Maybe you already know how to dice an onion, but if not, don’t worry. We all started somewhere! Whether you’re mastering a new skill today or just looking for a refresher, this post will show you how to dice an onion easily, quickly, and safely!We’ve included a handy how-to video, plus step-by-step instructions and photos in the recipe card at the end of this post. Before you scroll all the way there, though, be sure to read through the Chef’s Tips section for good-to-know tidbits for dicing onions!
Why You Should Master This Technique
It’s undeniable. Knowing how to dice an onion easily, quickly, and safely is a pretty handy kitchen skill to have. There are so many times and recipes when you desperately need fine, even chunks of onion. Sure, you could probably figure it out as you go, but why make things take longer than necessary? This foolproof method makes dicing onions SUPER easy.Onions fit in a variety of diets, cuisines, and recipes. On their own, onions are naturally paleo, Whole30-compliant, low carb, keto, gluten free, dairy free, refined sugar free, vegetarian, and vegan. Just be careful what you pair them with!I’m not joking when I say diced onions are super versatile! They complement an incredible number of different flavors. You can eat them raw in salads or on hot dogs, sauté or caramelize them, bake them into casseroles or egg cups, or toss them in the Instant Pot with other ingredients. Since they show up in so many recipes, I’d say it’s probably a good idea to know how to cut them up! Being able to quickly dice an onion will make so many recipes that much easier for you.You can cut them in advance to make your recipe prep even easier. Diced onions will keep in the refrigerator for 7-10 days. Just make sure to store them in an airtight container – mostly so they’ll stay fresh and crisp, but also so they won’t make the rest of the fridge smell like onion.
What You’ll Need
Onion – Any type, any size, any number. This method works for them all!Knife – You’ll want a very sharp, large kitchen knife. Smaller knives will work but they’ll make the process take longer and it’ll be a little more involved. Even if you think your knife is pretty sharp, sharpening it a little right before slicing into your onion will only make your life easier.Cutting Board – If you’re going to dice multiple onions, or even just one larger onion, make sure to use a big enough cutting board. If your board tends to slide around when you’re cutting, place a layer of paper towels or a kitchen towel underneath it.
Chop vs. Dice vs. Mince – What’s the Difference?
Whoever said “size doesn’t matter” wasn’t talking about how to dice an onion. The key difference between chopped onion, diced onion, and minced onion is the size of the chunks!The terms are used interchangeably a lot, especially “chop” and “dice”, but they technically mean different things. Chopped onion will be the largest of the three sizes, followed by diced onion, with tiny minced onion bringing up the rear. You might see “roughly chopped” or “finely diced” in recipe notes. That just tells you how exact you need to be with your cuts. For rough chops, there’s no real need to be precise or uniform.Also, if you see “small chop” in a recipe, that’s the same as “diced”.So why am I only focusing on how to dice an onion in this post? Well, the process is the same regardless of the final cut you need. What will affect the size of your onion pieces, though, is the width of the slices you cut in Step 4 below. You’ll want ½-inch wide slices for “diced” onion, but ¼-inch for “minced” or ¾-inch to 1-inch for “chopped”.
Chef’s Tips
Knowing how to dice an onion easily is great, but you need to do it safely, too. Careful with your fingers! You don’t want to catch a fingertip under the knife blade. To protect your fingertips, dome your hand that’s holding the onion. This keeps your fingers tucked out of the way, making it much less likely you’ll accidentally cut one.There’s no crying in baseball cooking, so how do you dice an onion without your eyes welling up with tears? Easy! Pop the onion in the freezer for 15-20 minutes. Your fingers will get cold but your eyes will stay dry! You could also store your onions in the fridge until you’re ready to chop them.Don’t touch your face (especially your eyes!) after you dice your onion. Not before washing your hands thoroughly, at least! The chemical that makes your eyes tear up when you cut an onion will be on your hands, and if releasing that chemical into the air is enough to make your eyes water, you can just imagine how getting it directly in your eye will feel. If you have any cuts on your fingers or hands, wear food-safe gloves while handling the onion.
You Know How to Dice an Onion – Now How Do You Use It?
After this post, you’ll be a pro when it comes to dicing onions. Never again will you look at a recipe and panic over the prep work! Diced onions are perfect both in and on a variety of dishes, like…
Sautéed OnionsAir Fryer Hot DogsWhole30 ChiliInstant Pot JambalayaRanch Style BeansInstant Pot Baked BeansFried RiceChickpea Salad (Mediterranean Style)Whole30 Enchiladas with Poblano-Pork Stuffing & Creamy-Avocado SauceHealthy Lettuce Wraps – PF Changs Recipe (Whole30, Paleo)Avocado SaladWhole30 Fish Taco Bowls with Mango Salsa, Chipotle Aioli, Coconut-Lime Cauliflower Rice (Paleo)15-Minute Hearty Chickpea SoupShredded Chicken TacosVegan ChiliMexican Salad with Cilantro-Lime DressingNourishing Slow Cooker Chili (Note: this is a 40 Aprons Premium member-exclusive recipe! You’ll have to be signed in to access it.)Whole30 Strawberry Basil Chicken with AvocadoShrimp EtouffeeEasy 7 Layer Salad with Homemade DressingBison ChiliTurkey Stuffed PeppersWhite Bean SaladShrimp Gumbo
Talk about a versatile ingredient! Of course, that’s by no means an exhaustive list of recipes that can use diced onions… it’s just a few of my favorites. Once you get the hang of how to dice an onion, you’ll want to use diced onions on everything!
Other How To’s You’ll Want to Know
How to Truss a ChickenHow to Freeze Corn (on the Cob and Kernels)Orange Zest – How to Make It and Ways to Use ItHow to Freeze PeachesHow To Cut a Pineapple EasilyAll About Lemon Zest + 4 Ways to Zest a LemonHow to Cook Turkey Bacon in the OvenHow to Freeze Broccoli (with 3 Cooking Methods)
