How To Chop An Onion
Who likes cutting onions? Anyone? Anyone?
They make you cry. They have those annoying rings which fall apart. They are slippery and make wielding a big knife rather dangerous. And yet, they are crucial in so many recipes.
Behold! I give you: the best possible way to chop an onion! The least tear-inducing, time-consuming, finger-losing method and I’m going to share it with you!
First: Get out Big Sharp Knife, cutting board, and onion. Chop off ONE (and only one) end of the onion.
Second: Remove outer layer. I find that removing the entire outer layer is easier than trying to remove the papery-thin peel.
Third: Using Big Sharp Knife, slice onion horizontally (or vertically, I won’t be picky), but not all the way down! Leave the last centimeter or so uncut or the whole thing will fall apart and I will have taught you nothing.
Fourth: Now turn the onion 90 degrees and slice again, using Big Sharp Knife. (Again - not all the way down or you will have ruined the entire effort)
Also, if you have a deep fryer, you can make one of those cool fried onion flowers at this point.
And lastly: Slice onion all the way down. Make sure you hold the pieces steady - this can be a bit tricky. But overall, I prefer this method to … most others.
I do love the food chopper from the Pampered Chef, but if an onion is the only thing I’m chopping, I would rather use the knife as it’s easier to wash.
Filed under: Uncategorized on August 22nd, 2007
Cute! I love the pictures. Thanks for sharing. Always good to get some help in the kitchen.
[Reply]
I second the kuddo for pictures!! I always need a visual! Oh, and I love your blog banner. It’s beautiful.
[Reply]
I like your blog banner too.
I hate, hate cutting up onions. I’ll have to try this method.
[Reply]
I knew I wouldn’t be able to explain it properly without pictures.
And, Gift of Green - Thank Ashley @ Twentysixcats for the beautiful banner. Isn’t she talented?
[Reply]
Yep, that’s how I do it too.
A real topchef told me that, so you really have a good tip! LOL!
I do it under a slowly running tap.
[Reply]
I find that if I use a nice BIG KNIFE it is very satisfying to cut that onion
[Reply]
I’ve heard doing it under slowly running tap water helps keep you from crying. (I’ve never tried it, since onions don’t make me cry, but my mom swears by that method.)
[Reply]
My DH pointed out to me that chopping onions doesn’t bother him because he wears contacts and it protects his eyes. So last time I got out my sunglasses and it helped a ton! I looked funny wearing sunglasses inside the kitchen, cooking, but my eyes weren’t burning! LOL
[Reply]
CherieB - I have noticed that, too! I used to wear contacts everyday and I thought that people who cried while cutting onions were crazy! But then I ran out of contacts. And wearing glasses does not protect your eyes nearly as much as contacts. I cried so hard!
[Reply]
Interesting. Maybe that’s why I don’t cry. My dad doesn’t either - and we both wear contacts. Neither my mom nor Paul wear contacts, and they have trouble. Ah! And I thought I was special!
[Reply]