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How to... Chop onions

It may sound simple but it's surprising how much of a meal some people make of chopping onions. Read this and (don't) weep

There's no reason to peel a whole onion unless you're cutting it into rings or hollowing it out to stuff it. Keep what you don't need wrapped in film, and chop it when required.

To chop or dice a whole onion:

1. Lay it on its side and cut the pointed top end off first. This gives it a flat surface to stand it on while you cut it in half through the root end.
2. Peel the skin back towards the root, leaving it attached to make a 'handle' to hold on to while chopping.
3. Make straight, vertical cuts through the onion, taking the tip of the knife just to the root. Turn it sideways and cut in the other direction to produce a fine chop. The distance between cuts will determine how fine a dice you make.

To slice an onion, make the vertical cuts with the blade parallel to the root. This will give you a half-moon-shaped slice.

Got a question about chopping onions or how to cook? Email it to the Cooking Coach.

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