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Cutting an Onion Without Tears How To

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Introduction

Let me introduce myself to you all, I am Chef Bob, and have been brought in to tell you about this amazing new product on the market. and on with the standard for only $9.99 and that is not all.........

We interrupt Chef Bob with this quick news flash

I am Just_Rodney of Hub fame, and have been the author of several cooking hubs, let me let you into a little secret.

Summer is there for all my followers in the Northern Hemisphere and that means .... SALADS, well not too bad, but, yes I know the red and watery eyes from chopping onions.

So you resort to one of those advertised products, when for ONE Dollar I can save you money.

No, to recap,in all seriousness, there are numerous products that abound on the TV's Home Shopping channels you know the ones I mean. Those annoying paid for commercials that interrupt your evenings TV viewing, with gadgets and all those magic boxes, which work the first time you use them never to quite work the same after wards.

Yep been there and tried a lot of them, you dismantle to clean them and they never go back together again. Your sales slip that is your guarantee, cannot be located, or the item was one of those gifts that from a tea or hostess pressie, so you cannot get it fixed replaced, etcetera.

No what I am about to show you will astound and amaze you. You probable already have what you need at home in the kitchen.


The Culprit

This is the little guy that makes even grown men cry!!!
See all 9 photos
This is the little guy that makes even grown men cry!!!

What is Needed


Equipment.


1x sharp knife/cleaver/Chinese all purpose knife (which doubles as a weapon)

1x chopping board/plate/table top/any cutting surface


Optional extras


1x hand grater if you want to grate the onion


How to achieve a tearless cut or diced Onion.

Step 1. Cut the onion from top to bottom in the middle, across the length.
Step 1. Cut the onion from top to bottom in the middle, across the length.
Step 2. Cut off the tip, not the root end. I repeat never the Root end
Step 2. Cut off the tip, not the root end. I repeat never the Root end
Step 3. Peel back the first layer of the onion, all the way to the back. Do not pull it off.
Step 3. Peel back the first layer of the onion, all the way to the back. Do not pull it off.
Step 4. Cut the onion on the guide lines, holding the knife at 90 degrees to the onion. Do not cut all the way to the root stop about a finger width away.
Step 4. Cut the onion on the guide lines, holding the knife at 90 degrees to the onion. Do not cut all the way to the root stop about a finger width away.
There you have perfect onion slivers, if you need them for a stir fry.
There you have perfect onion slivers, if you need them for a stir fry.

For Salads

Step 5. Turn the onion sideways and cut through to the end for diced onions.
Step 5. Turn the onion sideways and cut through to the end for diced onions.
As you see we have the root section left intact. THIS IS THE BIT THAT RELEASES THE FINE DROPLETS OF ONION JUICE THAT MAKES YOU CRY.
As you see we have the root section left intact. THIS IS THE BIT THAT RELEASES THE FINE DROPLETS OF ONION JUICE THAT MAKES YOU CRY.
There you have it slivers and diced onions all done! No tears in at all, this was all cut and Photographed by Just_Rodney. By the By I sill have dry eyes not a tear in sight.
There you have it slivers and diced onions all done! No tears in at all, this was all cut and Photographed by Just_Rodney. By the By I sill have dry eyes not a tear in sight.

For Onion Rings or Grated Onions.

Peal the Onion as I have taught you above


Rings

Hold the peeled onion by the root section and slice the onion across the wiidth. Syop slicing a bit away from the roots.

Hint 1.I use a bread slicer to cut perfect rings.


Grated


Place the grater lying on its side in the bowl you are going to use.

Hold the Onion by the peeled back root section and grate away, remenber to stop before you reach the roots.

Quick Clean and Easy

Recap

There you have it.

No more Tears method of handling your Onion preparation.

A final word.

After handling all the onions do not I repeat do not go rubbing your eyes in disbelief at the ease that this was achieved, WITHOUT FIRST WASHING YOUR HANDS!

So drop me a line and I will give you my banking details and you can do that Electronic Funds Transfer for One Dollar.

Comments

Princessa 23 months ago

I need to start saying that I'll always prefer Just_Rodney of Hub fame... but OMG that knife!!!! maybe that is why I always end up in tears, I only use a tiny knife for my kitchen work. You might not believe it but I am terrified of knifes.

I'll try your method with my little one and hope it works just as well.

Just_Rodney 23 months ago

Princessa, thanks for the warm response, I feel at home in the Kitchen!

As to the Knife of Choice it makes for an impact and the photo's are then seen and captions read.

The size of he knife is not important, a can use a dinky little paring one and will always achieve the tearless processed onion.

As the say it is the technique, n'est pas.

Take care

skmania1 23 months ago

i ll try this method..

Michael Adams1959 23 months ago

I also heard from a food network chef to put onion in the freezer a little bit before cutting helps out too

Princessa 23 months ago

Hey my friend, I am back and for the firts time with no tears after cutting an onion!!!!

I tried it my silly little knife and it worked. I must say that I had tried plenty of things before from cutting the onion while running cold water from the sink, eating a piece of bread while cutting an onion (it didn't work, just filled me up!) to holding a match between my teeth while doing it.

And this is the first time something really works!! thank you for sharing your secret, xxx

Feline Prophet 23 months ago

This is so useful, Rodney. I'm a chronic weeper when it comes to chopping onions. Recently I learnt that chewing gum while cutting onions helps...so I tried it and believe it or not, it does help keep the tears away! :)

Just_Rodney 23 months ago

skmania,

Try it, it is simple and it works like a dream.

Michael A 1959

It does work, if you remember you are going to need an Onion.

Princessa,

Would I fool around with telling size of the knife is not a problem.

Feline,

Trouble is chewing gum while trying to cut is a bit like multi tasking and I may well end up nicking my fingers and then choking the gum, which has lodged itself in my airways!LOL ;)

To all thanks for those comments.

ethel smith 23 months ago

Interesting. My mum always peeled and chopped onions under running cold water but I am not sure how reliable this is.

Karen Ellis 23 months ago

Great "how to" for onions. I love onions and always try to just chop them quickly. Thanks for the tips. Hope all is well at your home, old friend.

Just_Rodney 23 months ago

Ethel, I have tried a lot of the tearless onion methods, but this one really works.

Made up a small batch of pickled pearl onions - absolutely tearless. Then was convinced, because those baby sized picklers always makes me cry.

Thanks for the comment.

Just_Rodney 23 months ago

Karen, they are a bit hazardous, as you can end up slicing your finger or nail because of this phenomena.

All is well at home and although it is a cold winter it is still survivable.

Hope things are treating you and yours well.

Thanks for the comments.

KoffeeKlatch Gals 23 months ago

I'll have to try your method. Love the pictures and instructions.

Just_Rodney 23 months ago

KoffeeKlatch Gals, thanks for dropping by and leaving a comment. Glad you enjoy the dual photo and instruction type hub.

cashmere 22 months ago

If you keep the onion overnight in the fridge you can peel and chop it without tears

Just_Rodney 22 months ago

That Cashmere is another way to do it, only I find that I then need to reserve on of my fridges crisper basket just for onions, as I use them extensively in my cooking or those quick mini salads that is served with all my meals, excluding sometimes breakfast.

Thanks for your input it is appreciated.

Teresa Schultz 22 months ago

That knife is big, but this idea sounds great. I usually try to just remember to breathe through my mouth instead of only my nose, or both, when chopping or cutting onions, as read somewhere that that helps, but it doesn't always work :)

Tony Flanigan 22 months ago

"So drop me a line and I will give you my banking details and you can do that Electronic Funds Transfer for One Dollar."

Sarf Effrikins can now get munni by Paypal also...

I'm gonna try this, I don't believe in cooking anything without at least 3 onions. Cool hub.

Just Ask Susan 15 months ago

I use onions quite a bit and I am so glad to find this hub that you wrote..Great way to cut an onion!

Just_Rodney 15 months ago

Just Ask Susan, I have used this so often I actually forgot what it is to onion eyes, except now and then inadvertently brushing the side of my while adjusting my galasses.

Thanks for the comment.

Habib 5 months ago

I can tell you the best way ever to not have onion tears when chopping it, very easy, very simple. no need to change your knife or anything.. Use swimming glasses when you are chopping onions!! everyone have one at home you don't even have to buy it lol.. it really works..

Just_Rodney 5 months ago

Thanks Habib have tried that way as well. Walking around the kitchen wearing swimming goggles.

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