Even though I’ve been cooking meals for my family for a few decades at this point, by no means does that make me an expert! While I’ve mastered our favorite go-to recipes and the techniques I need to make them, there are plenty of cooking skills I never quite got the hang of.
Although it is a bit embarrassing to admit, one of the skills I continue to struggle with is dicing onions. I’ve watched enough Food Network shows to know how to do it theoretically, but putting it into practice is always another matter entirely!
So I recently started using a bold alternative to dicing onions, and it has already saved me so much time and effort! I wanted to share my secret with you today, in hopes that it makes dinnertime a little easier for you too! 🙂
Related: The One Gadget You Need To Save Time In The Kitchen
Grated Onions: A Faster, Easier Alternative To Diced Onions
Instead of reaching for my knife when I need to cut an onion, I grab my box grater instead! After peeling the onion, I grate it against the largest holes and I’m finished in no time!
Related: 7 Ways To Take Advantage Of One Surprisingly Useful Kitchen Scrap
There are a couple of advantages that come along with opting for grated onions instead of diced. The first is that it’s so fast, which means I’m exposed to those tear-inducing onion fumes for less time!
Another advantage is that grated onions are quite a bit smaller than diced pieces. It cooks quite a bit faster than diced onion, and it’s less easily detected in foods by kiddos with picky palates. 😉
7 More Foods You Can Grate (And How To Use Them!)
1. Garlic
Grating garlic with a fine grater (like a microplane) is a great way to save time in the kitchen, especially if you’re a bit slow with a knife. Plus, using grated garlic in raw recipes like guacamole or vinaigrettes helps ensure that you won’t encounter any oversized pieces.
2. Potatoes
Shred potatoes on your box grater just like you would a block of cheese, and you’ll be halfway to a delicious plate of homemade hashbrowns!
3. Ginger & Horseradish
Tough, fibrous roots like ginger and horseradish can be a pain to handle. Grating them with a fine grater will save you loads of time and effort!
4. Butter
Some baked goods (biscuits and scones in particular) turn out best when there are chunks of butter distributed throughout the dough. To save time over painstakingly cutting the butter into the dough, use grated butter instead!
To do this, you’ll want to freeze the butter first. Then simply grate it, re-freeze it, and add it to your dough.
5. Toasted Bread
Grate a piece of toasted bread for instant homemade breadcrumbs! Use them as a crunchy coating for chicken, or add them to your favorite meatballs or meatloaf.
6. Veggies
Adding a handful of grated veggies is a simple way to boost the nutritional value of your favorite recipes. Grated carrots, zucchini, even bell peppers make a tasty addition to enchiladas, meatloaf, and soups!
7. Apples
Freshly grated apples can be used to add moisture and flavor to cakes, muffins, and other baked goods. Grated apples were the star in this traditional Scandinavian apple cake (äppelkaka) I made over the holidays, and I haven’t stopped thinking about it since! I’m looking forward to experimenting with other tasty applications for grated apples.
Do you have a favorite hack or alternative method that makes cooking easier?
