I like nice, evenly-thick slices of onion on my sandwich, but wasn’t very adept at cutting such slices. Part of my problem was that I was worried about cutting my fingers while slicing that tricky-to-hold onion.

A year or two ago I had an idea: I stuck a dinner fork into the onion to hold it while I sliced. That kept my fingers well clear of the knife, and my slices were somewhat more even.

More recently, I wondered if others had thought of this trick, and googled to find out. And I discovered that there are special forks made for exactly that purpose. I bought this “Noosa Life” onion holder:

www.amazon.com/dp/B01E31F6VO?ref=yo_pop_ma_swf

Besides holding the onion stable, the tines serve as slicing guides and I get nice slices with nearly parallel sides.

Actually, this is the second one I bought. The first one was similar, but cheaper, ~$3. But the tines of the Noosa Life are longer and stouter, and its handle is bigger and more easily gripped. The Noosa Life onion holder has earned a secure home in my kitchen utensil drawer!

Try a mandoline.

Mandolin is more versatile but YMMV.

quote:

Originally posted by ulsterman:
Try a mandoline.

quote:

Originally posted by smschulz:
Mandolin is more versatile but YMMV.

Those infernal contraptions are more dangerous than a knife. I tossed my Oxo mandolin slicer earlier this year. The few years I owned it, I cut myself more times using, assembling, disassembling, and washing it more than 4+ decades of using a knife.

Proper finger position is how I was taught to safely slice an onion. Gordon Ramsey shows how I was taught to slice an onion in the first part of this video:

Link to original video: https://youtu.be/ZJy1ajvMU1k

quote:

Originally posted by ulsterman:
Try a mandoline.

Yep. Onion will temper the taste of road kill...

Vegomatic FTW

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zK2p5TAhd0s

Slices, dices, even makes julienne fries

From k-tel

quote:

Originally posted by tatortodd:
Those infernal contraptions are more dangerous than a knife.

1. Treat every mandolin as if it were loaded.
2. Never point the mandolin in a direction you don't want to cut.

quote:

Part of my problem was that I was worried about cutting my fingers while slicing that tricky-to-hold onion.

Use the food holder that typically comes with a mandolin.

Also, if using a knife, it helps to ensure that it is extremely sharp.

If a large volum of slices are needed - Swissmar Borner mandolin for slicing all but the largest onions.
For a few slices: use a sharp knife, slice a small flat spot on the side of the onion to steady it on it’s side then slice away. For the last cut or two, hold the last few slices in place while making the last slices. YMMV

quote:

Originally posted by 229DAK:
Also, if using a knife, it helps to ensure that it is extremely sharp.

This!

Latly I wondered about one of these for three other applications
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01B..._encoding=UTF8&psc=1

do you suppose it would fling onion juice all over the kitchen ?

quote:

Originally posted by tatortodd:

quote:

Originally posted by ulsterman:
Try a mandoline.

quote:

Originally posted by smschulz:
Mandolin is more versatile but YMMV.

Those infernal contraptions are more dangerous than a knife. I tossed my Oxo mandolin slicer earlier this year. The few years I owned it, I cut myself more times using, assembling, disassembling, and washing it more than 4+ decades of using a knife.

Proper finger position is how I was taught to safely slice an onion. Gordon Ramsey shows how I was taught to slice an onion in the first part of this video:

Link to original video: https://youtu.be/ZJy1ajvMU1k

Re: the onion slicing method in the first part of the video.

Even I can lay a half-onion on its flat side and cut good semicircular slices, freehand. But I like circular slices, cut from a whole onion. That’s what I found hard to do until I got the “Noosa Life” onion holder linked in my OP.

P. S. The onion fork/holder is very easy to clean. Just rinse its tines while rubbing with fingers, then wipe dry.

Anybody else smell onions when they read this ? Lol.

Ha! In this linked video, Matt, of Expert Village, tries to demonstrate how to cut circular slices from a whole onion. But his freehand results weren’t any better than mine. The “Noosa Life” onion fork, linked in my OP, would’ve made those slices perfect. A simple, easy to clean utensil that works, and occupies little space in my kitchen utility drawer.

https://youtu.be/tioHRM6CuG4

Just bite out the chunks you want to eat.

No knife needed.

Or, throw them in a pot of water and boil.

No knife needed.

Or, don' eat onions.

No knife needed.

Mandolines are great if you need to slice in quantity, BUT, wear one of those cut proof gloves even if you are using the holder. It has saved me from several nasty cuts. Spend the $10-$15 for a good glove and save yourself a lot of grief. I actually have two and wear them when using the deadly slicer!

Oh, look! Gordon Ramsay!

Fuck off, mate. There's a good lad! Go on now. Don't dawdle. Get right to the fucking off like a good chap. Off you go. That's right.

Slice a small piece off the bottom to create a stable base to hold the onion.

quote:

Originally posted by Birdvol:
Just bite out the chunks you want to eat.

No knife needed.

Or, throw them in a pot of water and boil.

No knife needed.

Or, don' eat onions.

No knife needed.

Thanks for that worthy info. I’ll be sure to keep all of your suggestions in mind.

Pipe Smoker,

A little levity...

I too am a big fan of onions, especially piled on a cheeseburger. In fact, when I get one I always order 'extra onions'.

My cure for not getting cut: Get my wife to cut the onions. Works every time.