By Becky Hardin
Published Feb 11, 2019
Wondering how to cut an onion? So many recipes call for a bit of onion, and I very much approve of that! Whether you need diced onion, minced onion, or chopped onion, you need to know how to do it properly. Learning how to chop an onion is one of those basic cooking skills that will always come in handy. I’ll show you how to dice an onion, how to mince onion (plus the difference between the two), how to chop onions, and how to store cut onions!
How to Cut Onions
Learn how to cut an onion, how to dice an onion, how to mince onion, and how to chop an onion. Basically, no matter how you want to cut it, you can learn it right here!
I love onions! I mean, I really love , love o nions! They’re one of those ingredients that is so easy to add into dishes, and they always add so much extra flavor.
But before you can use them, you have to learn how to cut an onion…that was a major stumper for me in the beginning, but now I’ve figured out the best way to chop onions and it’s so easy!
I love red onions in salads , Vidalia onions for grilling, and sweet yellow onions for almost everything else I cook. I’m also learning to use leeks , shallots, scallions, baby onions and so many other types of onions.
I wasn’t always a fan of onions (I know, crazy), but learning how to saute onions and caramelize onions changed everything! Sautéing onions in a little butter (for the flavor) and olive oil (to prevent burning) until translucent tenderizes and brings out the natural sweetness of this perfect ingredient. Now I’m hooked!
Cutting onions seems like such a simple thing, but when you’re new to cooking , none of those cooking terms makes sense! I’m lucky I had my mom to help me figure this stuff out, so now I’m passing all that glorious information on to you.
What’s the difference between diced, minced, and chopped onions?
Want to know how to cut an onion? Then you’re going to need to know the difference between diced onions, minced onions, and chopped onions. The best way to cut an onion depends on the recipe, so it’s good to know all three. This tutorial includes info for all three, so I’ve got you covered!
- Diced Onion: When a recipe calls for diced onion, you should have small pieces about 1/4 – 1/2 inch. Diced onions are best for mixing into all kinds of dishes. You’ll know they’re there, you’ll taste them, but there won’t be large chunks in every bite of your food.
- Minced Onion: Minced onions are about as small as you can get. It’s the same as dicing, but just much smaller, less than 1/2 inch in size. This works for recipes where you want the flavor, but you don’t really want to know they’re there. (Perfect when you’re cooking for someone who “doesn’t like onions”).
- Chopped Onion: Chopped is a more general term, which just refers to cutting an onion less precisely than you would with diced or minced. These pieces will be larger, and could essentially be any size that works for your recipe. Chopped onions are great for soups and stews because they can hold up while cooking in the broth. This is also a good way to cut onions if you really want it to be a noticeable part of the dish, so that you get plenty of onion flavor.
How to Peel an Onion
Before showing you how to cut an onion, you’ll need to peel it.
Start by slicing about a ½ inch off the top/ends of the onion.
Then remove any papery skins–there will usually be a couple of layers of this to peel off. The second layer might require a bit more work than the first. Pierce into the onion with the knife and create a shallow slice to help remove the rest of the papery skins.
How to Cut an Onion (Step by Step)
Before this wonderful vegetable can be used, it usually has to be chopped, diced or minced. So this is where I show yo how to cut an onion! I have seen many methods of preparing an onion, but this method is the one that works best for me.
Whether you chop, dice, or mince an onion, the process starts the same. Grab your cutting board and a sharp knife, then slice about 1/2 inch off the end/root of the onion. Remove those papery skins and any unusable layers (see above for details on how to peel an onion).
How to Dice an Onion
After peeling the onion, cut it in half and lay the halves flat-side down on the cutting board.
Use your knife to cut across the onion in 1/2 inch slices.
Then turn the onion and hold the cut layers together. Going in the other direction, cut across again in 1/2 inch slices. Repeat with the other half of the onion if needed, or keep it in tact and store it for later.
This is what diced onions will look like–aim for this general size, though they don’t need to be perfect.
How to Mince an Onion
Same as dicing an onion: peel the onion, then cut it in half and lay the halves on the cutting board, flat-side down.
Cut across the onion the same as you did above, but make 1/4 inch cuts to mince (or smaller if the recipe calls for a finer onion).
Turn the onion and hold the slices together. Then moving perpendicular to the slices, cut 1/4 inch slices again.
How to Chop an Onion
Chopping an onion is much less precise and can be done in a variety of ways. However, I typically cut the onion the same way as if I were dicing or mincing, just in larger pieces.
After peeling and cutting the onion in half as above, lay the flat side on the cutting board.
Cut in one direction in whatever size pieces you want. 3/4 inch is a good standard chopping size for a recipe that doesn’t specify otherwise.
Then moving in the other direction, cut again in 3/4 inch slices.
This is what roughly chopped onions will look like.
Ingredients1x2x3x
- ▢ 1 large onion
To Saute:
- ▢ 1 tablespoon salted butter
- ▢ 1/2 tablespoon olive oil
- ▢ splash water
Video
Instructions
- Using a chopping board and a sharp knife, cut off both ends of the onion.
- Make a very shallow cut just through the first or second layers, then peel these outer layers away to get to the best part of the onion. This is the part to be used.
- Cut the onion in half and lay each half, with the flat side down, on the cutting board.
- Slice across each onion 1/4-3/4 inch thick, depending how large you want your onion pieces (minced-1/4 inch, diced-1/2 inch, chopped-3/4 inch). (I mince the onion if I am serving someone who isn’t a fan of onions.) Of course you can use larger pieces or whole onions depending on the recipe.
- Once cut through each half, lay the sliced onions on their flat side, then slice them again across the earlier slices – depending how large you want the pieces.
To Saute:
- Place the butter and olive oil in a skillet over medium high heat. Allow butter to melt.
- Throw in chopped onion and stir to coat in the butter mixture. Throw in a splash of water (helps the onions not to burn). Cook until fragrant and translucent, stirring frequently, about 3-4 minutes. Enjoy!
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
How to Cut Onions Without Crying
Most of us know that cutting onions can often lead to tears. Whether you’ve seen it on TV or experienced it yourself, it’s true that onions can make you cry. This is because onions release an irritant that affects our eyes. But don’t worry, you can actually get through the process without tears!
- One of the main ways to avoid crying is to keep cut ends of an onion faced away from you. So if you’re facing the cut halves down on the cutting board as I mentioned, that will help a bit.
- Using a properly sharpened knife will cut into the onion better, and cause less of that chemical irritant to be released.
- Don’t touch your eyes or your face directly after chopping onions. Make sure you thoroughly wash your hands afterwards.
- As soon as you’re done cutting, set the onions away from you until you need to add them into your dish.
- Chilled onions will usually be less of a problem. So let the onion sit in the refrigerator for a bit before cutting.
How to Store Cut Onions
When you first buy onions, store them in a cool, dark pantry or cabinet. They will usually keep for 3-4 weeks if stored properly and kept dry. This is BEFORE cutting them.
Once you’ve cut the onion, you’ll need to store it differently. Here’s how to store cut onions:
- Place any diced or minced onion pieces in an airtight container, in the refrigerator.
- Chopped onions and larger pieces can be stored in reusable containers or resealable bags.
- If you have large uncut pieces of onion, you can also wrap them in plastic wrap. (For example, if you only cut half the onion, wrap the unused half and keep it in the refrigerator.)
Once an onion has been cut in any way, it needs to be stored in the refrigerator. It helps to keep onions in separate drawers so that other vegetables don’t get that oniony smell or flavor. Cut onions should be used within about 7-10 days.
How to Pick a Good Onion
Before you cut an onion, you have to pick the right one. Picking a good onion is fairly simple, though.
Choose one that is firm, unblemished, and unbruised. Look for onions that have tight, dry, tissuey skins. It also helps to smell them: if it has a strong onion scent, it probably isn’t very sweet. But typically this will be based on the type of onion you’re using.
When picking a good onion, avoid any that: have soft or wet spots, are sprouting or decaying, or have noticeable moisture or discoloration.
That’s it! Learning how to cut an onion is really that simple. Diced onion, minced onion, chopped onion, it doesn’t matter. It’s all so easy. Now you can start sneaking these little flavor cubes into your culinary creations (and if you are cooking for someone that hates onions, they never have to know).
Beginner Cooking Guides
Looking for some other basic cooking skills and how-tos? Check out these tutorials.
How to Roast Garlic (Oven Roasted Garlic)
How to Cook Ground Beef (Boiling Ground Beef for Tacos, Spaghetti, etc.)
How to Cook Asparagus 10 Ways – Asparagus Recipes
How to Cut, Peel, and Prepare Butternut Squash for Cooking
Homemade Pasta
Basmati Rice (Stovetop Method)
How to Make Balsamic Reduction
How to Make Baked Potatoes
How to Cut an Onion (Diced, Minced, or Chopped)
Ingredients
- 1 large onion
To Saute:
- 1 tablespoon salted butter
- 1/2 tablespoon olive oil
- splash water
Instructions
- Using a chopping board and a sharp knife, cut off both ends of the onion.
- Make a very shallow cut just through the first or second layers, then peel these outer layers away to get to the best part of the onion. This is the part to be used.
- Cut the onion in half and lay each half, with the flat side down, on the cutting board.
- Slice across each onion 1/4-3/4 inch thick, depending how large you want your onion pieces (minced-1/4 inch, diced-1/2 inch, chopped-3/4 inch). (I mince the onion if I am serving someone who isn’t a fan of onions.) Of course you can use larger pieces or whole onions depending on the recipe.
- Once cut through each half, lay the sliced onions on their flat side, then slice them again across the earlier slices - depending how large you want the pieces.
To Saute:
- Place the butter and olive oil in a skillet over medium high heat. Allow butter to melt.
- Throw in chopped onion and stir to coat in the butter mixture. Throw in a splash of water (helps the onions not to burn). Cook until fragrant and translucent, stirring frequently, about 3-4 minutes. Enjoy!
Video
Nutrition
By Becky Hardin
Published Jul 12, 2017
This Essential Grocery List is an absolute life saver for my family on the busy weeks. When I started this journey to learn how to cook, I quickly realized that the first step in cooking is having staple ingredients on hand. I want to avoid having to run out to the grocery store every single time I prepare a new recipe. Having a well-stocked pantry has made my life in the kitchen so much simpler, because when it’s time to cook, I have what I need.
Essential Grocery List
It’s so helpful to have a basic grocery list to help me remember which foods to buy at the store. This food shopping list is my go-to!
It’s better to stock up on things like grains, seasonings and spices, baking essentials, oils, condiments, canned and frozen foods, etc. so I can just grab them when I need them. These things have a long shelf life , so I keep them in my kitchen for convenience.
However, I do have to go to the supermarket sometimes, and there’s a way to make that trip easy and hassle-free: I keep a grocery list! If I go in blindly, I’ll leave with things I don’t need, and nothing that actually helps me prepare a good meal.
In the list below, I’ve compiled everything I always have on my stock-up grocery list.
I’ve got you covered! I created an easy grocery list filled with all of the essentials. Plus there’s a free printable version that you can take with you to the grocery store. It has everything you need to stock your pantry, your freezer, and your refrigerator.
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List
What to Buy at the Grocery Store
This is the perfect grocery list filled with all the basics and essentials. It should help get you going if you’re new to cooking, or if you’re just left staring helplessly at an empty pantry and don’t know how to fill it.
When I first started cooking, things could seem overwhelming. I quickly realized that they more prepared I could be, the more confident I felt. If you already have the basics in your kitchen, then you can shop stress-free.
So print out our easy grocery list, stock up your pantry and fridge, and you’ll be cooking in no time!
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Fresh Produce
- Apples
- Bananas
- Strawberries
- Avocados
- Bell Peppers
- Carrots
- Broccoli
- Garlic
- Lemons/Limes
- Onion
- Parsley
- Cilantro
- Basil
- Potatoes
- Spinach
- Tomatoes
GRAINS
- Breadcrumbs
- Pasta
- Quinoa
- Rice
- Sandwich Bread
- Tortillas
MEAT/PROTEIN
- Chicken
- Eggs
- Ground Beef
- Sliced Turkey
- Lunch Meat
DAIRY
- Butter
- Sliced Cheese
- Shredded Cheese
- Milk
- Sour Cream
- Greek Yogurt
BAKING GOODS
- Baking powder
- Baking Soda
- Granulated Sugar
- Brown Sugar
- Flour
- Honey
- Vanilla Extract
- Dry Yeast
- Chocolate Chips
- Cocoa Powder
- Powdered Sugar
FREEZER
- Fruit and Berries
- Frozen Veggies (Corn, Peas, Broccoli, etc)
- Juice Concentrate
- Pizza or Other Convenience Meals
- Pie Crust
- Cookie Dough
CANNED/DRIED GOODS
- Chicken stock/broth
- Salsa
- Diced Tomatoes
- Jam/Jelly
- Peanut Butter
- Pasta Sauce
- Beans (Black Beans, Chickpeas, Baked Beans, etc)
- Soups
- Tuna
- Green Chiles
- Canned Veggies
- Coffee or Tea
Get more details on the best non-perishable and pantry foods
CONDIMENTS/SPICES
- Black Pepper
- Chili Powder
- Cinnamon
- Crushed Red Pepper
- Cumin
- Garlic Powder
- Ketchup
- Mustard
- Mayo
- Nutmeg
- Paprika
- Salt (Course Sea Salt and Kosher Salt)
- Soy Sauce
- Steak Sauce
- Hot Sauce/ Buffalo Sauce
- Salad Dressings
OILS/VINEGARS
- Apple cider vinegar
- Balsamic vinegar
- Coconut Oil
- Olive Oil
- Vegetable/Canola Oil
- Red Wine Vinegar
- White Vinegar
- Cooking Wine
- White Wine Vinegar
SNACKS
- Crackers
- Nuts
- Quick Oats
- Popcorn
- Tortilla Chips
- Cereal
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Click ☝🏻 for my FREE Grocery List Printable!
I hope this essential grocery list can help you buy what you need and make your home cooking so much easier!
Stock Your Kitchen
Find more ideas for your grocery list, stock up your kitchen, and print more cooking guides and charts to keep handy!
Non-Perishable Foods to Stock Up On
Frozen Vegetables to Stock Up On (and Recipes to Make)
Ultimate List of Cooking Herbs for Your Kitchen
Ultimate List of Cooking Spices for Your Kitchen
Cooking Oil 101: Types of Cooking Oils to Use
26 Types of Pasta and When to Use Them
What Fruits and Vegetables are in Season?
Meat Temperature Chart (Free Printable)
How to Meal Prep (Guide for Beginners)
Basic Cooking Measurements & Kitchen Conversion Chart
