Disclosure Statement: I received free products from Zwilling J.A. Henckels including the 8” Pro Chef’s Knife featured in these photos. My opinion is never for sale. I only work with brands I love, and I really really really love this knife. It is fast becoming my favorite go-to knife, but please don’t tell the others. They get their feelings hurt, easily. I hope you’ll love this knife just as much as I do.
Jump to step by step photos of how to chop an onion
I am always shocked to hear someone say they are afraid to use sharp kitchen knives. Did you know that you’re less likely to cut yourself with a truly sharp knife? That’s because a sharp knife glides through food easily, while a dull knife is prone to slipping off the food and slicing through things you’d rather not cut… like your finger! Even if you do cut yourself with a sharp knife, it will be less severe than with an dull one. True story.
Knife skills are so important in the kitchen. I remember when I first started cooking, I wanted to chop quickly just like the cooks in my family and the chefs on TV. Those early days were a total mess! Going quickly, without the skills to back up your speed is not a great idea.
Today, things are different. I cut much more cleanly and pretty quickly. My knives are my little soldiers. They go into the kitchen at my side and we take care of one another. I’m not exaggerating when I say, a good knife is the most important tool in your kitchen.
Of course, knives aren’t magic. You’re not going to go from a Top Ramen Chef to Top Chef just because of a knife, but I do believe you’ll find your time in the kitchen more pleasant and less frustrating with the proper tools. If you’ve ever struggled through dicing tomatoes, chopping onions, or mincing garlic with a dull knife, you know it’s no fun.
Many recipes start with onions, yet so many people are challenged by cutting them. This technique makes cutting onions simple and quick. I can break down a dozen onions in about as many minutes using this skill.
So, ready to get started? Here’s how to chop an onion in step by step photos.
First, lay a kitchen towel under your cutting board. This keeps your board from sliding and is one of the MOST important kitchen tips I can share with you and is literally life-changing.
Second, slice your onion in half, bisecting the stem and root ends. It is important that you go in this direction. Think of the stem end as a little handle. You’ll be using it later.
Peel the skin off your onion. Don’t worry about being perfect and only getting the paper off. I peel off the whole first layer of the onion and freeze it to use in stock later.
Cut one end off of your onion. I tend to leave the stem-end, but you may prefer to leave the root.
Slice into your onion with your knife angled slightly towards the center. You don’t want to go all the way through to the back of the onion. Leave about a half inch- this keeps the onion steady. The distance between these cuts will determine the size of your dice.
Turn your onion, and cut down crossways to create a perfect dice. Repeat until you reach the stem/root end of the onion!
That’s it! Now you know how to cut an onion, easily.
A good knife is the most important tool in the kitchen!
Having dull knifes. I would really like to add this beauty to my small collection.
Great tips…good job!
Keeping knife sharp
Good luck!
What a great give away!
My biggest struggle in the kitchen? Dishes. Finding my knives. 🙂
Pie is currently my biggest challenge in the kitchen!!
I’m a terrible onion cutter- thank you so much for a how to. Last time I used one I tried to mash it in the garlic press, but that didn’t work at all- maybe a new knife will help 🙂
Henckels are the best! We got some steak knives last year and love them.
My biggest struggle in the kitchen is that it's not mine lol but my parents. I'm gratefully staying with them right now 😀
I really don't have a struggle except for lack of space.
I love this series! Thank you for teaching me the right way. I've been doing it all along bisecting the onion in half with a pole on each side. Now I know to turn it 180 and I'll be set!
Aw yay! I am working on a whole series of How Tos 🙂
LMK if you have any cooking-related questions!
My biggest struggle is making desserts. I can cook but baking…eh.
The biggest challenge I have is working in an older kitchen that is not laid out well. Awkward placement of the kitchen sink.
Ok, now I want to go cut up some onions because you make it look way more efficient than the way I do it.
My biggest trouble is cleaning up! I hate it and it has to be done:(
Love the giveaway Sabrina – and the post is great for beginners and pros alike!
My biggest struggle in he kitchen is continuing to be inspired when a recipe turns out bad.
Keeping it clean while I cook!
Would you believe having a good, sharp knife? 🙁 Would love this knife!
I love a sharp knife! Someday I will own a Henckels chef's knife.
Space is a struggle, but a knife and a cutting board are all that really matter.
That I don't have a great knife. Thanks for the chance.
This looks like a wonderful knife! And your tutorial is fabulous!
Biggest struggle in the kitchen? Has to be keeping organized. And clean. Terrible at both.
Time management
Keeping it clean!
Keeping my knives sharp is a challenge for me.
Knife sharpening…I am so bad at it, I have to pay to get them sharpened.
Figuring out what to make
I love a nice big knife to chop onions.
Getting everything finished at the same time!
My greatest struggle in the kitchen is keeping knives sharpened. I find myself at the local cutlery shop because I don't do it well.
Chopping squash — the big, burley butternut or spaghetti squashes 🙂
Julie, I just actually shared my favorite method for breaking down squash. I also used to hate it- now I\’m all pro about it 😉 https://www.thetomatotart.com/recipe/kitchen-tips/…
Keeping it organized and clean
I would have to agree, keeping the knives sharp!
Too many people underestimate the importance of a good knife.
My biggest struggle is baking. I am a fantastic cook, but cannot bake at all!
What a beautiful knife! It looks like I am doing a lot of knife maintainence wrong!!! EEEP!
My biggest struggle is variety and cooking for two people.
Love the shape of the blade. Would love to have one!
Would love to have one!
Love the blade!
Onions simplified! Thank you.
KEEPING MY KNIVES SHARP…MAYBE BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE A GOOD ONE!
My biggest struggle is cooking for just myself. I generally make way too much food, which is a problem because I am not very fond of leftovers!
Biggest challenge in the kitchen is buying too many ingredients and fresh produce and not being able to use it all up in time. The http://www.EatYourBooks.com website is helping solve this issue. Thank you for the giveaway.
My biggest struggle in the kitchen is that I'm still learning how to cook..Great tips..TY
I need a great cutting knife
I definitely struggle with a lack of a good knife in my kitchen. I have an okay knife and I sharpen it for upkeep and to get the job done but it's not great quality to begin with :/
My biggest struggle is motivation to cook from scratch
Lack of counter space is my biggest struggle!!
Biggest struggle is good tools and sometimes a lack of imagination. 🙂
Mt biggest struggle is keeping up with the dishes! We love to cook & bake at our house!
My biggest struggle in the kitchen is learning to let my kids help cook meals.
Cutting onions without crying for an hour afterwards!
Totally agree on the sharp knife advice. I even keep a set of "duller" Victorinox blades around for the dirty work, then break out the good knives when it's time to get serious. Great advice on dicing, too! 🙂
I would have to say cooking for one person is a struggle in my kitchen!
thinking of new recipes to cook
Following the directions in a recipe. Everything would come out so much better if I actually listened to the directions. 🙂
Trying to keep my knives sharp. It drives me nuts, every knive I have is practically useless. I need to learn how to sharpen them.
My biggest struggle is keeping it clean and getting the dishes put away.
Having enough counter space to make ALL the food.
Distractions.
My biggest struggle is trusting recipes. I always go with my instincts… and my instincts are usually wrong.
My biggest struggle in the kitchen is having dull knives and really old knives, we need a new set.
Love a sharp knife, but I recently learned the hard way to slow down while cutting as I am still very new at knife skills. Cut a small piece of my finger nail off Ouch. But I am not discouraged!
I struggle in so many ways in the kitchen. It is hard to say what is my biggest challenge.
Not having a cutting board.
My biggest struggle is cleaning up. Haha
My biggest challenge is getting me in the kitchen, my husband does all the cooking!
my biggest problem is a lack of space in a kitchen that could be laid out better.
My biggest struggle is working in the tiny space of my rented apt.'s kitchen. Almost no counter space!
The clean up! I always make such a mess
My biggest struggle is just trying to make new things – I have only a certain amount of things I make that I really like. I need some more good go to meals.
Keeping my knives sharp is one of them. I also have a time of it keeping it clean as I do alot of cooking!
My biggest struggle in the kitchen is improving my basic skills– and knife skills!
My biggest struggle is no counter space. I have to be very careful when I have cutting to do. I have to make sure I have enough free space to lay cutting board. I wish I was a little more proficient in cutting–I can chop and dice but slowly. A good quality knife is half the preparation.
Balancing spices and flavours.
Finding a good knife. Mine just seem to disappear.
Honestly? dull knives…and not enough space
Have trouble knowing what brands to buy for a really good knife
I have to agree with others, keeping my knives sharp.
Not having a good knife. Really!!! I keep sharpening the ones I have and I think they just need a really good sharpening
My biggest struggle is keeping it clean!
Cleaning up the mess.
My biggest struggle? Just trying to cook decently. My husband is a chef!
One of my biggeststruggles in the kitchen is that I cry so much while cutting onions!!!!
my biggest struggle is deciding what knife to use for what and then finding one shar enough to use
Probably just time – other than that – I don't mind my duties in the kitchen.
My biggest challenge in the kitchen is working with limited counter space.
My biggest struggle is finding the time to make meals!
Finding a knife that will stay sharp!
Flipping an egg.
my biggest struggle in the kitchen is portion control. i always make wayy too much even when i try to make just what i think we need.
Not only is keeping a knife sharp a struggle,but having to use a knife that doesn't work right and not being able to chop anything is frustrating and makes me dread doing any prep work in the kitchen.
keeping things together
My biggest struggle is keeping it clean!
cleaning it..it ok as long as i have enough time
My biggest struggle is trying to cut things evenly.
My biggest struggle is having a good knife.. I've cut myself several times on dull knives.
I always had problems dicing onions. Thanks for the tutorial.
My biggest struggle in the kitchen is NOT LIKING TO COOK!!!!!!!!!!!!
My tools get dull too quickly.
Keeping my knives sharp enough to chop properly!
Right now, my issue is space! Seriously, we are in a tiny apartment and the kitchen is small so it is hard after having a big sunny and roomy kitchen for years and years…. but I still rock some amazing dishes!
Having all the right ingredients on hand when I want them.
My biggest struggle is keeping it clutter free
My issue is having all the ingredients that I need at the same time.
My biggest struggle in the kitchen is not knowing what to make for meals!!
Knife skills are definitely something I am lacking… I am more of a baker than a chef 🙂
My biggest struggle is lack of space. I love to cook and am in the kitchen quite a bit of the day. We do not eat out and therefor each day; morning, noon and night I am in the kitchen cooking for my family. I also do a lot of canning, freeing, and dehydrating. We have a large organic garden and we use our own product for most of our cooking. The only tough part is the size of my kitchen. We live in a small home, and the kitchen is quite small. Hard to do all my prep without running out of space. The upside, is that I have to clean as I go, to keep the space as non-cluttered as possible.
biggest challenge is workspace.
My biggest struggle is chopping up anything…lol
My biggest struggle is having enough upper cabinet space and enough working counter space.
My biggest struggle in the kitchen is time management.
Our biggest struggle in the kitchen is not having enough room for everything we have.
Making sure I have all the ingredients I need for a recipe.
Keeping a knife sharp enough to keep me happy!
My biggest struggle is all the chopping and slicing I have to do to make the perfect meals!
My biggest struggle is keeping up on the dishes. I love cooking, I hate dishes!
My biggest struggle is keeping my knife sharp. I have so many knifes and maybe 2 works fine.
My biggest struggle in the kitchen is time – time to cook, time to clean, but never time to eat lol
My biggest struggle in the kitchen is finding the time and energy to cook…I work 3 jobs and live by myself. At the end of the day it's usually fast food or breakfast cereal, even though I love to cook.
My biggest struggle in the Kitchen would have to be time management. Once I get in there, I just want to get the meal completed and would start everything at once instead of staggering it so the dishes are completed at relatively the same time. I am getting better at that, but not quite there yet. 🙂
My biggest struggle is chopping and time management. It takes me forever to dice anything and when trying to do multiple dishes at once I get completely frazzled.
My biggest struggle is trying to keep a knife sharp enough to use without putting myself in danger of cutting myself.
Storage. I definitely need more storage space for all my kitchen tools, pantry items and spices.
keeping my knives sharp. It is almost impossible for my current knives to hold an edge.
One of my biggest struggles is that I cook very slowly. I enjoy the process, but sometimes when I watch Chopped I'm blown away and feel like, dang wish I could whip up dishes that fast.
I really have no struggles in the Kitchen. The only struggle I have is no sharp knives!
My biggest challenge? Thanksgiving dinner!
That’s an excellent question. I’d have to say space is my biggest issue. I don’t thinks I need a huge kitchen, just good use of space, especially the counters. Thanks for the giveaway lady!
My biggest kitchen challenge currently is teaching my husband to cook & allowing him to take over occasionally. I'm a little territorial! 😉
I struggle in the kitchen when cutting onions, I literally start crying and I have to rinse my eyes to get the burning to go away, I haven't found any anything that works for that problem yet. Still love onions though.
Try putting your onions in the fridge for 24 hours before you cut them! Also, swimming goggles look silly, but totally help!
my biggest struggle is having enugh room…. ie counter space
My biggest struggle in the kitchen is keeping the refrigerator & pantry organized & clean!
andysavi.mom@gmail.com
My biggest struggle is that cooking is not my favorite thing. Unfortunately, my family thinks I cook very well so I am stuck. lol 🙂
I really need a knife. the ones that i owned were almost blunt.
My biggest struggle is keeping motivated to cook when I'm dealing with taking care of my father. All he wants is meat and potatoes every day.
I stress about making sure that everything is all ready at the same time -something is usually cold or burned. opps!
Standing too long at the counter with a bad back. This knife would make chopping quicker and get the job done faster!!!
My biggest struggle is putting together new and innovative dishes that everyone in my family will love. I'm much better at keeping the kitchen clean!
My biggest struggle in the kitchen is motivation. I’m cooking just for me, and sometimes it’s way too easy to just eat another sandwich.
My biggest struggle is motivation. I'm cooking for one, so sometimes it's way too easy to just eat another sandwich.
Spicing and flavouring properly is a challenge for me
baking…
Multitasking
Keeping things clean!
The dishes!
My biggest struggle is doing the dishes afterward.
My biggest struggle in the kitchen is having time! There are so many things I wish I could do, but just don't have the time. Keeping my knives sharp is another one. My knife set is a hand-me-down and I really need new ones, but I don't have the money to invest in an entire set right now.
My biggest struggle is with the crap knives I have now!
My biggest struggle in the kitchen is cleaning up.
With nerve damage in my fingers, chopping anything quickly these days is a struggle 😉
a dull knife!
I just wish my kitchen had more room.
A sharp knife? What a concept!
Keeping everyone away from the bacon lol
My biggest struggle–getting inspired to actually cook!
Keeping a sharp knife.
My biggest struggle in the kitchen is cleaning up. I love to cook but I hate having to deal with the mess afterwards.
I have a small kitchen so prep room is an issue.
My biggest struggle in the kitchen is cleaning up and washing dishes. So thankful for a loving husband who sometimes helps me.
Cleaning, cleaning and more cleaning. It never ends.
My biggest kitchen issue is the clean up after the food preparation.
I would say actually cooking.
My biggest struggle is timing things right.
chopping onions is my struggle
My biggest challenge in the kitchen is cooking for my 5 kids, I am always in there and still working on finding new things to cook for them
Onions make me cry, but knives make me cry harder!