How to Cut an Onion Into Petals, Slices and Cubes

Let’s learn the quickest and easiest methods to cut an onion into 3 most popular shapes: petals, slices and cubes.

Full guide: how to cut an onion

Supplies

• A sharp knife
• A cutting board

Full guide: how to cut an onion

Step 1: Removing the Onion's Outer Skin

This step is applied regardless your desired shape of onion, from petals to slices or cubes.

• Place the onion on the cutting board, root end facing down.
• Use your fingers to peel away the papery outer skin, revealing the fresh onion layers underneath. Keep the root end to hold all the layers of an onion while cutting in the next steps.

Full guide: how to cut an onion

Step 2: Shape 1: Cut Onion Petals

• Keep the onion steady on the cutting board with the flat.
• Make vertical cuts from the top towards the root end, stopping just before you reach the root. These cuts should be evenly spaced, and their depth will determine the size of the petals.
• Cut the root ends. Now all the layers are released.
• Gently separate the layers of the onion with your fingers

Full guide: how to cut an onion

Step 3: Shape 2 - How to Cut Onion Slices (Vertically)

• Trim off the root end
• Place the onion on the cutting board and cut it from the top towards the root end into 4 equal parts (vertical cut)
• Lay one onion quarter on the cutting board, one cut side down.
• Start slicing from the rest cut side.

Full guide: how to cut an onion