How to Dice an Onion Effortlessly (and Save Your Fingers in the Process)

Using a recently sharpened chef’s knife, trim away and discard the dried, stringy root bits (but leave the root intact) so they don’t get mixed into your onion dice. Then, using one hand to stabilize the onion (fingers curled under), slice through the onion from pole end to pole end. (In other words, slice through either the root end or stem end to the opposite side.) Peel away the papery skin. (You can compost it or save it for homemade stock!)

With the flat side of the halved onion resting on your cutting board, hold your knife parallel to your work surface and make three or four horizontal cuts through the onion half, starting at the stem end and stopping before you reach the root. (Be mindful of keeping your fingers out of the way.) Repeat with the other half.

Holding your knife perpendicular to your work surface, make vertical cuts across the onion half from stem end to root end. Repeat with the other half.

Rotate the onion half so the root end is in your nondominant hand and your knife is perpendicular to the root. With your fingertips tucked in and securely holding the onion, cut across the onion to dice it. Repeat with the other half.

Tips to Make Dicing an Onion Easier, Safer and Faster

Use the right knife. Choose a knife that’s large enough to slice through the onion with some leverage. We like to use a chef’s knife; a paring knife won’t be big enough unless your onion is very small.

Use a sharp knife. A recently sharpened knife is always safer than a dull one because you won’t have to use so much force to make clean cuts.

Tuck your fingers. Use the chef-approved knife skill technique that will safeguard your precious digits: Keep your fingertips curled under while stabilizing the onion. When making the horizontal cuts in step two, tuck your fingertips in while simultaneously pressing them against the top of the onion to keep it from sliding.