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How to chop onions
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By *lue Narwhal OP Man
over a year ago
Iceland, but Aldi is closer.. |
Following a bizarre conversation this afternoon, the subject of chopping onions arose.
I never knew there were so many varying techniques to get them sliced and diced without the tears and tantrums..
so come on, spill the beans and let us know what your onion chopping technique is.. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Run a tap while chopping. Dunno why it works but it does. "
Onions are hydroscopic. The onion is attracted to the fluid in your eye. You only need to put a bowl of water by the chopping board and your eyes won't be affected. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"I give them to Marc to chop. Not worries here 
Can I bring my 5 kg onion bag? 
Then he wouldn't have time to chop the onions I give him. So, no.   "
But it gives time for us to snog in the room next door... |
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I was taught that the base holds most of the stuff that makes you cry, therefor try to cut that part as little as possible. That’s what I’ve always done and I genuinely never cry... either I’m incredibly lucky or it actually works. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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1. Do not cut through the stem end.
2. Have a cut lemon near by
3. If you wear glasses try not to (easier said than done) but the ‘fumes’ will congregate between the lens and eye increasing the irritation
4. Use a very sharp knife. If you ‘rasp the onion’ it exacerbates the release.
5. Use a wooden chopping board.
6. I’ve bored myself now.
7. Shhhhh now.
 |
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By *lue Narwhal OP Man
over a year ago
Iceland, but Aldi is closer.. |
"Buy them ready chopped 
So this
I realised how much of a pain it was so I bought ready chopped and put in pan
"
And how is it those pre chopped onions in the sealed packet can make your car stink like a waste chemical processing factory within 5 minutes on the drive home?
Don't bloody trust them pre chopped buggers, I reckon that Sergei Skirpol was on his way home from Tesco with his pack of chopped onions to go in his borscht when the seal broke and he was overcome by the noxious oniony fumes.. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Cut in half long way 1st
Then slice carefully parallel to the first cut a few times, then cut horizantally as fine as you can
Done"
Been doing the same for years and never once come close to tears...............did slice my middle finger once though.........but was more blood than tears |
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"1. Do not cut through the stem end.
2. Have a cut lemon near by
3. If you wear glasses try not to (easier said than done) but the ‘fumes’ will congregate between the lens and eye increasing the irritation
4. Use a very sharp knife. If you ‘rasp the onion’ it exacerbates the release.
5. Use a wooden chopping board.
6. I’ve bored myself now.
7. Shhhhh now.
"
"Rasp the Onion"? Blimey.Is that a Fab euphemism? I'm gonna check Urban Dictionary |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Following a bizarre conversation this afternoon, the subject of chopping onions arose.
I never knew there were so many varying techniques to get them sliced and diced without the tears and tantrums..
so come on, spill the beans and let us know what your onion chopping technique is.. "
Swimming goggles..looks silly but works just fine |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"I don't think I could justify buying ready chopped anything, unless it was like 5p in the reduced section lol"
This.
I keep them in the fridge. The vapour from them is less volatile when cold. I also use disposable latex free powder free gloves for onions and garlic so my hands don't smell. Always been a breeze to chop onions since I started doing this. |
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The stuff that makes you cry comes from the root end of the onion...so cut off the shoot end first and bin it ...then chop off the root end..bin that and stand the onion upright for a second or two...then cut it in half vertically before chopping it up further
...xxx onionlovingman xxx |
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So...I got talc-ed up and got my rubber suit on, couldn't find my swimming goggles so improvised with a snorkel, ran a tap and also had a bowl of water ready (belt and braces)...then discovered I'd run out of fecking onions.
I seem a bit overdressed for peeling a carrot. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Run a tap while chopping. Dunno why it works but it does. "
The reason our eyes water is because there’s something in the onion which attracted to moisture so the tap would be good some people recommend a wet towel or cut lemon etc next to the chopping board others suggest bread I’ve even heard holding a wooden spoon in your mouth while you’re chopping I’m yet to find a foolproof way but there’s plenty out there
Ads |
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By *ficouldMan
over a year ago
a quandary, could you change my mind? |
Peel, removing only the skin and as little of the onion flesh as is possible.
Cut in half
Cut diagonally from outside edge to centre but not all the way through to centre and not to close to the root.
Slice finely
Throw root away.
Works for me very well. |
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"Run a tap while chopping. Dunno why it works but it does.
Onions are hydroscopic. The onion is attracted to the fluid in your eye. You only need to put a bowl of water by the chopping board and your eyes won't be affected."
Yes spot on, a nurse told me this. |
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"Following a bizarre conversation this afternoon, the subject of chopping onions arose.
I never knew there were so many varying techniques to get them sliced and diced without the tears and tantrums..
so come on, spill the beans and let us know what your onion chopping technique is..
Swimming goggles..looks silly but works just fine"
Haha, I used to wear ma motorbike helmet |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Use a sharp knife it helps to reduce onion juices spraying into the air.
How about a Samurai sword, ya can do it from a distance, thus reducing the chances of the spray getting in yer eyes "
You would look cool too. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Run a tap while chopping. Dunno why it works but it does.
Onions are hydroscopic. The onion is attracted to the fluid in your eye. You only need to put a bowl of water by the chopping board and your eyes won't be affected."
If you're on a meter this also saves on the water bills which could end up being eye watering too! |
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"Buy them ready chopped "
I find that the diced ones from the supermarket really give off a strong odour and if left a day they stink like vinegar ( must be a preservative ) I avoid them unless the cooking is just for me and needs to be quick. Fresh onions are far better. |
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1 onion
1 chopping board
1 sharp knife
1 the onion (*) and lay it on the chopping board.
2.slice the onion in half lengthways (!)
do not remove the root or the leaf end as this is where the stuff that makes tears comes from.
3.remove skin lay on flat side and slice both ways. ( yes the rooty and the leafy bit will have to be cut away eventually )
4. As you finish slicing put the rooty n leafy ends in the bin.
Seriously, it's the future.
|
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"1 onion
1 chopping board
1 sharp knife
1 the onion (*) and lay it on the chopping board.
2.slice the onion in half lengthways (!)
do not remove the root or the leaf end as this is where the stuff that makes tears comes from.
3.remove skin lay on flat side and slice both ways. ( yes the rooty and the leafy bit will have to be cut away eventually )
4. As you finish slicing put the rooty n leafy ends in the bin.
Seriously, it's the future.
"
Think this may be the best thing I've learnt all day! Going to try and remember this like a revision exercise
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
|
"1 onion
1 chopping board
1 sharp knife
1 the onion (*) and lay it on the chopping board.
2.slice the onion in half lengthways (!)
do not remove the root or the leaf end as this is where the stuff that makes tears comes from.
3.remove skin lay on flat side and slice both ways. ( yes the rooty and the leafy bit will have to be cut away eventually )
4. As you finish slicing put the rooty n leafy ends in the bin.
Seriously, it's the future.
"
How can you slice through the onion with both ends still on? |
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Read point 3 in brackets.
I can't explain without pictures.
Cut onion in half lengthways.
cut through onion both ways avoiding cutting through the rooty bit.
It's dooable. I dooable it always. It works
Just make sure you approach the rooty end last and chuck it away.
i.e. don't remove and then chop cos then you are working in tear gas.
Clearer ? |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Read point 3 in brackets.
I can't explain without pictures.
Cut onion in half lengthways.
cut through onion both ways avoiding cutting through the rooty bit.
It's dooable. I dooable it always. It works
Just make sure you approach the rooty end last and chuck it away.
i.e. don't remove and then chop cos then you are working in tear gas.
Clearer ?"
I think so.
I chop off the flowery end bit, after cutting the onion in half length ways (which, incidentally halves the rooty and flowery end, thus enabling the eye streamy chemical (allium?) to evaporate out), then slice the onion vertically, not through the rooty bit, and then horizontally 3 times, not through the rooty bit, before slicing along the width. My eyes only stream badly with onions I've had in the cupboard for a few days. |
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When you cut through the onion ( fucking hell ) you do cut through the rooty bit but you've only made one cut not a zillion stingy stuff releasing cuts.
Throw the rooty bit away intact. Twice. Cos there's two halves in one onion ...... |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Run a tap while chopping. Dunno why it works but it does.
Onions are hydroscopic. The onion is attracted to the fluid in your eye. You only need to put a bowl of water by the chopping board and your eyes won't be affected."
And this is why I love fab forums.. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"3 times ? you like chunky onion i'd say
That's the horizontal cuts, after the 10+ vertical cuts. Then cut vertically across the width of the onion 10+ times. Your cutting across 3 different planes.
"
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"When you cut through the onion ( fucking hell ) you do cut through the rooty bit but you've only made one cut not a zillion stingy stuff releasing cuts.
Throw the rooty bit away intact. Twice. Cos there's two halves in one onion ...... "
My rooty bits get thrown away intact last. The other end gets thrown before I start chopping (I think) |
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"wear a pair of speedo swimming goggles it works but they do tend to steam up a lot..I need to get another pair..
Diving goggles also work! I’ve got a pair I use only for onion chopping."
Come to think of it I had worn them before in the past when diveing down to 10 feet or more off the spring board at the baths thou I always used them when ever I was in the water so they may have been diveing googles after all.. small and a firm hold around the eyes I realise they were now, ordinary googles are a lot bigger.. |
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