Point the knife towards the root of the onion, and allow your fingers to guide the slicing while your fingers are gripping the onion like a tennis ball. This is the safest way to chop an onion. Slice vertically evenly as close to the root as you can. Space as your recipe dictates, either large wedges or thinner slices.
Which end of onion do you cut off first?
Always cut the Stem-End First
The one end is the root side and the other is the stem side. The root-end serves a useful purpose during the slicing process and is the part that has stringy roots showing. Slice the onion in half lengthwise, in other words, from the root side to the stem side.
Do you peel onion before cutting?
Before you chop, cut off the top of the onion and remove the skin. Unless you’re making rings or grating, it’s easier to peel the onion after you chop it in half from stem to root. Keep the root intact. We’ll say it again: Always cut away from your fingers!
How do chefs cut onions without crying?
Using a sharp knife is the best way to do the least amount of damage to an onion. A sharp knife easily slices through the onion, rather than a dull knife, which basically crushes the flesh and causes the tear-jerking gas to spread in the air.
How do you cut an onion without tearing it?
A dull knife smashes rather than slices, doing more damage to the onions’ cells and thereby releasing more of the tear-inducing compound. You can also try chilling your onions. It takes foresight, but chilling peeled, halved onions in the fridge or in a bowl of ice water for 30 minutes can lessen the chemical’s effect.
Do professional chefs cry when cutting onions?
Why do onions make you cry, anyway? According to the New York Times, the mere act of cutting into the bulbed vegetable releases a chemical called lachrymatory factor (LF), which is essentially a gas. It immediately triggers the sensory nerves in your eyes, causing them to burn and well up with tears.
Which part of the onion do you not cut?
An Onion’s Stem and Root End
Before you cut an onion, know the difference between the stem end and the root end of the onion. The root end has a tight root center, which if you don’t remove, can help hold the onion together as you cut it. If the root end is clean, there’s no need to cut off the roots.
Do you cut the hairy end of an onion?
What is this? And when you cut your onion, remember that until you make the final cut to dice your onion, you need it to stay together. Don’t cut off the hairy root end or slice all the way through until the end.
Does putting a wet paper towel help with onions?
Why it works. “If you place a wet paper towel next to your onion while cutting, the wet paper towel will absorb the chemical instead of your eyes. “Now THIS is a tip you can use.”
What does soaking onions in water do?
Want to use raw onions in a dish, but concerned they might be a bit too strong or pungent? Soak them in a bowl of cold water for a few minutes before using. Soaking the onions for 15 minutes or so in cold water will help to soften the their flavor, mellowing it out a bit.
What should you chew when cutting onions?
Chew Gum to Avoid Crying When Chopping Onions
When chewing gum, you diffuse the odors that make you cry and you breathe through your mouth, so the chemicals don’t make it to your nasal cavity. By chewing gum, you are stopping any irritants from going up your nose, so the glands don’t get frustrated.
Why do we cry when we cut onion?
When an onion is sliced or diced, the onion’s cells release these compounds into the air. When this occurs, “enzyme” works to alter the amino acids into lachrymator compounds. This form of sulfuric acid irritates the nerves around the eyes making them tear. How can we prevent this reaction?
How do you cut onions without crying paper towels?
The Australian woman, Shilo, posted on Facebook, where she said she puts a piece of wet towel next to the onion when she chops it in order to prevent crying. This works because the chemical is absorbed by the towel instead of your eyes.
Does chilling an onion prevent crying?
To reduce tearing when cutting an onion, the National Onion Association recommends you “first chill the onions for 30 minutes. Then, cut off the top and peel the outer layers leaving the root end intact.” It’s the root end that has the highest concentration of the sulphuric compounds that cause your eyes to tear.
Why should you not cut onion roots?
Some chefs recommend slicing away from you so that the onion vapor doesn’t rise directly into your eyes. However you slice them, try to avoid cutting your onion near the root end. This is the part that contains the highest concentration of sulfuric compounds that can make you cry.
Does it matter how you cut an onion?
When you cut end to end, or with the grain, you cause less damage and release fewer compounds than when you slice through the middle. Slicing through the middle, or against the grain, causes a greater disruption and leaves you with a stronger, more pungent taste.
Do you saute onions in butter or oil?
You can use any fat that’s suitable for cooking over high heat. Olive oil or vegetable oil are my go-to oils for this. Butter can also be added to give the onions more flavor. Since butter has a lower smoke point, be sure to use a mixture of butter and oil so it doesn’t brown too quickly.
How do you cut an onion in half without it falling apart?
Stick to the root of the matter.
The root of the onion keeps everything together—if you cut off too much of the root, your slices will fall apart as you dice. “The trick is to just barely trim the root end, so that you can still see that opaque circle,” Josh says. “It’ll make your job much easier.”
Elvira Bowen is a food expert who has dedicated her life to understanding the science of cooking. She has worked in some of the world’s most prestigious kitchens, and has published several cookbooks that have become bestsellers. Elvira is known for her creative approach to cuisine, and her passion for teaching others about the culinary arts.