ADVERTISEMENT
At first glance, it looks completely ridiculous.
An ordinary onion.
A handful of cloves pushed into its surface.
ADVERTISEMENT
And somehow, millions of people online are suddenly asking the same question:
Why would anyone do this?
If you’ve never seen the trick before, your first reaction is usually confusion.
Some people assume it’s a home remedy.
Others think it’s an old-fashioned decoration.
A few even believe it’s meant to keep insects away.
But the truth is far more interesting.
In fact, this strange-looking onion has been quietly appearing in kitchens for hundreds of years—and many professional cooks still use it today.
The surprising part?
Most younger home cooks have never heard of it.
The Strange Kitchen Habit Grandmothers Never Explained
For generations, grandmothers across Europe followed a curious ritual.
Before making soup, broth, stew, or sauce, they would grab an onion.
Then they would carefully push several whole cloves into it.
No explanation.
No discussion.
Just a simple step repeated over and over again.
Children watching from the kitchen table often assumed it was some kind of superstition.
Years later, many realized there was actual culinary science hiding behind the tradition.
And once you understand why it works, you’ll never look at an onion the same way again.
The Secret Has a French Name
Professional chefs know this technique as Oignon Piqué.
The name sounds fancy.
The method is not.
You simply take a peeled onion and insert several whole cloves directly into it before adding it to a pot.
That’s it.
No expensive equipment.
No special ingredients.
Yet this tiny step can completely change the aroma of a dish.
Why Not Just Throw the Cloves Into the Pot?
See more on the next page to continue reading →
ADVERTISEMENT
