You’re chopping onions wrong – ‘correct’ method means there’s no tears

Everyone knows just how difficult chopping onions can be, especially when you have to stop part way through because your eyes can’t stop streaming.

However, a chef claims we’re making it harder on ourselves than it really needs to be, with many of us chopping onions the ‘wrong’ way.

In a TikTok video, user Red Stick Spice Co. shared her go-to method for chopping onions, saying it not only saves her time in the kitchen but also saves her tears.

In her video, she said: “Dicing an onion is a fundamental skill every home cook should master, and learning the proper technique can significantly enhance your culinary experience.

“In our Knife Skills Class, we emphasise the efficiency and precision required to dice an onion effectively.”

Before explaining her tactic, she shared how the type of onion, whether yellow, white or red, may influence the flavor of your dish.

She added: “Here’s a simple method to help you achieve perfectly diced onion:

“Start by cutting off the top of the onion while leaving the root end intact. This will help hold the onion together as you slice.

“Remove the outer skin carefully, ensuring you don’t remove too much of the onion itself. A clean onion is essential for achieving nice, uniform pieces.

“Place the onion flat side down on the cutting board. Make horizontal cuts from the top of the onion toward the root, but be sure not to cut all the way through the root.”

She added: “Next, make vertical cuts down the onion, again stopping just before reaching the root. The spacing of these cuts will determine the size of your diced pieces.

“Finally, turn the onion and slice across the previous cuts. As you slice, you’ll see perfectly diced onion pieces fall away, allowing you to achieve the desired texture for your dish.”

She says this method helps you dice onions without creating any extra hassle and minimising tears.

She added: “Practice makes perfect, so keep trying until you get comfortable with the process. Happy home cooking!”

Commenting on her video, one user said: “Don’t cut the root at all and you won’t have tears.”

Another user added: “Why are my eyes still watering?”

A third user said: “Yeah, I’m just gonna continue to buy the pre-diced from the grocery store.”