386590 Fri Mar 30 09:27:10 -0700 2007 6 31 Home Cooking 0 2435472 I dread using shallots because I have a horrible time peeling them--I either end up picking off the dry outer layer one tiny piece at a time or peeling off a whole, edible layer in order to remove the dry layer. Anyone know a good trick? Fri Mar 30 09:27:10 -0700 2007 48876 mamaciita 1 2435573 I bet you could throw them in boiling water for 30 seconds like with pearl mushrooms. Fri Mar 30 09:51:36 -0700 2007 2435472 75002 Megiac 1 2435701 I think the hazards you experience above will be present regardless, but to minimize those frustrating moments for myself, I do one of two things: (1) slice off the end of the shallot nearly, but not totally, through, and then twist the shallot around to peel. You may catch some of the edible layer, but it can be a clean peel; (2) slice into the shallot lengthwise, into the edible layer, peel back one of the sides and try to find the right layer to peel. For my part, I'm usually ok about losing one of the edible layers if it means I get off all the brown skin. Best o' luck! Fri Mar 30 10:24:31 -0700 2007 2435472 42219 280 Ninth 2 2436993 I'm with 280- I'd rather sacrifice 1/16th of an inch of edible shallot than have to deal with the papery skin through out the whole cooking process. I usually (for all onion-like edible bulbs) slice off the stem end, then rest the cut end on my board and slice through the root end in half. Each half is now easy to peel and cut. Fri Mar 30 16:08:34 -0700 2007 2435701 39914 lunchbox 1 2437003 I cut off the ends too like it's an onion. I peel them under running tap water to help remove the skin and to prevent the shallot irritants from getting me crying. Fri Mar 30 16:12:09 -0700 2007 2435472 24294 misseatalot 1 2437260 Peel them the same way as garlic cloves -- put them under a broad chef's knife or cleaver and press down with the heel of your hand to crush them slightly. It doesn't work as perfectly as it does with garlic, but it definitely loosens the outer layer and makes it easy to remove. Fri Mar 30 18:06:02 -0700 2007 2435472 10539 KRS 1 2441448 I got some really small ones, and smashing worked beautifully. Thank you! Sun Apr 01 19:31:25 -0700 2007 2435472 48876 mamaciita