Does it matter which way you cut an onion?

When you cut end to end, or with the grain, you cause less damage and release fewer compounds than when you slice through the middle. Slicing through the middle, or against the grain, causes a greater disruption and leaves you with a stronger, more pungent taste.

Why do chefs dice onions?

It ensures a more even dice. The pieces near the center of the onion will still fall into nice little cubes regardless of whether or not you make horizontal cuts. The sides of the onion though will produce pieces of increasingly larger size.

Do you cut an onion horizontally?

When a recipe calls for sliced onions, you have a choice of how to slice them—lengthwise or crosswise. If you are cooking the onions, as for caramelizing them, you’ll likely want to slice them lengthwise, or from root to stem. That way they will hold their shape better during the cooking.

Why do chefs not cry when cutting onions?

Onions contain a chemical compound that releases into the air and causes our eyes to water. Using a sharp knife creates cleaner slices and causes less of the compound to spread through the air. Cutting into a chilled onion is known to produce fewer tears than one that’s room temperature.

Do professional chefs cry cutting onions?

They do it quickly, and they don’t chop many of them. Most people don’t cry instantly; it takes a bit of time for the gases to build up and chemical reactions to happen. TV chefs generally have pretty good knife skills, so they can chop a little bit of onion very quickly.

Why do people cut onions horizontally?

It really depends on what size of dice you’re going for. For a smaller dice, I’d recommend at least one horizontal slice, as it prevents you from ending up with significantly larger sized pieces from the sides of the onion. I tend to do 1 or 2 horizontal slices, and then some vaguely radial slices …

How do you not cry when cutting onions?

I Tested and Ranked the Best Ways to Cut Onions Without Crying

1. Cutting under a kitchen vent/fan.
2. Freezing the onion.
3. Wearing goggles.
4. Running the onion under water while cutting.
5. Chewing gum.
6. Cutting off the base of the onion and throwing it away.
7. Covering your knife in lemon juice before cutting.