The only reason I’m going to show you how to dice an onion is that I was an embarrassingly advanced age (relatively speaking) before I finally figured it out myself. And I want to share that with humanity! I don’t want you to be clueless like I was for so many wretched years.
Start by cutting the onion in half from root to tip.
Then lop off the top end.
Then peel off the outer layer.
Then make several small, vertical slices all the way through the onion.
Next, rotate the onion 90 degrees and slice again, creating a dice.
Rocket Science: that’s what I have to offer the world.
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Republished from The Pioneer Woman Cooks’ archives.
Mary Mistich on Thursday, January 14
Did not know that!!!Does it still burn your eyes?51
Kathy in Oklahoma on Thursday, January 14
I always have a slice of bread in my mouth-works every time-no more tears52
esavvymom on Thursday, January 14
I don't cry OR cut my fingers, because I use my Pampered Chef Food Chopper! A few chops for course, several chops for fine...and anywhere in between. I'm done in seconds and just rinse and toss it in the DW- no tears!53
Julianna on Friday, January 15
Amen on that le crueset dutch oven comment. I can't get my clean for the life of me! How!? I ask, HOW?54
Jenny F on Saturday, January 16
Any lessons on how not to cry while chopping the onion??? I saw some cool goggles, at Sur La Table, last night. Supposedly they are protection from the fumes that you can use while cutting an onion. They were just not "cute" enough to wear.55
Gail Parmentier on Saturday, January 16
I've been able to dice onions, but a) it isn't always pretty, b) seems to take me forever c) I pawn it off on my hubby when possible. Hubby wasn't home today when I went to make meatloaf & needed onions diced. Had to go look this up, then followed directions for the most part~ I was using an already partially cut onion. But worked great, took A LOT less time. As far as the tears~ I've heard the candle thing too, but that doesn't seem to help much. I've noticed that if I'm pulling an onion from the frig~ already cold it seems to reduce the tears, doesn't eliminate, but does cut down. But as a general rule I don't store my uncut onions in the frig. Hmmm~ what to do, what to do. Thanks Ree for sharing & as someone else put it, "holding our hand."56
Anne on Saturday, January 16
I've heard, but not personally experienced this, but was told that if I place an onion in the freezer for awhile before chopping it that I won't "cry", Have you tried this technique???57
Shirley Hicks on Saturday, January 16
Okay, now I feel like a real dork! LOL58
Bonnie on Sunday, January 17
This may be a dumb question, but... why does anyone need to "learn" to cut an onion? I don't think I do it the way PW shows us, but what is the benefit of using this method? I'm not trying to be flip or disrespectful or anything (I love you, PW!!!) but why do we need to cut onions this way?59
Lisa on Sunday, January 17
Did you see Julia Child in the onion chopping scene....too funny! I didn't know there could be a onion chopping "winner"!60
Nona on Monday, January 18
I find to stop all the crying you put the onion in fridge for half an hour or one hour it works good for me! Good luck!61
Taissa on Monday, January 18
Do it with some water in the mouth so you won't cry.62
granitegirl on Monday, January 18
I learned a similar way on Food Network not long ago. But I don't cut it in half first- your way looks easier. I'll have to try that.63
poncacitygal on Monday, January 18
Thanks for the tip!!! Never thought of cutting it in half. Makes it a lot easier.64
Maija on Monday, January 18
Here's how I cut an onion... Cut off root and tip, peel outer skin, cube it. Place it in my Tupperware Quick Chef and chop it sans tears and sneezes! :)65
C.C. on Tuesday, January 19
I was a good quarter-century old before I finally learned how to do this the correct way. Thank you for sparing many, many folks from chopping onions incorrectly for as long as I did! C.C. <a href="http://www.card-making-ideas-and-instructions.com" rel="nofollow">My Card Making site!</a>66
maryclaire on Tuesday, January 19
And...if the onion still makes you cry, hold an unlit match in your teeth while you cut. It takes the tears all away! Really :) (A bit hard to talk while you do it, but worth it if you don't like to cry when you cut onions.)67
Karen on Tuesday, January 19
Thank you so much! That makes it look so easy.68
Georgia.Pellegrini on Wednesday, January 20
Some people call it the "no tears method", but I still tear up every time...69
Kristin on Thursday, January 21
Excellent! My husband is always complaining that I cut the onion wrong. He's right, but I'll never tell!70
emmalou357 on Thursday, January 21
i got strips last night...oops, i guess i won't from now on though!!71
sarahh on Friday, January 22
this was so helpful! i make a mess of an onion when i try to chop it!72
sweetiepies on Friday, January 22
Thanks Ree! I did learn this years ago watching Two Hot Tamales on the Food Network. I loved their show! They offered lots of hints like how to pick fresh fruits and vegetables. Like you know when a pineapple is ripe when you pull one of their spiky leaves out easily. Tips I have never forgotten!73
barefootphotographer on Friday, January 22
Ahhhhh a Wusthof knife, don't you just love that knife?!? I bought mine from a little kitchen shop in Memphis about 4 years ago. I don't know how I ever survived without this wonderful knife.74
Rachel on Friday, January 22
Try rinsing the peeled onion in cold water before chopping - that helps me sometimes! Love this method of chopping, though I usually slice vertically then horizontally halfway through to the root as well, since I usually can't get my slices to be that thin!75
shauna on Friday, January 22
Hmmm. I had a lady teach me this tecnique when I was a teenager and have never forgotten it. Good thing, I use about 4 onions a week. My question is, what is that awesome looking knife you are using?76
shauna on Friday, January 22
Never mind. Just saw the Wusthof knife comment. Cool!77
shauna on Friday, January 22
And another comment from me--it is in reply to Bonnie's question as to why we need to cut onions this way. It obviously isn't the only way to cut onions, but IMO, it is the safest. With this tecnique, you are not "chasing" the onion with a very sharp knife but are creating a flat and stable surface before you cut into it. It works well with tomatoes as well.78
fire wife katie on Monday, January 25
Can we have a similar tutorial on how to properly chop garlic? :D79
Meredith Crosland on Tuesday, January 26
Awesome onion tutorial! :) Another way I chop onions, is to call my kids in the room, and hand them the nifty Chop Wizard, and let them go to town. Works like a charm every time!80
Alexandra on Wednesday, January 27
Am lovin' these tutorials! This stuff right, is what I need to know. The basics, please...where else to go for the basics???81
collegecook on Monday, May 10
If you hold your tongue to the roof of your mouth while your mouth is open the onion won't make you cry.82