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Are you sick and tired of the tears and burning in your eyes as you cut up an onion?  It is the age old question – how to cut an onion without tears? I’m going to share the secret of how to cut up an onion without tears.

Along the way I figured out I had been cutting up onions the hard way for many years.   I bet you are too! I’m also going to show you the fastest and simplest way to cut an onion.

Cut An Onion WITHOUT Tears

How to cut an onion without tears 1

Courtesy of Pixabay/Couleur

This is so simple, you’re gonna scratch your head in bewilderment. So…. the SECRET for no tears is to cut your onions while they are cold. I store my onions in the fridge. No room in your fridge? Put the onion in the fridge several hours before cutting it (or the freezer if you’re in a pinch, just don’t freeze it). I store my onions in the fridge and I never have burning or tears from cutting up onions.

How to Properly Cut an Onion

I bet you are cutting up your onions the hard way, just like I used to. I’m going to show you a trick to cut an onion fast and easily. I can dice an onion in half the time it used to take me. Give it a try and let me know what you think!

If you prefer step by step instructions with pictures, please scroll down toward the end of the post.

Other Tips and Tricks

I use a cut resistant glove on my left hand (I’m right handed and cut with my right hand). It has saved me from countless cuts. If you spend time in the kitchen you are bound to cut yourself. Save yourself some tears, pain and blood and get one. It is flexible, machine washable and a great addition to any kitchen.

To get rid of the onion smell on your hands you can rub them with a lemon or lemon juice. In the video I also demonstrated rubbing my hands with a stainless steel disk. You can pick one up from Amazon for under $10. It works really well – I don’t know the science behind it, just that it works.

Since you’re already in the kitchen cooking, check out my super simple fruit and veggie wash too. It costs pennies on the dollar, is safe (you can and do eat it), and works great!

Step By Step Instructions on How to Properly Cut an Onion

First you are going to cut your onion from root to tip. Probably the opposite way that you cut it now. This took me a little while to get used to.

How to cut an onion without tears - step 1

Your onion should now have two pieces that look like this.
How to cut an onion without tears - step 2

Now cut off the end of the onion that would have been the top of the onion that came out of the soil. You want to keep the root end intact.

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Then peel off the outer layers of the onion that we don’t eat. It will look like this

How to cut an onion without tears - step 4

Next you cut the onion into strips from the cut end to the root end, but not all the way through the root end. The picture explains it a lot better than I can.

How to cut an onion without tears - step 5
Slice your onion all the way around so it is only held together by the root end that you did not cut.

How to cut an onion without tears - step 6

Now you can cut the onion like shown below for diced onion or cut it off only at the root end for strips of onions (like you would for fajitas).
How to cut an onion without tears - step 7

Now you will have a perfectly diced onion or strips of onion. You can make your cuts closer together for a finely diced onion or larger depending on your dish and your preference.

I think you’re going to be hooked and love the time it saves you in making those home cooked meals!

Give it a try and leave me a comment below on how it worked for you.

How to Cut an Onion Without Tears - the best way to cut an onion

How to Cut an onion without tears. Simple trick works EVERY time!