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CookMatey

Cooking guide

How to Chop an Onion

A safe, simple way to dice an onion evenly, with fewer tears.

  • 3 min read
  • 5 steps
  • Easy
Pile of brown onions

Almost every savoury recipe starts with an onion, so learning to dice one quickly is worth the practice. A sharp knife, a steady board and keeping the root end on are the secrets to even pieces that cook at the same rate.

Step by step

  1. Step 1: Steady your board

    Place a damp cloth or paper towel under your chopping board so it can't slide.

  2. Step 2: Halve through the root

    Cut the onion in half from the top through the root. Trim the top end, but leave the root on — it holds the layers together.

  3. Step 3: Peel

    Peel off the papery skin and the first tough layer if it's dry.

  4. Step 4: Slice lengthways

    Lay a half flat-side down. Make thin cuts from the top towards the root without cutting through it.

  5. Step 5: Dice

    Turn the onion and slice across your first cuts to make small, even pieces. Discard the root.

    Tip: Curl the fingertips of your holding hand under, so the knife rests against your knuckles, not your fingertips.

Put it into practice

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