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Woman dicing red onion on cutting board with knife.
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How to Chop an Onion

Chopping an onion is easy and fast once you get the hang of it. With clear step-by-step how-to photos!
Prep Time0 minutes
Active Time3 minutes
Total Time3 minutes
Yield: 4 People
Author: Katie Workman
Cost: 2

Equipment

Materials

  • Onions (as many as needed for the recipe)

Instructions

  • Using a sharp chef’s knife and a cutting board, cut off the stem end of the onion. Leave the root end intact.
  • Hold the onion in your non-dominant hand. Slice the onion in half crosswise through the root.
  • Peel off the skin of the onion. If you remove the outer layer of the onion, the peel will come off easily. If the peel seems to be loose and you can take it off without sacrificing the outer layer of the onion, great.
  • Place the onion on its flat side. Cut slices horizontally through the onion, slicing across the layers from the end where you sliced off the root to the stem end. Don’t cut all the way through. Stop just before you get to the stem end so the layers are still attached (the top layers may be loose)
  • Make lengthwise cuts down the onion through the horizontal slices. Again, leave the onion intact at the stem end.
  • Cut down across the onion to create small pieces of chopped or diced onion.

Notes

Tips for Chopping Onions
  • As you slice the onion, curl your fingers under as you hold the onion steady. This will protect your fingertips from the blade of the knife.
  • Cooking with red onions will mute their color and also add color to the other ingredients in the recipe.
  • You can skip the horizontal slices(step 4)  if you are looking for a rough chopped onion.
Chopping an Onion Without Crying
  • Wash the onion in cold water before slicing.
  • Make sure the blade of your knife is very sharp; a dull knife breaks down the onion more as you slice, releasing the compounds that cause tears.
  • Turn on the kitchen fan, exhaust, or vent near the stove, and cut your onion on a cutting board on the stovetop. Or cut your onion near an open window.
  • Wear goggles.
  • Fresher onions cause fewer tears than older onions.
  • If your eyes do get stingy and teary, rinse them with clean hands and cool water when you are done. 
  • Sweeter onions like Vidalia or Bermuda cause fewer tears than onions with a sharper onion-ey taste.
Storing Chopped Onions
You can store chopped onions in an airtight container for up to a week in the refrigerator.