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Barbecue Tricks

BBQ Tips and Tricks

onion

January 8, 2013 Cook

No Cry Onion Cutting Tip

cutting onion

First cone out the root core. Flickr/MShades

We go through a bunch of onions at the BBQ Tricks test kitchens and we’re always looking for ways to keep from embarrassing ourselves in front of other good ole boy barbecue cook teams.   So we’ve been wondering if there was an easy way to avoid crying every time we cut an onion.

Lots of suggestions out there. You can wear swim goggles (and some do) or chop in front of a fan or cut under water… probably works.  We’ve even heard that clenching a smoking wooden match stick in your front teeth helps (kinda embarrassing) .   but when we saw this old Life Hacker post it got our attention.

The idea is suggestion is to avoid the toxic fumes you first  just cut out the root end in a cone.    That’s where the “gland” for the toxic fumes are.  Make the cut about a third of the diameter of the onion and about a third deep.  Once it’s out dispose of it immediately and get to choppin’ like “normal.

Other suggestions include  are using milder onions (like a sweet onion from Vidalia, Georgia) or wiping you knife with lemon juice before cutting.

BS?   Do you have a  way that works for you?  Share with us in the comments below.

December 29, 2010 GrateTV

Onion Juggling Plus Meat Mallets and BBQ Mail

Video thumbnail. Click to play
Click to Play

From http://gratetv.com The guys read a very lengthy letter from the mailbag and then show a use for that meat mallet in your kitchen cabinet. ;Watch for this week’s powerful secret ingredient that is used in almost everything. Hosted by three time SC State BBQ Champion Jack Waiboer and Bill West the founder of http://bbq.backstage.gq. 12/28/2010.
Tags: bbq, barbecue, barbeque, chicken, billwestbs, onion, shallot

April 6, 2008 Recipes

Vidalia Lollipops – Crazy Barbecue Side

Here’s a great side that’s guaranteed to entertain at your next cook out and it’s a BBQ Tricks original.
This is a great way to grill onions without worrying about losing the veggies between the grates. Simply skewer the onions and create what looks like an onion lollipop. It’s fun to serve, helps the cook, and taste great. The trick is to skewer the whole onion (kinda like a mohawk porcupine) BEFORE slicing. Soak the skewers first to keep them from burning on the grill. Space the skewers so that you’ll have a little less than one half an inch between the sticks. You’ll want thick slices to hold up to the heat.
Carefully slice the onion into pops by using the sticks as guides. Next marinate the raw pops with a combination of lite soy sauce and liquid smoke (or choose you favorite liquid marinade or bbq trick rub. When the grill is hot (medium to high heat) brush each pop on both sides liberally with oil and set them on the grate for about four minutes each side (rotate 90 degrees after three minutes for show-off grill marks). One final brush of oil and CAREFULLY remove with spatula and plate immediately (pops are fairly soft when cooked). For best results find the fattest sweet onions (Vidalias) available.

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Hey Y'all... Thanks for stopping by. I'm Bill West. I blog about BBQ and occasionally country music. When it comes to BBQ I try to find solid time saving tips and tricks to make the grilling life a bit easier. It's life hacking for the backyard cooker. Read More…

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