Dicing an onion is one of the most essential skills any cook will use. Once you know the steps, you will be amazed at how quick and easy it is!

Diced onion on a white plate formatted for Pinterest. There is a yellow onion in the background.

Step-by-Step Instructions on How to Dice an Onion

1. First, start by cutting the stem from the onion making sure to keep the root end intact.

Cut the stem from the onion. Remove any dark or bruised spots if needed.

2. Next, peel the outer dry skin from the onion and discard. If needed, cut any bruised or discolored spots from the onion.

3. Then place the onion on the cutting board with the cut side down and the root facing up. Slice the onion through the root to create two equally sized halves.

4. Dice each half of the onion individually. Start by placing the onion half on the cutting board with the flat side down and the root facing away from you. Using the end of your knife, make your first cut along the grain of the onion towards the root. Make sure to not cut the root. Repeat this process until the entire half of the onion is cut into thin strips along the grain with the root end keeping the onion together.

Make first series of parallel cuts towards the root.

5. Rotate the onion on the cutting board 45 degrees, still keeping the flat side down. Then make a single horizontal cut approximately half way up the onion half towards the root but making sure not to cut the root.

Make horizontal cut halfway up the onion towards the root.

6. Next, holding the onion secure with your fingertips (out of the way of the knife), make several vertical parallel cuts down the onion starting at the stem end and working your way towards the root.