How to Cut and Slice an Onion Effortlessly

Understanding how to adeptly peel and chop an onion is undeniably a pivotal skill that every cook should master. Often being the initial ingredient in a myriad of dishes across various cuisines, the onion holds a significant place in culinary practices. Consequently, the optimal method for dicing an onion perpetually sparks discussion, with the acknowledgment that there isn’t a singular correct technique being crucial. The guidelines provided here draw upon on the expertise of seasoned chefs, yet are distilled to be accessible for home cooks.

Regardless of the method of slicing, it's plausible to assert that onions find their way into approximately 30 to 40% of any savory culinary creations, perhaps even more. They should be the inaugural item you learn to cut upon wielding a knife and, personally, remain one of the most satisfying foods to engage with a keen blade.

Through this guide and accompanying video, we will demonstrate the fundamental onion cuts such as dicing, and slicing, while also discussing the anticipated flavor and cooking variances between them.

Onions are the basic ingredient in many recipes. Whether you use them to make onion rings or chop them up as a part of a mirepoix or sofrito, they add flavor that not many other vegetables can match.

There’s just one downside when it comes to onions… they make us cry! Oftentimes (if not always) the onion cutting process ends up in tears. And the internet is full of solutions too: close your mouth, eat chewing gum, and some even say you should wear swimming goggles! If you tried these techniques before, you probably know that they don’t really work. So how do you cut an onion properly? Well, luckily, we have the right tear-free solution for you (with the science to back it!). To top it off, we even add top tips on how to cut onions for different recipes.

How To Cut Onions Without Crying

There is a scientific reason behind tear-causing eyes. The onions contain a chemical called syn-Propanethial-S-oxide. It’s this irritant that stimulates the eyes to produce tears. A sharp knife will cause minimal damage to the onion membranes, which will reduce tears. Most home cooks sharpen their knives only now and then (if ever), which is why home cooking usually ends up in tears!

The other tip that really works is to minimize your exposure to the cut sides. Do this by keeping the cut sides down on the cutting board. The more the onion is cut, the faster you will need to work to keep tears to a minimum.

Onion Cuts

How you cut the onions will depend on the recipe you use them in.

• Sliced onions are great for recipes like stir-fries, fajitas, or caramelized onions.
• Diced onions usually form the base of soups and stews, together with celery and carrot. If you want all the flavor, but not big onion pieces, dicing them is a great technique.
• Julienned onions are much thinner than plain sliced onions. They’re therefore great in recipes where raw onion is used. Red onions are often julienned and added to a salad.
• The onion ring technique is perfect for baked or fried onion rings.

How to Peel Onions

To cut onions without hurting yourself, the knife you use must be sharp. Contrary to what you might think, a dull knife is actually more dangerous than a sharp one!

So before you start, use a sharpening stone to sharpen your chef's knife.

Cut your onion in half from the top.

Carefully remove the onion skins.

The onions are now ready for cutting.

To avoid heartburn and poor digestion, dip onion into water and vinegar for 30 minutes before using them.

How to Cut Onions: Slicing

Cut the onion in half, keeping the root on.

Then cut slices horizontally, making half-moon slices.

Onion Cut: Dicing

Cut the onion in half, keeping the root on.

Then cut slices lengthways from the tip almost to the root. Cut another slice parallel to the chopping board.

Then cut across the onion in the opposite direction to make the cubes.

Chop the onion as fine as you want.

Onion Cut: Julienne

Cut the onion in half, keeping the root on.

Then cut slices lengthways from the tip almost to the root.

Finally cut the root off.

Onion Cut: Onion rings

Cut the tip off the onion and peel it. Cut across the onion to make large circular slices.

Then separate the slices into rings.

If you want to bread the rings to make fried onion rings, make sure to cut the rings thicker than normal.

How To Store and Freeze Cut Onions

Once you cut onions, it has to be refrigerated. But you must make sure to either wrap it tightly with plastic wrap or store it in an airtight container. If you store it without wrapping, the onion odor will affect the other foods in your fridge. It will keep in the fridge for up to 10 days.

You can also freeze chopped onions. Portion them in bags (make sure to remove the air from the bag) and freeze up to 6 months.