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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.
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Onion Chopping Tips
- Choose a sharp chef's knife.
- Trim the tip of the onion but leave the root intact.
- Always place the onion cut side down to reduce fumes.
- Slice onion into half-inch vertical sections without cutting through the root.
- Chop perpendicular to the vertical sections at half-inch intervals.
- As you go, scoop chopped onion into a bowl to reduce tears.
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Introduction
- Chances are, at some point in your life you will have to chop an onion. Chopping onions means cutting the onion into pieces.Food Network: Knife Skill--Chop 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.Foodnetwork: Knife Skill--Chop Read on to learn everything you need to know about chopping onions.
bettyskitchen: Betty's Easiest, Best-Tasting Lasagna You'll Ever Make! Recipe
One chopped onion is used in this easy recipe. You will see everything demonstrated for you in the kitchen as the lasagna is made from scratch. The result they say makes it look like a lot of time was spent in making it, when that was not the case. (There are 2 more videos below on chopping onions as well as written instructions).
What You'll Need for Chopping Onions
- 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
- Let's get ready to chop. Remember, practicing good safety techniques is the best way to ensure a fun experience in the kitchen.eGullet: Basic Knife Skills Before you even prep the onion, you need to learn how to hold the knife properly—chopped fingers can really ruin your day.
- Select a chef's knife.The Old Farmer's Almanac: How to Chop an Onion in Four Easy Steps
- Wrap three fingers around the handle.Foodnetwork: Knife Skill--Chop
- Keep your thumb and forefinger on opposite sides of the blade.eGullet: Basic Knife Skills
- This will keep the knife stable, giving you greater control over where the knife cuts.eGullet: Basic Knife Skills
- Now you can properly hold a knife, so it's time to prep the onion.
Step 1: Trim
- 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.
- Place a cutting board on top of a damp kitchen towel. eGullet: Basic Knife Skills
- Lay the onion on its side.The Old Farmer's Almanac: How to Chop an Onion in Four Easy Steps
- The tip should point towards the knife.
- Grip the knife as instructed previously in the Knife Safety section.
- With your opposite hand, hold the onion steady.
- Curl your fingers over the onion.eGullet: Basic Knife Skills
- Your hand will look like a claw.
- This will protect your fingers if the knife slips.
- Curl your fingers over the onion.eGullet: Basic Knife Skills
- Pierce the onion with the tip of the knife.The Old Farmer's Almanac: How to Chop an Onion in Four Easy Steps
- Rest the tip of the knife against the cutting board.Foodnetwork: Knife Skill--Chop
- Slice down and away from you.The Old Farmer's Almanac: How to Chop an Onion in Four Easy Steps
- Cut through the onion along the groove.
- The onion top should fall away.
Step 2: Peel
Step 3: Slice in Half
- Place the onion cut side down, so the root end is facing the ceiling.eGullet: Basic Knife Skills
- Rest the tip of the knife against the cutting board.Foodnetwork: Knife Skill--Chop
- Center the heel of the knife over the root end.eGullet: Basic Knife Skills
- Slice down and away from you.The Old Farmer's Almanac: How to Chop an Onion in Four Easy Steps
- 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.eGullet: Basic Knife Skills
Step 4: Cut Vertical Sections
- Place onion large cut side down.The Old Farmer's Almanac: How to Chop an Onion in Four Easy Steps
- Make vertical cuts:eGullet: Basic Knife Skills
- Start at the left edge of the onion.
- Press the tip of the knife a half-inch away from the root.The Old Farmer's Almanac: How to Chop an Onion in Four Easy Steps
- Push the knife down in a single motion to make a vertical cut.
- Repeat at half-inch intervals until you reach the other side of the onion.The Old Farmer's Almanac: How to Chop an Onion in Four Easy Steps
- 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
- You are finally ready to chop.
- The onion should be large flat side down.The Old Farmer's Almanac: How to Chop an Onion in Four Easy Steps
- 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.The Old Farmer's Almanac: How to Chop an Onion in Four Easy Steps
- Start with the knife tip resting against the cutting board.Foodnetwork: Knife Skill--Chop
- Move the knife in a rocking motion.Foodnetwork: Knife Skill--Chop
- Slice down and away from you.The Old Farmer's Almanac: How to Chop an Onion in Four Easy Steps
- Use the full length of the blade.eGullet: Basic Knife Skills
- Slices should be perpendicular to vertical sections.The Old Farmer's Almanac: How to Chop an Onion in Four Easy Steps
- Slice at half-inch intervals.The Old Farmer's Almanac: How to Chop an Onion in Four Easy Steps
- Push the onion toward the knife.Foodnetwork: Knife Skill--Chop
- 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.eGullet: Basic Knife Skills
- The knife should rock back and forth on the cutting board.
- 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.About.com: Why Do Onions Make You Cry?
- 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.
- 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).YouTube Video: Good Eats Moment: Cutting an Onion (Time: 0:52)
- Alton Brown says the fire consumes gases released by the onion, and he knows everything.YouTube Video: Good Eats Moment: Cutting an Onion (Time: 0:52)
- YouTube Video: Good Eats Moment - Cutting an Onion (Time: 0:52)
- Place onions in the freezer for 10 minutes before you start chopping or store onions in the fridge. wikiHow: How to Chop Onions without Tears
- Chop more onions!
- Frequently chopping onions will increase your immunity to the vapors. NineMSN: How to Chop Onions without Crying
- Unfortunately, until you do get used to onion gases, you'll bawl your eyes out.
- Chop next to running water.wikiHow: How to Chop Onions without Tears
- Wear specialized goggles.Amazon: RSVP Onion Goggles for Tear Free Chopping, Mincing, Dicing and Slicing
- If your stove has an exhaust fan, use it!the kitchn: Five Tips on How to Cut Onions Without Tears
- Chew gum.NineMSN: How to Chop Onions without Crying
- 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.NineMSN: How to Chop Onions without Crying But it can't hurt to give it a try, especially if you like chewing gum.
- You can also chew bread or sugar cubes.NineMSN: How to Chop Onions without Crying
- This tip is supposed to work by making you breathe through your mouth.
- Boil a pot of water.wikiHow: How to Chop Onions without Tears
- Hold 5-7 unlit matches in your mouth.wikiHow: How to Chop Onions without Tears
- Chop properly using the technique outlined in previous steps.the kitchn: Five Tips on How to Cut Onions Without Tears
- Use a sharp knife.eGullet: Basic Knife Skills
- Turn cut sides down on the cutting board.the kitchn: Five Tips on How to Cut Onions Without Tears
- Scoop chopped onion into a bowl until all onion is chopped.the kitchn: Five Tips on How to Cut Onions Without Tears
- Use the broad side of the knife and your hand.
- 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.the kitchn: Five Tips on How to Cut Onions Without Tears
How to Chop an Onion on Google Products
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Onion Chopper The Quick Safe and Simple Way to Chop up Your Fruits, Vegetables - $10.45
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