How to Chop an Onion

Guide Note

Chopped onion can be found in recipes for everything from potato salad to duck a l'orange. Follow these quick and easy steps and you'll learn How to Chop an Onion without the tears.

Table of Contents

• Introduction
• What You'll Need
• Knife Safety
• Step 1: Trim
• Step 2: Peel
• Step 3: Slice in Half
• Step 4: Cut Vertical Sections
• Step 5: Chop
• Ten Tear-Free Tips
• References

Onion Chopping Tips

1. Choose a sharp chef's knife.
2. Trim the tip of the onion but leave the root intact.
3. Always place the onion cut side down to reduce fumes.
4. Slice onion into half-inch vertical sections without cutting through the root.
5. Chop perpendicular to the vertical sections at half-inch intervals.
6. As you go, scoop chopped onion into a bowl to reduce tears.

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• by J.M.Brown

Introduction

(Creative Commons photo by Chris Gladis)

• Chances are, at some point in your life you will have to chop an onion. Chopping onions means cutting the onion into pieces.¹ The great thing about chopping is that it doesn't have to be precise, and there are several techniques that will help you reduce the fume-induced tears that can accompany chopping an onion.¹ Read on to learn everything you need to know about chopping onions.

What You'll Need

• Onion
• Cutting Board
• Chef's Knife

• For tear-free chopping, you'll need additional supplies. Check out our Ten Tear-Free Tips for more info.

Knife Safety

(Creative Commons photo by Jason Mouratides)

• Let's get ready to chop. Remember, practicing good safety techniques is the best way to ensure a fun experience in the kitchen.² Before you even prep the onion, you need to learn how to hold the knife properly—chopped fingers can really ruin your day.

1. Select a chef's knife.³
   • Make sure it's sharp!³
2. Wrap three fingers around the handle.¹
3. Keep your thumb and forefinger on opposite sides of the blade.²
   • This will keep the knife stable, giving you greater control over where the knife cuts.²

• Now you can properly hold a knife, so it's time to prep the onion.

Step 1: Trim

(Creative Commons photo by darwin Bell)

• An onion has two ends. The bottom end has the hairy roots. The top has a curled, papery tip. You want to trim the top of the onion.

1. Place a cutting board on top of a damp kitchen towel. ²
   • This safety measure prevents the cutting board from slipping. ²
2. Lay the onion on its side.³
   • The tip should point towards the knife.
3. Grip the knife as instructed previously in the Knife Safety section.
4. With your opposite hand, hold the onion steady.
   • Curl your fingers over the onion.²
     • Your hand will look like a claw.
     • This will protect your fingers if the knife slips.
5. Pierce the onion with the tip of the knife.³
   • Make a shallow groove about half an inch from the tip.³
   • This will ensure your knife does not slide over the surface.³
6. Rest the tip of the knife against the cutting board.¹
7. Slice down and away from you.³
8. Cut through the onion along the groove.
   • The onion top should fall away.

Step 2: Peel

1. Turn the onion so it sits on the root.
2. Hold steady.
   • Keep fingers curled!¹
3. Using the tip of the knife, make a shallow, lengthwise slice from the top of the onion to the root.
   • The slice should just be deep enough to remove unwanted layers.³
4. Slide your fingertips into the shallow cut.
5. Pull the layers back, peeling in one easy strip around the onion.

Step 3: Slice in Half

1. Place the onion cut side down, so the root end is facing the ceiling.²
2. Rest the tip of the knife against the cutting board.¹
3. Center the heel of the knife over the root end.²
4. Slice down and away from you.³
5. You will now have two halves.
   • Each half should have a root end.
   • Do not trim the root! The root keeps the onion together as you chop.²

Step 4: Cut Vertical Sections

(Creative Commons photo by darwin Bell)

1. Place onion large cut side down.³
   • The root should point away from you.³
2. Make vertical cuts:²
   1. Start at the left edge of the onion.
   2. Press the tip of the knife a half-inch away from the root.³
      • Do not cut through the root!²
   3. Push the knife down in a single motion to make a vertical cut.
   4. Repeat at half-inch intervals until you reach the other side of the onion.³
3. Remember you are chopping the onion so the pieces do not have to be exact.
   • You can also adjust the size of the pieces to suit your needs.

Step 5: Chop

(Creative Commons photo by darwin Bell)

• You are finally ready to chop.

1. The onion should be large flat side down.³
2. Turn the onion (or the cutting board) so the root is pointed away from the knife and the top side of the onion (the smaller flat side) is parallel to the knife.³
3. Start with the knife tip resting against the cutting board.¹
4. Move the knife in a rocking motion.¹
   • Slice down and away from you.³
   • Use the full length of the blade.²
   • Slices should be perpendicular to vertical sections.³
   • Slice at half-inch intervals.³
     • You will know you are doing it right when the onion falls apart into chopped square pieces.³
5. Push the onion toward the knife.¹
   • The knife should rock back and forth on the cutting board.
     • Bring the onion to the knife. Do not bring the knife to the onion.
   • Watch your fingers! Keep them tucked under and don't forget your thumb.²
6. Repeat Step 4 and Step 5 with the second half of the onion.

Ten Tear-Free Tips

• The sad thing about chopping onions—the tears. As you chop, onion cells break apart, releasing enzymes. As enzymes mix together, they produce gases.⁴ The gases combine with your tears, forming sulfuric acid.⁵ The sulfuric acid irritates your eyes, causing more tears.⁴

• So how do you get rid of stinging, burning tears?

• There is no one guaranteed way to stop tears when chopping onions. Everybody is different and therefore will react differently to onion gases, but try these tips and see which one works for you.

1. Here's this Mahalo guide's favorite tip because it works for her every time. Chop near an open flame like your gas burner (if you have electric burners, use a candle).⁶
   • Alton Brown says the fire consumes gases released by the onion, and he knows everything.⁶
   • 
     
     
   • YouTube: Good Eats Moment - Cutting an Onion (Time: 0:52)
2. Place onions in the freezer for 10 minutes before you start chopping or store onions in the fridge. ⁷
   • The cold is supposed to slow the chemical reaction.⁵
   • More than likely, chilled onions will not eliminate your adverse reaction, but it might lessen the symptoms. ⁵
3. Chop more onions!
   • Frequently chopping onions will increase your immunity to the vapors. ⁵
   • Unfortunately, until you do get used to onion gases, you'll bawl your eyes out.
4. Chop next to running water.⁷
   • The water should be between you and the onions.
   • Simply place the cutting board across your sink.
5. Wear specialized goggles.⁸
   • Make sure the seal is airtight around your eyes to block onion fumes.⁵
6. If your stove has an exhaust fan, use it!⁹
   • Cut your onion next to the stove and let the fan suck away noxious fumes.⁹
7. Chew gum.⁵
   • This tip is supposed to work by making you breathe through your mouth.
     • This seems scientifically unsound when you think about why onions make you cry.⁵ But it can't hurt to give it a try, especially if you like chewing gum.
   • You can also chew bread or sugar cubes.⁵
8. Boil a pot of water.⁷
   • The steam will trap the fumes.⁷
9. Hold 5-7 unlit matches in your mouth.⁷
   • The matches will absorb the gases.⁷
10. Chop properly using the technique outlined in previous steps.⁹
    1. Use a sharp knife.²
       • A sharp knife will break fewer cells, less gas.⁹
    2. Turn cut sides down on the cutting board.⁹
    3. Scoop chopped onion into a bowl until all onion is chopped.⁹
       • Use the broad side of the knife and your hand.
    4. Once you start chopping, do not touch your face or eyes. You want to keep the onion—and the juice—as far away from your eyes as possible.⁹

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References for How to Chop an Onion

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8} Food Network: Knife Skill--Chop
2. ↑ ^{2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 2.12 2.13} eGullet: Basic Knife Skills
3. ↑ ^{3.00 3.01 3.02 3.03 3.04 3.05 3.06 3.07 3.08 3.09 3.10 3.11 3.12 3.13 3.14 3.15 3.16 3.17 3.18} The Old Farmer's Almanac: How to Chop an Onion in Four Easy Steps
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1} About.com: Why Do Onions Make You Cry? 
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 5.6 5.7} NineMSN: How to Chop Onions without Crying
6. ↑ ^{6.0 6.1} YouTube: Good Eats Moment: Cutting an Onion (Time 0:52)
7. ↑ ^{7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 7.5} wikiHow: How to Chop Onions without Tears
8. ↑ Amazon: RSVP Onion Goggles for Tear Free Chopping, Mincing, Dicing and Slicing
9. ↑ ^{9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 9.4 9.5 9.6} the kitchn: Five Tips on How to Cut Onions Without Tears