The Quickest Easy Way to Peel an Onion

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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!

1. 1

   Cut an onion in half vertically.

2. 

   2

   Place the halves "cut side down" on the cutting board.

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3. 

   3

   Cut off the unusable portions at the top and bottom of each half.

4. 

   4

   Peel back the top layer of each onion half. ^[1]

5. 

   5

   Rinse 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]

6. 

   6

   When an onion is halved, it is much easier to cut into thin slices.

7. 

   7

   Turn your cutting board ninety degrees after slicing, and you can easily dice your onion as well.

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1. 1

   Preheat a frying pan.

2. 

   2

   Cut the onion in half. Cut off the unusable parts (top and bottom).

3. 3

   Stab the cut side with a fork. Hold the skin side against the base of the warming frying pan.^[3]

4. 

   4

   Wait until the papery part of the skin loosens. Lift the onion right and you'll be able easily pull off the skin.

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Add New Question

• Question

  Do you need to remove the first layer of onion after the papery portion?

  

  No, it is edible but may be a bit tougher than the rest of the onion.

• Question

  How does peeling an onion hurt the eyes?

  

  Peeling or cutting an onion produces sulfuric acid, which burns the eyes and stimulates the tear glands.

• Question

  How long would it take to peel an onion?

  

  No 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.

• Question

  Can I first cut both useless ends before halving it and then peeling?

  

  If you like. Some people prefer to drive onions with the ends on (to hold it together) and then only remove the ends when they're done.

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• If you don't want to cut onion in halves, make a single shallow cut from top to bottom, just enough to slide the knife tip in and lift off the topmost layer to peel it off.

• If you wear goggles (used by swimmers) you do not have to cry while cutting onions in pieces... it looks silly, but it helps!

• You can also chew gum or put a piece of bread in your mouth so it is visible to prevent crying.

Thanks for submitting a tip for review!

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• Always wash fruits and vegetables before you cut them to prevent dragging whatever is on the skin through the food along the knife blade.

• 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!

• 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.

• 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.^[5]

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Article Summary X

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!

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Source: https://www.wikihow.com/Peel-an-Onion-Quickly

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