Size Matters

• When considering what onion to use in a recipe, size plays a role. Beef bourguignon calls for onions that are 1 inch in diameter. This size of onion is almost always used whole in recipes. Boiler onions are usually around 2 inches in diameter. Unfortunately, cutting the onions leaves them susceptible to falling apart more easily. Despite the larger size of boiler onions, it's better to leave them whole, but be aware that the final dish will have a slightly more potent onion flavor. The larger onions will also be more noticeable in the sauce.

Flavor

• Pearl onions are white, mild and sweet, while boiler onions can vary in color and flavor. Most yellow and white boiler onions are mild, so either can be used as a substitute for pearl onions, but the white onions look better, creating a nice contrast with the darker beef bourguignon sauce. As long as the flavor of the boiler onion is not too sweet or too acidic or bitter, it can be substituted for a pearl onion. Avoid red boiler onions, as the astringent flavor can overpower the dish.

Preparation

• Because of the larger size of boiler onions, they take longer to cook than pearl onions. Sprinkle the onions with salt and then saute them in butter over medium heat, stirring occasionally until they soften and turn a golden brown. Be gentle when cooking them, so the outer layer remains intact and the onions don't fall apart. A longer cooking time means that the natural sweetness of the onion will emerge. Once the onions are sauteed, you can add them to your beef bourguignon sauce to simmer for about 45 minutes on low heat.

Substitutions

• If you are unable to find pearl or boiler onions to use in your beef bourguignon recipe, you can use standard white or yellow onions. When replacing boiler or pearl onions with any of these other larger types of onions, it's best to coarsely chop them before sauteing them. In general, if a recipe calls for a specific kind of onion, it's best to use that particular onion. On the other hand, if the onion required isn't available, it's better to try a substitute than go without making the recipe at all.