Chopping onions is one thing—actually cooking them is another. If you don’t feel like standing over the stove or washing another pan, microwaving them is a surprisingly great option. It’s fast, hands-off, and delivers tender, mellow onions perfect for burgers, casseroles, dips, and more.
To microwave onions, add fat to a microwave-safe bowl with diced onion, then microwave on high for 4 minutes until the onions have completely softened.
How to Microwave Onions
Onions can be cooked in a whole variety of ways. But you will see the best results when you use your microwave to saute onions or cook a whole onion using one of these methods:
How To Saute Onions In A Microwave
There isn’t really an art to sautéing onions, but it’s easy to burn them and lose all their flavor if you are in a rush. Instead, you can quickly saute your onions in a microwave without worrying about burning them:
- Add Fat
Add either 1 tablespoon of oil or 1 1/2 tablespoons of butter to a microwavable bowl. Other fats can also work, such as duck fat, but only if you have it to hand. - Chop Onion
Cut your onion into small pieces. The bigger you chop the onion, the more texture it will add to your dish. - Add Onion
Once you are happy with the size of the chopped onion, add the pieces straight to your microwaveable bowl and use a fork or spoon to cover the onion in the fat. - Cover
Take some plastic wrap tightly cover the top of the bowl. - Pierce Plastic
Use a fork or toothpick to create some holes in the plastic wrap. - Microwave
Set your microwave to high heat and cook your onions for 4 minutes. - Add To Your Dish
Leave the onions to sit for a minute or 2 with the plastic wrap still on before adding them to your dish.
How To Microwave Whole Onions
A recipe will not often ask you to cook your onion whole. However, whole-baked onions are the perfect side dish for many warming meals. Instead of waiting an hour for the entire onion to cook, you can use your microwave. Here is how:
- Peel Onion
Without using a knife, peel the skin from your onion. Try to keep the root and the onion as intact as possible. - Create a Stable Bottom
Place the whole onion in your microwaveable bowl of choice. If the onion keeps moving around, use a sharp knife to cut away a little at the bottom root until it is more stable. - Cut Out a Hole
Carve a hole into the middle of your onion from the top. - Add Stock
Take your stock cube of choice (vegetable is best, but chicken or beef can work, too) and stuff it into the onion. Push it down until it is securely in the hole. - Add Other Flavours
Stuff the rest of the onion hole with butter and your seasoning of choice. - Cover
Use a lid or plastic wrap to cover the microwaveable bowl’s top securely. - Microwave
Set your microwave to the highest heat and allow the onion to cook for 7-8 minutes. The bigger the onion, the longer it will need to cook. - Serve
When the onion is tender, you can serve it immediately. For the best flavour, scoop up excess fat from the bowl and pour it over the onion.
FAQs
You now know how to microwave onions in two forms but do you still have questions? Then perhaps these will help:
To avoid mess, place the chopped onions in a microwave-safe bowl and cover it with a microwave-safe lid or plate. You can also use a microwave-safe cover or wrap to prevent splatters. Adding a little bit of oil or butter helps keep them moist and flavorful.
You can get a lightly caramelized effect, but it won’t be quite the same as stovetop caramelizing. Use a bit of butter and microwave in short bursts, stirring every couple of minutes. It might take around 10 minutes or more to get that golden color and sweetness.
Any type of onion works, including yellow, white, red, and sweet onions. Yellow onions are great for savory dishes, while sweet onions like Vidalia add a nice flavor for milder recipes. Red onions can lose their color when cooked, but still taste great.
Onions release sulfur compounds when cooked, which can smell pretty intense, especially in an enclosed microwave. The smell usually fades after a bit, but you can place a bowl of baking soda or vinegar in the microwave afterward to help deodorize. Keeping the microwave clean also helps reduce lingering odors.