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Shoestring Onions

By America's Test Kitchen

Published on November 9, 2012

Time

45 minutes

Yield

Serves 4

Shoestring Onions

Ingredients

2 quarts peanut or vegetable oil for frying1 ½ cups all-purpose flour Salt and pepper ¾ teaspoon cream of tartar 1 pound onions, sliced into ¼-inch-thick rings½ cup apple juice ¼ cup apple cider vinegar

Before You Begin

You will need a Dutch oven with a capacity of at least 6 quarts for this recipe. We prefer yellow onions here, but white onions will also work. Do not use red or sweet onions.

Instructions

  1. Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 200 degrees. Heat oil in Dutch oven over medium-high heat until 350 degrees.
  2. Meanwhile, combine flour, 1 teaspoon salt, cream of tartar, and ½ teaspoon pepper in large bowl. Toss onions, apple juice, and vinegar to coat in another bowl. Drain onions and transfer to flour mixture, tossing to coat.
  3. Fry half of onion rings, stirring occasionally and adjusting burner as necessary to maintain oil temperature between 325 and 350 degrees, until golden brown and crisp, 3 to 4 minutes. Drain onions on wire rack set in rimmed baking sheet and place in oven. Bring oil back to 350 degrees and repeat with remaining onions. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve.
Shoestring Onions

Shoestring Onions

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By America's Test Kitchen
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Time

45 minutes

Yield

Serves 4

Ingredients

2 quarts peanut or vegetable oil for frying
1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
Salt and pepper
¾ teaspoon cream of tartar
1 pound onions, sliced into ¼-inch-thick rings
½ cup apple juice
¼ cup apple cider vinegar

Test Kitchen Techniques

Ingredients

2 quarts peanut or vegetable oil for frying
1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
Salt and pepper
¾ teaspoon cream of tartar
1 pound onions, sliced into ¼-inch-thick rings
½ cup apple juice
¼ cup apple cider vinegar

Test Kitchen Techniques

Ingredients

2 quarts peanut or vegetable oil for frying
1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
Salt and pepper
¾ teaspoon cream of tartar
1 pound onions, sliced into ¼-inch-thick rings
½ cup apple juice
¼ cup apple cider vinegar

Test Kitchen Techniques

Why This Recipe Works

What’s the secret behind a shatteringly crisp shoestring onion ring? Apple. That’s right, we found that acidic apple cider vinegar (with apple juice to balance the flavor) drew out the onion’s starch granules, leaving us with an ultra-crisp coating. Following the same theme, an initial coating of acidic cream of tartar added even more crunch.

Before You Begin

You will need a Dutch oven with a capacity of at least 6 quarts for this recipe. We prefer yellow onions here, but white onions will also work. Do not use red or sweet onions.

Instructions

  1. Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 200 degrees. Heat oil in Dutch oven over medium-high heat until 350 degrees.
  2. Meanwhile, combine flour, 1 teaspoon salt, cream of tartar, and ½ teaspoon pepper in large bowl. Toss onions, apple juice, and vinegar to coat in another bowl. Drain onions and transfer to flour mixture, tossing to coat.
  3. Fry half of onion rings, stirring occasionally and adjusting burner as necessary to maintain oil temperature between 325 and 350 degrees, until golden brown and crisp, 3 to 4 minutes. Drain onions on wire rack set in rimmed baking sheet and place in oven. Bring oil back to 350 degrees and repeat with remaining onions. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve.

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