What is the best way to cut a red onion?

Question

I've never used a fresh onion. do i chop off the ends? how do I not cry?

Answer 1

don't cut into the bud in the middle that's where the smell comes from that make your eyes water or under a running tap works
and a old wife's tale is chew on bread while cutting

Answer 2

well i would go with a sharp knife...lol. chop off the ends usually 1/4 inch in from both ends and to not cry :
Using a knife, cut a cone out of the bottom of the onion (where the roots come out). The diameter of this cone should be about a third of the diameter of the onion, and about 1/3 deep. Take this piece and throw it away (don't put it down the disposal!). This piece contains the part/gland that makes baby Jesus and everyone else in the room cry when you're chopping it up. Once you've gotten that piece out, chop off the top, peel, and slice the onion.

Been doing it for years, and it works like a charm. You know your cone is too small if it doesn't work, because you've cut into that teargas grenade

Answer 3

Slice the top off. Make another slice about 1/4 inch thick. Lay it flat. Take off the papery outside ring. Cut it in half. Lay one half on top of the other without breaking it up. With a chefs knife ( the one with the big curved blade that rocks while you use it) start chopping the onion by cutting in narrow pie like pieces. Continue chopping it around in a rocking motion, til it's all chopped. This will give you fairly even sized pieces with a minimum of chopping. As for the running water trick, you don't need to hold the onion under it to work, you would lose much of the flavor by doing this,just work close by it instead. In addition, breathe through your mouth and not your nose while chopping, this helps hold back the tears.
Happy chopping.

Answer 4

Errr.. With a knife?

Chop off the ends, and peel off the upper 2-3 layers( they might not be as clean), And drop it in water. Rubbing lemon juice on the board might help, but I am not sure. I usually brave the tears. Boys do cry ;-)

How did you survive without encountering onions for so long? What cuisine do you cook?

MODIFY_ Ooh! 32 answers? I really envy you! So many people know how to cut onions. IF only it were possible to transportonions over the internet, someonemight have cut it for you, for sakeof 10 points!

Answer 5

first wash all vegetables, then get a thin blade knife(paring) and be sure its sharp..the sharper it it the less juices it will make (the juice is what makes you cry) then cut the top and bottom off, then holding it with the top and bottom lengthwise (not standing up) you slice the onion you should end up with rings cut about every 1/4 inch or the with of a pencil size slices the if you are needing chopped pieces cut it in 1/2 and 1/2 again like through the 12 and 6 on a clock then 3 and 9 on a clock this will give you pie shape cuts in your rings...

Answer 6

Cut the ends, peel the dried out layers away. Cut next to the sink and run the faucet, light a candle next to your chopping area, or hold a piece of bread in your mouth. Those are old school tricks. Also you can purchase a mandolin, it's a slicing tool that does a very fast job (watch your fingers, I've added extra meat a couple times). There is another tool called or made by "Genius" that will dice an entire onion in a couple strokes putting it into a cup, no tears, no problems, I love it.

Answer 7

Step one: Get a sharp knife
Step two:Grab an onion
Step three: turn on water
Step four: Stick onion under water
Step five: dont cut the vein, that the bottom part, or do it under water but the chop off the ends
Step six: Chop it up!!!!

Answer 8

Yeah, chop of the ends. The running water thing sorta works, but makes cutting difficult, and in my opinion hazardous. A large flat pan with water keeping the onion submerged works.

Even better, I recommend ski goggles or swim goggles to avoid crying. Workshop safety glasses will help too, but not as much.

Answer 9

Yeah chrop the ends off so you have a flat surface. Then cut in have. And just slice it up. If you want smaller pieces just cut parallel to the previous cut.

You can wet them a bit. Putting them in fridge a bit before cutting helps. Red onions usually arent as bad as others.

Answer 10

Use a knife - cut off both ends (if you want...) ... I've heard that having a sliced raw potatoe stuck on the knife you're using will do away with teary eyes, but I've never tried it. I cry and cry while cutting onions....i just like onions though....!

Answer 11

cut off the ends, cut it into slices or chop. Light a candle next to where you are working before you start...this helps keep the crying to a minimum.