Chances are, at some point in your life you will have to chop an onion. Chopped Onion can be found in recipes for everything from Potato Salad to duck a l'orange. Chopping onions means cutting the onion into pieces.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. Follow these quick and easy steps and you'll learn How to Chop an Onion without the tears.

Across the Internet you will find as many complaints about chopping onions as you will find articles sharing all kinds of commonly known to 'secret' techniques to do it without tears - from ordinary people to professional chefs. http://www.chefdoughty.com/blog/?p=1814 This page should literally "cut" through this information explosion and give you some sensible solutions that you can try at home. Read on!

• Cutting board

• Chef's knife

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

• 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.

1. Select a chef's knife.The Old Farmer's Almanac: How to Chop an Onion in Four Easy Steps
   • Make sure it's sharp!The Old Farmer's Almanac: How to Chop an Onion in Four Easy Steps
2. Wrap three fingers around the handle.Foodnetwork: Knife Skill--Chop
3. 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.

• 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. eGullet: Basic Knife Skills
   • This safety measure prevents the cutting board from slipping. eGullet: Basic Knife Skills
2. 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.
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.eGullet: Basic Knife Skills
     • 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.The Old Farmer's Almanac: How to Chop an Onion in Four Easy Steps
   • Make a shallow groove about half an inch from the tip.The Old Farmer's Almanac: How to Chop an Onion in Four Easy Steps
   • This will ensure your knife does not slide over the surface.The Old Farmer's Almanac: How to Chop an Onion in Four Easy Steps
6. Rest the tip of the knife against the cutting board.Foodnetwork: Knife Skill--Chop
7. Slice down and away from you.The Old Farmer's Almanac: How to Chop an Onion in Four Easy Steps
8. Cut through the onion along the groove.
   • The onion top should fall away.

1. Turn the onion so it sits on the root.
2. Hold steady.
   • Keep fingers curled!Foodnetwork: Knife Skill--Chop
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.The Old Farmer's Almanac: How to Chop an Onion in Four Easy Steps
4. Slide your fingertips into the shallow cut.
5. Pull the layers back, peeling in one easy strip around the onion.

1. Place the onion cut side down, so the root end is facing the ceiling.eGullet: Basic Knife Skills
2. Rest the tip of the knife against the cutting board.Foodnetwork: Knife Skill--Chop
3. Center the heel of the knife over the root end.eGullet: Basic Knife Skills
4. Slice down and away from you.The Old Farmer's Almanac: How to Chop an Onion in Four Easy Steps
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.eGullet: Basic Knife Skills

1. Place onion large cut side down.The Old Farmer's Almanac: How to Chop an Onion in Four Easy Steps
   • The root should point away from you.The Old Farmer's Almanac: How to Chop an Onion in Four Easy Steps
2. Make vertical cuts:eGullet: Basic Knife Skills
   1. Start at the left edge of the onion.
   2. 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
      • Do not cut through the root!eGullet: Basic Knife Skills
   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.The Old Farmer's Almanac: How to Chop an Onion in Four Easy Steps
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.

• You are finally ready to chop.

1. The onion should be large flat side down.The Old Farmer's Almanac: How to Chop an Onion in Four Easy Steps
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.The Old Farmer's Almanac: How to Chop an Onion in Four Easy Steps
3. Start with the knife tip resting against the cutting board.Foodnetwork: Knife Skill--Chop
4. 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
     • You will know you are doing it right when the onion falls apart into chopped square pieces.The Old Farmer's Almanac: How to Chop an Onion in Four Easy Steps
5. 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
6. Repeat Step 4 and Step 5 with the second half of the onion.

• 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.

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).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)
2. 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
   • The cold is supposed to slow the chemical reaction.NineMSN: How to Chop Onions without Crying
   • More than likely, chilled onions will not eliminate your adverse reaction, but it might lessen the symptoms. NineMSN: How to Chop Onions without Crying
3. 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.
4. Chop next to running water.wikiHow: How to Chop Onions without Tears
   • The water should be between you and the onions.
   • Simply place the cutting board across your sink.
5. Wear specialized goggles.Amazon: RSVP Onion Goggles for Tear Free Chopping, Mincing, Dicing and Slicing
   • Make sure the seal is airtight around your eyes to block onion fumes.NineMSN: How to Chop Onions without Crying
6. If your stove has an exhaust fan, use it!the kitchn: Five Tips on How to Cut Onions Without Tears
   • Cut your onion next to the stove and let the fan suck away noxious fumes.the kitchn: Five Tips on How to Cut Onions Without Tears
7. 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
8. Boil a pot of water.wikiHow: How to Chop Onions without Tears
   • The steam will trap the fumes.wikiHow: How to Chop Onions without Tears
9. Hold 5-7 unlit matches in your mouth.wikiHow: How to Chop Onions without Tears
   • The matches will absorb the gases.wikiHow: How to Chop Onions without Tears
10. Chop properly using the technique outlined in previous steps.the kitchn: Five Tips on How to Cut Onions Without Tears
    1. Use a sharp knife.eGullet: Basic Knife Skills
       • A sharp knife will break fewer cells, less gas.the kitchn: Five Tips on How to Cut Onions Without Tears
    2. Turn cut sides down on the cutting board.the kitchn: Five Tips on How to Cut Onions Without Tears
    3. 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.
    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.the kitchn: Five Tips on How to Cut Onions Without Tears