Leave the onion root on to keep it together and reduce tearing
Keep the root end intact while chopping so the onion holds together and releases fewer irritating juices.
Identify the root end and avoid cutting it off until you’re finished chopping. The root acts like a handle that keeps layers attached while you slice and dice. Cut away only the root at the very end.
The short version
- Don’t remove the root until the end
- Use the root to keep the onion stable while cutting
What you need
- chef's knife
- cutting board
What goes wrong
Cutting off the root first
Leave the root attached and trim it off only after dicing
Why it works
Cutting off the root early lets the onion layers separate and exposes more cut surfaces, which can release more irritating compounds and make you tear up sooner.
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