We love onions. Love love love them. However, I’ve never liked cutting them probably because I have never known how to do it properly – until now. My friends Chef Maili Halme and photographer extraordinaire Elizabeth Messina collaborated to create the perfect “How to cut an onion” series. It’s so great and solved my ever-present dilemma. Hope it helps you as much as it has me!
According to Maili, this is a quick and easy way to dice onions for any recipe. A sharp knife if key to this process. Placing the onion in the freezer for a bit before slicing will help diminish the strong gases that can make you cry. (How’s THAT for a Silver Lining?!?)
Make vertical slices 90 percent up the onion, keeping the end intact as an anchor. Then make horizontal slices 90 percent through the onion. The slice normally and your onion will be perfectly sliced. (A sharp knife is key to this process)
To remove the smell of onions or garlic from your hands rub them on stainless steel. I just use the faucet on my sink, but Sur La Table and Amazon actually sell Stainless Steel Soap Bars just for this purpose.
LOVE this demo of how to chop an onion!
So glad, Maureen! xx
I like that tip of putting the onion in the freezer ahead of dicing for a no tears preparation. I don't like to slice towards myself, so after cutting the onion in half and slicing in one direction, I would turn the onion still on its flat surface, and then slice through again for my diced onion.
Now those "onion goggles" though sexy, did not help one bit when reading Celine Dion's song, "Fly". The song is lovely and eludes to the business of dying, which I felt tied in nicely to yesterday's "hospice blog". That was very informative and the caring hospice nurses and/or hospice house sounded like a great option to have when life becomes terminal.
I love the suggestion about the knife as well, Carolee.
You're so right about the onion goggles not working for the song. Refund, please!
Glad you liked the hospice piece. It is pure magic when people need it the most!
This is great. And if you don't have onion goggles, ski goggles or swimming goggles will do, and even regular glasses or sunglasses are better than nothing!
Great Point, dear Frances!
xxx