chopping onions

[Naomi]

The title of Domestic Goddess was not coined with me in mind. Nonetheless, I do occasionally cook. I made lasagne for dinner last night (we had people over) and a couple of people commented that they were impressed I'd made it from scratch (I just prefer home-made lasagne sauce, the shop bought ones tend to be a bit boring IMO). BUT one of my least favourite things with cooking is chopping onions. Honestly, if they sold pre-chopped onions in the supermarket, I'd be there! (okay, now everyone will probably tell me they do - again, supermarket shopping is not one of my strong points. I am getting better now though, I generally don't need to go through all the aisles twice to make sure I have everything anymore).

So tell me your hints for chopping onions - how do you do it so you don't end up with big chunks? And are there any tips for preventing the tears (does everyone cry when they chop onions? DH doesn't seem to but I do every time).

[shelli]

Cant help you with the chunky bits, but I find that if I dont breathe through my nose or stand straight over the cutting board whilst chopping them up, that seems to reduce the tears a little.

Sometimes its good to cut up an onion to hide your tears when you are having a really bad day, too!! I dont think it works for me anymore, though, coz Pete does the cooking here and the only time that I do the cooking is then, so he knows!!

shelli

[Pam]

You can buy frozen chopped onions. I just checked my freezer - Birds eye 500g ;) Although I mainly chop my own - putting on my sunnies that helps a bit LOL

[floria]

Naomi, I'm told that you can buy chopped onions in the freezer section at the supermarket.

My job involves preparing lots of salad items every day, onions included. I don't think any of the old wives tales actually work but there are some things to slow down the tears from chopping onions. Refrigerate and soak your onions in water before you cut them. Also, once you start to feel the tears, stick your head in the fridge or frezzer for about 30 seconds, it's supposed to slow the tears.

I usually peel and slice 10kg of onions at a time. I just let the tears flow, my eyes do not produce enough tears and I have to use artifical tears to lubricate my eyes so doing onions save on eye drops..... LMAO

[mel35]

I hate chopping onions and I will invent any excuse to get out of it :P Hubby doesn't even bother to ask me to anymore.

Don't worry Naomi I just found out a couple of weeks ago that they sell chopped onion in the Freezer Dept.

Our butcher also gets chopped onions for us for the soccer bbq but I don't know if he does them or orders them in ( I think they are 5 or 10 kg bags)

[Naomi]

10 kgs at a time, Gloria? I was complaining because I had to chop 2. Onions, that is, not kgs.

Well, I'm going to find these frozen ones in the supermarket, no more chopping for me!

[semele]

I don't cry when chopping onions so I guess I am lucky.

I cook ALOT and most of it has onion in it (I love caramelised onion in most things).

I know that you are now going to buy frozen chopping onions but just in case you want the fresh stuff and want to avoid the big chunks I will try and describe this as accurately as possible:

Chop only one end of the onion and then chop the onion in half. Peel away the skin then cut thin slices that run perpindicular to the end that you left on (it's left on to help keep the bits together). Then turn the onion and do small slices running perpindicular to the ones you have cut. This means you use most of the onion, get tiny little diced pieces and you just throw the other end away once you chop it off

Got that? I'm confused.... LMAO

[Manda]

yep what smele said. .......thats if you can be bothered LOL i usually just chuck them in the food prcoessor and let it chop the crap out of them (i HATE chunks of onion i like it so fine you dont notice it)

[Doreen]

Keeping them in the fridge and using a very sharp non-serrated knife works for me.

It's not the tears that bug me, unless I've been at work and have mascara on, it's the runny nose and the stinging - I hate pain.

[Tora]

I guess I am lucky too, as it doesn't bother me much chopping onions, although my Son can't. It irritates his eyes, and he is in pain for awhile after, so I do them for him when he asks. :)

I cook every day, and onions feature a lot in what I cook. :) I don't really enjoy cooking, it's just one of those jobs you HAVE to do! :roll: My husband and Son come home daily for breakfast and lunch, so I more often than not, have to cook 3 meals a day!! :blush: What I find hardest, is coming up with simple but imaginative meals. Any suggestions???? :hug:

Anne (Tora)

[Leigh]

I don't have a problem with crying when chopping onions, I make Jake do it and leave the room :Hehe:
I want to get one of those little hand choppers, where you put the stuff in..and push on it alot and it chops it for you? That would be handy.

I was buying the frozen ones, onions have been of such poor quality of late. But they aren't suitabel for all uses.