Cutting an onion is one of the most important skills to learn as you start living independently, being integral in countless recipes.

Below we've put together a step-by-step guide on how to both slice and dice an onion, and if you haven't cut an onion before, make sure you have a box of tissues to hand! 

How to slice an onion

Grab a chopping board to cut the onion on.

1. Cut both the stem and root ends of the onion.
2. Then cut in half through the root and peel the skin off both sides of the onion.
3. Place both halves cut-side down on the board. 
4. Grip the onion like a 'claw' and slice down the onion - use your knuckles as a guide to cut whilst curling your fingertips in. Once it gets too small to hold just flip it over onto the board and continue to slice.

How to dice an onion

1. Cut the stem of the onion off. Keep the root on as it helps to keep the onion intact when you're cutting it.
2. Slice in half through the root and peel off the skin of both sides of the onion.
3. Place both sides of the onion cut-side down on the board with the root facing the side. 
4. Then put your hand flat on the top of the onion and cut two horizontal slits almost all of the way through but not quite.
5. Turn the onion towards you (root is now facing away) and slice through the onion using the 'claw' technique but again not all the way through.
6. Turn the onion back around and slice through the onion. Keep the onion together by squeezing it with your thumb and little finger. 
7. Once it gets to the end and it's too small to hold, just flip it over again and continue to slice.