Had a chef call me out for dicing onions wrong after 8 years in the kitchen

I always cut root to stem, but he showed me the root end holds more moisture and makes you cry less if you leave it intact. Which way do you swear by for speed versus no tears?

2 comments

2 Comments

leebrown32m ago

Just pick a method and chop, ain't nobody got time to overthink onions.

jordangibson1h ago

A buddy of mine swore by the root-on method for years and said it cut his crying time in half. He worked at a busy Italian spot and had to dice cases of onions every prep shift. One day a new line cook told him he was doing it wrong and showed him how much faster a thin slice from the root end actually is. My friend tried it and admitted the speed was way better even though his eyes watered a little more. He sticks with the root-off chop now for volume but keeps the root on when he's at home cooking for himself. Different tools for different jobs I guess.