How to Cut an Onion – The Right Way!

This is the easiest and most effective way to cut an onion! Try it out when you are making your next recipe!

Have you ever wondered if you are cutting your onions correctly? Onions can be incorporated into almost any recipe and can be cut in all types of ways! They are a very essential ingredient to add some extra flavor into your dishes. Put them in your soup, salad, sandwich, tacos, whatever your favorite dish is! Being able to thinly slice an onion will help you take your cooking to the next level. I used to cry every time I was cutting an onion and with this method, I have not shed a tear since. I’m going to teach you my trick!

In this tutorial I will teach you how to properly peel and dice an onion, as well as how to freeze them. These are all important skills to know when preparing delicious meals like these:

Check out all these recipes that include onions!

1.  Loaded Philly Cheese Bread
2. Sheet Pan Kung Pao Chicken
3. Healthy Low Carb Sheet Pan Fajitas
4. Burrito Bowls
5. Crockpot Short Rib Tacos
6. Pasta Salad Recipe

Pro Tips

• Before you start any cutting get a damp paper towel and set it next to your cutting board. This will soak up the fumes from the onion so that you don’t tear up. It’s like magic!
• Take advantage of the natural curves on an onion by cutting parallel! This is a lot safer and also easier for this method.
• Don’t forget to leave space at the end when you are slicing. It is hard to dice an onion and hold it together all at the same time!

How to cut an onion

1. Make sure to rinse off the onion before starting! Then cut the top and bottom off with a sharp knife.
2. Turn the onion on its flat side and slice it in half.
3. Peel the skin off next with your hands and make sure to get it all off!
4. Next, place the onion on its flat side with the ends facing outward. Cut slices parallel and with the natural grooves of the onion for the best results. Leave a space at the end so it is easier to dice afterwards! The size of your slices depends on how you want your onions to turn out. Make sure they are wider if you are making diced onions and smaller for minced.
5. Finally, cut slices in the opposite direction and go with the natural curves of the onion. Once you have gotten to the middle, flip the onion again on the side and continue to slice. You now have perfectly diced or minced onions!

How to freeze an onion

I always end up cutting way more food than I actually end up using. Luckily it is super easy to freeze onions and are perfect last minute for most of the dinners I prepare. An onion can last 3 to 6 months in the freezer. Stop wasting your onions and put them to good use with these easy steps.

1. Chop and slice the onions just like in my method above. They will last longer chopped then they will with the skin still on them.
2. Use freezer bags instead of sandwich bags. They are a lot stronger and will minimize the amount of odor from leaking into your fridge. 
3. Plan out portions of the onion that will be used for recipes. It is better to store them in smaller sections because onions do not refreeze as well!
4. When you are ready to cook your frozen onions, avoid clumps by banging it on the counter a few times. This is also another reason why freezer bags are better! You can find them at any grocery store.

If you are planning on using the other half on the onion only a few days after your last recipe, wrap it in plastic wrap. This will last in your refrigerator for up to 7 days!

I hope you will try out this method next time you cut an onion for your recipe. Say goodbye to those tears and enjoy preparing your dish!