How to Peel an Onion

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For being such a commonly-used vegetable, onions can be surprisingly hard to work with. Peeling onions without any tears can be much easier said than done — especially when you have a whole bushel of onions to work through. Luckily, this experience doesn't have to be a culinary nightmare. By learning a few easy techniques, you can start peelings onions in a matter of seconds (and with a minimum of tears).

Method 1
Method 1 of 2:

Peeling an Onion Quickly

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  1. This is a good idea if you notice dirt or anything else unappealing on the outside of the onion. You'll be removing the peel, so it isn't absolutely necessary, but it won't hurt anything.
  2. Every onion will have a small clump of dirty-looking roots at the bottom. Hold the onion sideways on a clean cutting board and press a sharp knife down to carefully shave off the "button" of roots.
    • Try to cut only the roots. Cutting into the "meat" of the onion will release more of the chemicals that cause tears. [1] Since the layers of the onion are held together at the bottom, this will also make it harder keep a grip on them later.
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  3. Place your knife at the top (uncut) end of the onion. Slice the onion in two with a single clean rocking motion. You'll be left with two even-sized halves.
    • Immediately turn these onions cut side-down. This prevents tear-causing chemicals from being released into the air.
  4. With their cut sides facing down, drag the knife across the tips of each onion half. You'll now have two onion halves trimmed at either end.
  5. Lift the skin at the top end of the onion (the end you just trimmed) and carefully peel it down towards the bottom (root) end. If it breaks or tears, discard the torn-off piece of peel, grab another section, and start peeling again. Repeat for both halves.
    • You can use the tip of your knife to get the peel started if you're having trouble.
  6. At this point, your onion is peeled and ready to use. Leave both halves laying cut side-down until you start working with them to prevent tear-causing chemicals from being released into the air.
    • An onion can still make you cry after you've peeled it, so consult the section below if you'd like to learn a few helpful strategies for reducing your tears both during and after the peeling process.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 2:

Minimizing Tears

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  1. This is an especially-convenient way to prevent tears — every kitchen has a sink. As soon as you remove the peel from both onion halves, transfer them to a bowl of water. Let them soak briefly. 15 minutes is generally plenty of time. [2]
    • Note that this can make your onion taste a little more mild.
    • This works because the water draws out the sulfur-containing compounds that cause the stinging effect in your eyes. [3]
  2. Believe it or not, simply getting your onion cold can be enough to greatly reduce your tears. Before you peel the onion, stick it in the freezer for about 15 minutes. After waiting, pull it out, peel it, and chop it immediately (you may want to set an alarm so you don't forget about it). Any tears should minor.
    • This is thought to work because chemical reactions generally proceed much more slowly at low temperatures. Cooling the onion slows the rate at which the tear-causing compounds are released once it's cut open.
  3. If your kitchen has an oven vent, simply turn it on, move your cutting board over an unlit burner, and start peeling the onion here. The fan in the vent will pull the tear-causing chemicals away from your eyes and safely outside. Higher fan settings tend to reduce tears the most.
  4. Even small flames (like the ones on candles) can help, but a large stove burner is generally best. [4] The closer you can get the onion to the flame while you're peeling and cutting, the better. However, be sure to stay at least an inch or two from it to avoid burning the onion (or yourself).
    • This trick works because the flame pulls in air as fuel while it burns. If it's next to your onion, some of this air will be the air that contains the tear-causing chemicals. [5]
  5. This works the same way as the "bowl of water" trick did above. Be careful when working with a knife here — it's easy to lose your grip on a wet, slippery onion, so cuts are a concern. Setting a non-slip cutting board in the sink can help somewhat.
  6. An easy way to keep yourself from crying while peeling and chopping onions is to simply put a barrier between your eyes and the tear-causing chemicals. Basically any airtight pair of goggles will work — goggles meant for swimming will work fine, as will (clean) chemistry lab goggles.
  7. The more time a cut onion is allowed to sit out, the more tear-causing chemicals it will be able to release into the air. Expert chefs can often prevent tears while working with onions by simply finishing before the chemicals have a chance to make it to their eyes. If you can get quick enough, you can use this method to avoid tears even when none of the others are available.
    • This is a matter of long-term practice. Your speed will gradually increase over time as you continue to work with onions. Don't push yourself to rush, especially when you're working with a sharp knife — mistakes can be painful.
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  • Question
    Can I eat the brown layer of an onion?
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    This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.
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    No, this layer is too tough to chew or digest properly. This needs to be removed as part of the peeling preparation process. It is also not unusual to have to remove the soft layer beneath the brown onion skin too, as it is often damaged but you'll need too assess that as you cut it away.
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    How do I cut onion for onion rings?
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    Cut the outer skin off the onion, then simply slice across the onion evenly. Each slice will be a round, which you can then manually push out each of the separate inner rings from largest to smallest. To make the onion rings, check out the wikiHow: How to Make Onion Rings.
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    How can I stop crying when I cut onions?
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    There are various ways to stop yourself from crying when cutting onions, some being more successful than others. These methods include cutting the onions under water or chilling onions before cutting. For a whole range of ways to try to help you not cry next time you cut onions, check out the wikiHow: How to Chop Onions without Tears !
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      Tips

      • Sharper knives tend to be best for cutting onions. They allow you to work more quickly, reducing your exposure to tear-causing chemicals. In addition, they make cleaner cuts, rupturing fewer onion cells and causing smaller amounts of chemicals to be released. [6]
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      • If you're peeling small "pearl" onions, blanching in boiling water for about 30 seconds can make the skins easier to remove. [7]
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      • See our main onion-chopping guide for more tear-reducing tips.
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      References

      1. ↑ http://www.loc.gov/rr/scitech/mysteries/onion.html
      2. ↑ http://lifehacker.com/tested-the-best-tear-free-tricks-for-cutting-onions-476088845
      3. ↑ https://www.thekitchn.com/take-the-bite-out-of-raw-onions-with-this-one-simple-step-61685
      4. ↑ https://food.ndtv.com/food-drinks/how-to-cut-onions-without-tearing-up-7-expert-tips-1428070
      5. ↑ http://pinchmysalt.com/how-to-cut-an-onion-with-fewer-tears-a-photo-tutorial/
      6. ↑ http://pinchmysalt.com/how-to-cut-an-onion-with-fewer-tears-a-photo-tutorial/
      7. ↑ http://www.marthastewart.com/1035191/how-peel-pearl-onion

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      To peel an onion, hold it sideways on a clean cutting board and use a sharp knife to cut off the root end. Next, place your knife at the top of the onion and slice it in two. Set the two halves cut-side down to reduce the amount of tear-causing chemicals they release into the air. Trim the tops off each half. Then, peel the skin off each half from top to bottom. Chop or dice your onion as needed!

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