If the root end is clean, there’s no need to cut off the roots. But if there is any residual dirt on the roots, you’ll want to slice off the roots, while leaving the hard root core in place.
Slicing Onions Lengthwise vs. Crosswise
When a recipe calls for sliced onions, you have a choice of how to slice them—lengthwise or crosswise. If you are cooking the onions, as for caramelizing them, you’ll likely want to slice them lengthwise, or from root to stem. That way they will hold their shape better during the cooking. Crosswise cut onions tend to fall apart when cooked. If that’s what you want, fine. Just know that onion pieces will hold their shape better in cooking if they are sliced stem to root, and will fall apart more when cooked if sliced crosswise. If you are adding raw onions to a salad, slice them crosswise. They’ll be easier to eat, and they look pretty too! If you are making onion rings, you’ll want to cut the onions crosswise as well.
How To Avoid Tears When Cutting an Onion
Does cutting onions give you tears? When you cut an onion, it breaks open the onion’s cell walls, which release fumes that react with the water on the surface of your eyes to form sulfuric acid. This burns your eyes, which makes you create more tears. The best way to avoid this is to limit your exposure to the cut surfaces of the onion and to work quickly. Wipe the cutting board down with a sponge or towel as soon as you are finished. The method shown here for the onion cut lengthwise will help limit your exposure to the onion fumes that make your eyes hurt.
How To Store Sliced Onion
Sliced onions will last 8 to 10 days in the refrigerator. Store the sliced onions in an airtight container or zipper top bag. The longer you refrigerate onions, the harsher thier flavor; use within a few days if you want to eat them raw. Discard slimy onions or those with an odd smell immediately. Store raw, sliced onions in the freezer for up to 3 months. Wrap tightly in plastic wrap and place in a zipper top bag.
5 More Kitchen Skills to Learn
How to Chop an Onion How to Cut a Mango How to Cut and Peel an Avocado How to Peel and Cut a Butternut Squash How to Prep Asparagus for Cooking
To slice an onion to be used raw in a salad or a sandwich, you can halve it and then cut it crosswise, for pretty, half moon shapes. Keep the onion whole and slice it crosswise for onion rings. It will be easier to handle the onion while cutting if the root end stays intact. Space your cuts depending on how thick you want your onion slices to be. More cuts for thinner slices, fewer cuts for thicker slices. Place the onion stem cut side down on the cutting board, cut it in half through the root, and peel back the skins as in steps above for slicing an onion root to stem. When you get close to the root end, you can hold on to the peeled back skins as you make the final cuts in the onion. Here’s a tip for serving slice onions raw in a salad or sandwich: soak them in a little water with lemon juice or vinegar to remove the harsh bite of the onion! This will stabilize the onion’s position so as you slice the onion rings, the onion will not roll. Slice the onion in whatever thickness you desire. If you wish separate the cut disks into separate onion rings.
