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Few people enjoy peeling onions, especially not when the tears start to fall. To get around this, try one of the following ways to cut and peel any sized onion in seconds!
Steps
Peeling with a Vertical Slice
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1Cut an onion in half vertically.
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2Place the halves "cut side down" on the cutting board.Advertisement
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3Cut off the unusable portions at the top and bottom of each half.
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4Peel back the top layer of each onion half.[1]
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5Rinse the onion halves under cold water to remove any peel residue. Rinsing also reduces the residue that causes your eyes to water when handling onions.[2]
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6When an onion is halved, it is much easier to cut into thin slices.
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7Turn your cutting board ninety degrees after slicing, and you can easily dice your onion as well.
Peeling by Applying Heat
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1Preheat a frying pan.
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2Cut the onion in half. Cut off the unusable parts (top and bottom).
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3Stab the cut side with a fork. Hold the skin side against the base of the warming frying pan.[3]
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4Wait until the papery part of the skin loosens. Lift the onion right and you'll be able easily pull off the skin.
Community Q&A
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QuestionDo you need to remove the first layer of onion after the papery portion?Community AnswerNo, it is edible but may be a bit tougher than the rest of the onion.
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QuestionHow does peeling an onion hurt the eyes?Community AnswerPeeling or cutting an onion produces sulfuric acid, which burns the eyes and stimulates the tear glands.
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QuestionHow long would it take to peel an onion?Community AnswerNo more than a minute, depending on the type of onion and how thick the skin is, it could take a little less or more time.
Warnings
- Always wash fruits and vegetables before you cut them to prevent dragging whatever is on the skin through the food along the knife blade.⧼thumbs_response⧽
- Use a non-serrated knife: a serrated knife will twist in the onion as it cuts, and create uneven slices, and if you're not careful, injure you!⧼thumbs_response⧽
- If possible, use a separate cutting board for each of the following: raw meats, poultry, cooked foods, seafood, fruit and vegetables, and dairy, to avoid cross-contamination (for example, bacteria found in raw meat juices can contaminate vegetables, if you use the same board). After each use, scrub the cutting board with hot, soapy water.⧼thumbs_response⧽
- Always use care when using kitchen knives to avoid cutting yourself.⧼thumbs_response⧽
- Washing your hands under cold running water while rubbing the stainless steel of your faucet or sink after slicing an onion (or garlic) will remove the scent from your fingers.[4]⧼thumbs_response⧽
References
- ↑ https://www.realsimple.com/food-recipes/cooking-tips-techniques/preparation/chop-peel-onion
- ↑ https://lifehacker.com/tested-the-best-tear-free-tricks-for-cutting-onions-476088845
- ↑ https://www.lifehack.org/articles/lifestyle/the-ultimate-kitchen-hack-peeling-almost-everything-quickly.html
- ↑ https://www.huffpost.com/entry/eliminating-garlic-smell_n_1341413
About This Article
To peel an onion quickly, start by cutting it in half vertically. Then, place the halves cut-side down and cut off the tops and bottoms. Finally, peel off the top layer of each onion half. If there's any leftover residue from the peel, run the onions under cold water to rinse it off. To learn how to peel an onion quickly using heat, scroll down!