the top of the onion.

Step #3

Insert a vegetable, chicken, or beef bouillon cube into the hole.

Step #4

Fill the rest of the hole with butter, about 1-2 tablespoons. Season with salt and pepper.

Step #5

Place the onion in a microwave-safe container and cover with a lid.

Step #6

Microwave on high until tender, 6-8 minutes. Serve warm. Drizzle with the remaining liquid for extra flavor.

How to Microwave Whole Onions

Vidalia onions are so sweet you can eat them whole! But can you cook them fast? The test results are in: Microwaved Vidalia onions are great!

• Author: Maria Siriano
• Prep Time: 5 minutes
• Cook Time: 6 minutes
• Total Time: 11 minutes
• Yield: 1 serving

Ingredients

• 1 Vidalia onion
• 1 vegetable, chicken or beef bouillon cube
• 1-2 Tbsp. butter

Instructions

1. Peel your onion, leaving the root intact. If your onion sits level, you can leave it alone. If not, cut a thin slice off the root to create a flat bottom.
2. Use a paring knife to cut a 1-inch deep cone into the top of the onion.
3. Insert a vegetable, chicken, or beef bouillon cube into the hole.
4. Fill the rest of the hole with butter, about 1-2 tablespoons. Season with salt and pepper.
5. Place the onion in a microwave-safe container and cover with a lid.
6. Microwave on high until tender, about 6-8 minutes. Serve warm. Drizzle with the remaining liquid for extra flavor.

Disclosure: This post is sponsored by the Vidalia Onion Committee. All opinions are ours and honest.

Maria Siriano

Somewhere among the towers of batter-smeared mixing bowls, you'll find a flour-covered Maria making unique seasonal desserts for her blog, Sift and Whisk. Although she never quite got the hang of the clean-as-you-go technique, she has still managed to elevate her baking skills far beyond “add oil, water, and eggs.” She makes a killer pie, if she does say so herself.

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