Best grater for onion?

[Julie Bove]

So... I don't think I've ever grated an onion before and if I did, I
failed. Tried to do it tonight for the Rissoles I'm going to make. I have
two Microplane graters. One has smaller holes and one pretty large. Grated
the zucchini with the smaller one but it looked too fine. Always used the
larger one when I made zucchini bread. So switched to the larger holed one
and did the carrot and summer squash. But the onion? It turned it to juice
and a little mush. So I stopped after I massacred almost half of the onion.
I just kept on with it because although my daughter loves onion flavor, she
hates biting into a chunk of onion. I did the rest of it in as fine of a
dice as I could master, of course missing a few pieces and having to do
damage control with the kitchen scissors after the mixture cooked.

So did I use the wrong type of grater? I looked up instructions online and
the only thing I didn't do was freeze the onion but the only thing it said
that would do was keep it from causing tears. And I don't worry about that
because it is rare for me to get tears from an onion. I think I have an
ancient box grater somewhere in the pullout shelf from hell but I don't mess
with stuff down there unless I have to.

I do have a Magic Bullet but have had no luck in grating or chopping stuff
in it even though it says that it will. Just turns everything to mush. I
used to use the food processor and was fine with that even though some here
would dislike the texture that produces. I figure since I am cooking it all
down to practically mush, it doesn't matter how it is chopped so long as I
don't have any big pieces in there. And big pieces don't bother me but
experience has taught me at least when making a meatloaf that the larger
your vegetable chunks, the less likely it is to hold together.

[sf]

I don't grate onion unless I am aiming for mush and juice. If I want
small bits, I chop it finely with a sharp knife. A FP could do it for
you if you pulse it toward the end and watch carefully not to go any
finer than you are aiming for.

--
Food is an important part of a balanced diet.

[Janet Bostwick]

On Sat, 05 Jan 2013 09:05:54 -0800, sf <s...@geemail.com> wrote:
snip

>I don't grate onion unless I am aiming for mush and juice. If I want
>small bits, I chop it finely with a sharp knife. A FP could do it for
>you if you pulse it toward the end and watch carefully not to go any
>finer than you are aiming for.

grating does provide a semi-mushy texture but the flavor achieved is
different than finely chopped -- much more intense yet not harsh.
Janet US

[jmcquown]

I don't often grate an onion. I do like grated onion when I'm making
scalloped potatoes from scratch.

Jill

[Brooklyn1]

On Sat, 05 Jan 2013 12:53:48 -0500, jmcquown <j_mc...@comcast.net>
wrote:

Only time I use grated onion is for potato latkes... but the simplest
method is to push onion wedges through my meat grinder, along with the
potatoes.

[Janet Bostwick]

On Sat, 05 Jan 2013 12:53:48 -0500, jmcquown <j_mc...@comcast.net>
wrote:

I don't either, but there are a few recipes where it does make a
difference. I've never liked risking my knuckles on a box grater so I
use a microplane.
Janet US

[Kalmia]

Nothing will grate an onion without producing a ton of juice and a
fine mushy mess. Just mince it as finely as you can with a decent
knife. Don't go spending money on anything touted to be an onion
grater.

.

[sf]

On Sat, 05 Jan 2013 11:11:55 -0700, Janet Bostwick
<nos...@cableone.net> wrote:

> I've never liked risking my knuckles on a box grater so I
> use a microplane.

You haven't lived until you've microplained yourself. Ouch!

[Brooklyn1]

Janet Bostwick <nos...@cableone.net> wrote:
>
>I've never liked risking my knuckles on a box grater so I
>use a microplane.

You need an Acme "safety grater"... wonderful for grating hard
produce; potatoes, onions, carrots, turnips... also cheese... and
excellent for dicing eggs for salad, just push through.
http://www.etsy.com/listing/84643647/acme-safety-grater-shredder-vintage-made
Here's mine, was mom's:
http://i46.tinypic.com/dh4xmb.jpg

[Janet Bostwick]

I've never seen one of those for real. I had no idea that it was a
shredder.
Janet US

[Julie Bove]

I used to use a food processor but I got rid of it when I cleaned the
kitchen out. I used it so rarely and just didn't have the space for it.

[Julie Bove]

Hmmm... I only thought to grate it after a former coworker said that was
how she made her meatloaf. But it really didn't work for me. Took about 5
minutes of scrubbing the grater to get all the onion goo off too.

[Julie Bove]

Huh. I like big pieces of onion in my potatoes.

[Julie Bove]

Ah. If only I had a meat grinder. But sadly I do not.

[Julie Bove]

Janet Bostwick wrote:
> On Sat, 05 Jan 2013 12:53:48 -0500, jmcquown <j_mc...@comcast.net>
> wrote:
>
>> On 1/5/2013 12:44 PM, Janet Bostwick wrote:
>>> On Sat, 05 Jan 2013 09:05:54 -0800, sf <s...@geemail.com> wrote:
>>> snip
>>>> I don't grate onion unless I am aiming for mush and juice. If I
>>>> want small bits, I chop it finely with a sharp knife. A FP could
>>>> do it for you if you pulse it toward the end and watch carefully
>>>> not to go any finer than you are aiming for.
>>
>>> grating does provide a semi-mushy texture but the flavor achieved is
>>> different than finely chopped -- much more intense yet not harsh.
>>> Janet US
>>>
>> I don't often grate an onion. I do like grated onion when I'm making
>> scalloped potatoes from scratch.
>>
>> Jill
> I don't either, but there are a few recipes where it does make a
> difference. I've never liked risking my knuckles on a box grater so I
> use a microplane.
> Janet US

Yeah. That's why if I do still have the box grater it is gathering dust.
We only ever had that kind in the house when I was growing up. Got a Mouli
when I moved out but it eventually broke and they've only cheapened them
since to the point where they didn't last any time at all. And they were a
pain because you had to cut whatever went into it into such a small piece to
start with. And in the case of something like cheese, you always had that
last weird bit that conformed to the grater and wouldn't grate.

[Julie Bove]

sf wrote:
> On Sat, 05 Jan 2013 11:11:55 -0700, Janet Bostwick
> <nos...@cableone.net> wrote:
>
>> I've never liked risking my knuckles on a box grater so I
>> use a microplane.
>
> You haven't lived until you've microplained yourself. Ouch!

I've done that too but didn't really get injured. The box grater was far
worse. And then once I peeled off part of a fingernail with a peeler!

[Julie Bove]

Okay. Thanks. I couldn't even imagine what the shape of grated onion would
be. But now I know. And it's not good.

[MaryL]

"Julie Bove" wrote in message news:kc8q7n$rp8$1...@dont-email.me...

So... I don't think I've ever grated an onion before and if I did, I
failed.

~~~~~~~~~~~
I don't use a grater for onions. I either chop it by hand or (if I need a
large quantity) I chop it in the type of hand-chopper that is often used for
nuts. I have one that does a very nice job because it rotates every time I
push down, so the pieces get smaller and smaller as I chop.

MaryL

[jmcquown]

I have an old micro-plane grater I guess my mom used for garlic. I sure
don't remember. I use it for both garlic and onion if I need finely
grated. More frequently the garlic, for sure.

Jill

[jmcquown]

Well I'll be! I thought it was a stand to set meat loaf on so the fat
would drain off. Or something for baking bread so it would brown on the
bottom. I'll have to look more closely at it and see if it's actually
intended to be a grater/shredder.

Jill

[Janet Bostwick]

I chop onions too, but there are recipes that specifically call for
grated onion. Often some salad dressings will call for grated onion
and it makes a difference(in the flavor). I can't recall just now
what the other two items are where the recipe calls for grated onions.
I grate where it calls for it because I've found it makes a taste
difference. Perhaps you don't have anything that you cook that asks
for grated.
Janet US

[Julie Bove]

Next time I'll use the Slap Chop. I forgot that I had it.

[MaryL]

"Janet Bostwick" wrote in message
news:ulghe89q0h12fv7u4...@4ax.com...

~~~~~~~~~~
That's true. I responded about chopping because it sounded like Julie did
not like the "mushy" results from grating. And you're right...I seldom (if
ever) use recipes that call for grated onions, but your point is well taken.

MaryL

[MaryL]

"Janet Bostwick" wrote in message
news:ulghe89q0h12fv7u4...@4ax.com...

[Julie Bove]

"MaryL" <stan...@invalid.yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:aktf1l...@mid.individual.net...

Right. I didn't like that. And the recipes I saw did call for chopped.
But since I decided to make very small Rissoles, and I seem to have trouble
chopping onion very finely, partly because I run out of patience to do it,
(like cooking but not some of the prep work), I thought grating might work
better. And a former coworker told me that she always grated her onion for
her meatloaf. I thought maybe I did something wrong given that all of the
other veggies I grated resembled something...well...grated and not much.
But I guess I was wrong.

[Ophelia]

"Julie Bove" <juli...@frontier.com> wrote in message
news:kca4m6$mio$1...@dont-email.me...

I have an electric meat grinder which also has a shredder attachment with
several drums. I think I use that more than the grinder:) I often put the
onion through with other veg which makes it much easier. I have been giving
thought to the way you prepare/cook your veggies before adding to the meat
loaf and I think I will be doing the same.



--
--
http://www.shop.helpforheroes.org.uk/

[Ema Nymton]

On 1/5/2013 3:03 AM, Julie Bove wrote:

> So did I use the wrong type of grater? I looked up instructions online and
> the only thing I didn't do was freeze the onion but the only thing it said
> that would do was keep it from causing tears. And I don't worry about that
> because it is rare for me to get tears from an onion. I think I have an
> ancient box grater somewhere in the pullout shelf from hell but I don't mess
> with stuff down there unless I have to.

Try using a box grater, that works for me.

Becca

[Dave Smith]

Is it idiot proof? Bovine was the OP.

If you have a grater that won't grate an onion you need a new grater. I
can't think of anything that would be easier to grate.

[Dave Smith]

On 06/01/2013 9:11 AM, MaryL wrote:

> That's true. I responded about chopping because it sounded like Julie
> did not like the "mushy" results from grating. And you're right...I
> seldom (if ever) use recipes that call for grated onions, but your point
> is well taken.
>

If it was not the texture Julie would have found something else not to
like about it.

[Julie Bove]

"Dave Smith" <adavid...@sympatico.ca> wrote in message
news:1LlGs.47155$GY7....@fed06.iad...

The grater works just fine on all other veggies and cheese.