Author: Cyndie Story
Last saved by: michelle.armstrong
Company: Culinary Solution Centers, LLC

Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program
Vegetable Preparation Methods and Tips

Segment 32: Onion

Chef Cyndie: No, no, I’m not sad, I’ve been dicing onions.  But it’s worth it, onions are so good for you.  They contain potassium, vitamin C and folic acid.  BUT, they also contain a sulfur-based compound, which when combined with the air, causes the eyes to tear up.   Select onions that are firm, and have a dry, smooth outer skin.  There should be no signs of sprouting. 

To prepare onions for food production, first remove the stem end, then slightly cut away the root end.  Be sure not to cut through the root end completely because it holds all the onion layers together.  Next, cut the onion in half, and remove the outer skin.  It’s easier to remove the skin after the onion has been cut in half.

When chopping onions, the following may help reduce the tearing of the eyes, but no solution is perfect:
•	Wear eyeglasses
•	You can place onions in the cooler one hour prior to production
•	Do not lean your head over the cutting board area
•	And, if you are near a sink, rinse onions after peeling or cutting in half 

To easily slice an onion, lay the cut half on your cutting board and make half moon slices.  If its dices you prefer, make a few cuts lengthwise, taking care not to cut through the back or root end of the onion half. Then make cuts of the desired width across the top of the onion turning your onion into dices.  Voila!

Depending on the amount of product you need, this task may be difficult and time consuming.  In some instances processing whole onions may require a food processor to complete these tasks easily and quickly. See the segment titled Automated Food Processing Equipment for more information on slicing and dicing onions.

So stop crying and eat more fresh fruits and vegetables.