How to Cut an Onion

How to Cut an Onion is essential task that should be learned as it is a must in a lot of recipes. You may need diced onion, minced onion, or chopped onion so knowing how to cut onion properly is important.

How to Cut an Onion:

Learning how to properly cut an onion is one of the best cooking and knife skills that comes in handy. We add onion to a lot of our home cooked recipes, so knowing how to properly chop an onion was important to me.

Onions add so much flavor to our favorite recipes. Rather you are adding them to your favorite taco meat or to your soups and stews it is essential to know the size of chopped onion you need.

The two kitchen items you need to start is a good sharp knife and a cutting board.

How to pick a Good Onion:

Picking a good onion is a simple process when you are in the produce section at the store. I like to choose one that is firm and no bruised spots. Check the onion to see if there is any soft or wet spots.

Taking the time to choose the right onion, save time and money when you are ready to use it.

Peel the Outer Layer:

You want to peel the outer papery skins that cover the best part of the onion. To do so, slice about ½ inch off the top. Then start remove a couple of layers of the onion rings to get to the good part of the onion.

Now you will be ready to chop, dice or mince your onion.

What is the difference between minced, diced or chopped onion?

Different recipes call for difference size of onion. So it is important to figure out the right way based on the recipe you are making. Here are the difference between the three:

• Diced Onion – We use diced onions in most of our recipes. We like to be able to taste the flavor that the diced onion gives. Normally it is cut about ¼ inch in size.
• Minced Onion – If you are making a recipe that want the flavor but don’t want to taste the onion necessarily, then you want to mince your onion. Mincing an onion is basically the diced onion sliced in half.
• Chopped Onion – Chopped onion is the perfect size to add to your soups and stews. They are large enough to be seen but can withstand being cooked in the broth. They are larger in size than the diced onion and are noticeable in your recipe.

How to Slice an Onion:

When you are slicing an onion, it will depend on the recipe that you are making to determine the direction you are slicing. Rather you are caramelizing onion or slicing them for your burger, you will either slice your onion from stem to root or cutting the onion in half.

• Cut and trim the Stem and Root of the onion – Make sure you leave the root end intact as it keeps the it held together. Holding onion, cut both ends.

• Place the onion stem down on the cutting board – This will stabilize the onion so that you are able to start slicing.
• Then cut the onion in half – Slice the onion all the way through the root in.
• Peel the skin back off the onion – Peel the papery layers and the top layers from one half of the onion.

• Begin cutting the Onion – Place half of the onion on the flat side. Use angle cuts to begin cutting the onion going to the root of the onion.

• Slice the Size of Onion – Space your cuts depending on the size of onion that you want.

How to Chop an Onion:

Chopping an onion is almost the same as dicing the onion but it is just larger pieces. Once you have peeled and cut in half lay the flat size of the onion on the cutting board.

• Begin chopping in one direction – Horizontal cut of the onion in whatever size that you want. They can either be thin slices or thick slices.

• Then chop in the other direction – Twist your cutting board and turn your onion, and begin chopping the onion slices into a chopped size of onion.

How to Mince an Onion:

• Peel Onion – Remove the outer layer of the onion and slice in half. Place the half on the cutting board.
• Begin Slicing the Onion – Same as Chopping the onion, begin slicing the onion half in the horizontal direction. Then chop in the opposite direction.
• Cut in Smaller Pieces – Begin cutting the onion again so that the pieces are smaller about ¼ inch thick.

How to store:

• Whole Onions – When you buy onions and you are not ready to use them, store them in a cool, dark place. They will keep for about 3-4 weeks. Just make sure they stay dry.
• Storing Diced Onions – If you are onions are diced, store them in air tight container in the refrigerator.
• Chopped Onions – Chopped onions or larger size onions can be store in resealable zip lock bags. You can also place them in a plastic wrap especially if you only have onion halves.
• Store in Separate Drawers – Make sure to store any chopped onion in the refrigerator. It is based to store in separate drawers so the items in your refrigerator doesn’t pick up the smell of the onion.

It really is that easy!

Learning how to cut an easy is an easy process and one that you won’t forget once you learn it. Onion is so good in recipes. Now that you know how to mince, chop or slice an onion, start adding them to your favorite recipes.

Print the instructions here:

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