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chopped onions

How to Cut an Onion (Diced, Minced, or Chopped)

Course: How To
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 10 minutes
Servings: 4
Calories: 51kcal
Author: Becky Hardin
Wondering how to cut an onion? So many recipes call for a bit of onion, and I very much approve of that! Whether you need diced onion, minced onion, or chopped onion, you need to know how to do it properly. Learning how to chop an onion is one of those basic cooking skills that will always come in handy. I'll show you how to dice an onion, how to mince onion (plus the difference between the two), how to store cut onions, and even how to saute onions!
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Ingredients

  • 1 large onion

To Saute:

  • 1 tablespoon salted butter
  • 1/2 tablespoon olive oil
  • splash water

Instructions

  • Using a chopping board and a sharp knife, cut off both ends of the onion.
  • Make a very shallow cut just through the first or second layers, then peel these outer layers away to get to the best part of the onion.  This is the part to be used.
  • Cut the onion in half and lay each half, with the flat side down, on the cutting board.
  • Slice across each onion 1/4-3/4 inch thick, depending how large you want your onion pieces (minced-1/4 inch, diced-1/2 inch, chopped-3/4 inch). (I mince the onion if I am serving someone who isn't a fan of onions.) Of course you can use larger pieces or whole onions depending on the recipe.
  • Once cut through each half, lay the sliced onions on their flat side, then slice them again across the earlier slices - depending how large you want the pieces.

To Saute:

  • Place the butter and olive oil in a skillet over medium high heat. Allow butter to melt. 
  • Throw in chopped onion and stir to coat in the butter mixture. Throw in a splash of water (helps the onions not to burn). Cook until fragrant and translucent, stirring frequently, about 3-4 minutes. Enjoy!

Video

Nutrition

Calories: 51kcal | Carbohydrates: 2g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 7mg | Sodium: 26mg | Potassium: 40mg | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 90IU | Vitamin C: 2.1mg | Calcium: 6mg | Iron: 0.1mg