Onion chopper

MoneySavingUser

I have one like this: http://image.made-in-china.com/2f0j00NeSTmUpJAafv/Onion-Chopper.jpg

But instead of cutting blades like that it has 3 triangular ones with the bottom missing so like /\ x 3

It splits the onion up into a few pieces but doesn't seem effective after that - anyone know how to use it properly?

Olliebeak

I remember my mum having one similar to that - think it was the 'Chop-o-matic' by K-tel, back in around 1973 .

From what I remember about it, you had to hit the plunger a few times - the idea being that each time you did that, the pieces of onion were chopped, released and then cut in a different place the next time - each time the chunks getting a bit smaller.

Maybe somebody else has more recent knowledge of these things.

Good Luck with it. Then again, I'm the woman with one of those V-slicers and never uses it .

Minihauk

I had one of these - it was useless - I just could not make it work. Not very MSE but I took it to the local charity shop to be recycled!

Linda32

I know a couple of people who have got the Pampered Chef one, one of them "put it up top cupboard" after the first go and went back to using a knife the other says you need three pairs of hands to wash it, and put it back together again.

As I understand, you have to bash the top in short sharp movements and let the plunger fully release itself before you plunge again.

Best of luck

Olliebeak

......... sounds as though they haven't improved on the original design then .

Hellyboo

My mum had one and you could only chop a tiny amount at a time so you ended up using a knife to get the pieces small enough before you chopped it properly anyway. They always look so good on the shopping channel - just think of all the onion choppers and v slicers languishing at the back of cupboards...

Ms_Chocaholic

I wouldn't mind an onion chopper ... is there any implement out there (other than a knife) that works well.

Primrose

Oh Lord - that bought back memories.:rotfl: I bought something like this in a moment of weakness at the Ideal Home Exhibition many years ago. The experts make it look so easy. The darned thing never worked properly and took ages to clean and dry. It ended up in a car boot sale and ever since I've chopped onions by hand, which is the quickest, easiest and cheapest way of dealing with them.

Psykicpup

Since I started cutting my onions the 'cheffy' (is that a word) way, I reckon I could beat any gadget anyday :rotfl: & hardly any tears too :j

if you are interested ..

1) (do not peel yet) Cut onion in half from stalk to root ... now you can peel easily trim the Stalk end only, although you can rip off any long roots DO NOT cut the root end off!

2) Now make cuts from the stalk end towards but not through the root - you can cut all the way thought the side slices if you have a very round onion (most onions have little green lines to show you the direction to cut - how handy :A)

3) Then you cut at right angles to the first cuts starting at the stalk end & working down to the root - depending on how many length wise cuts you did will give a fine or coarse dice. Stop just before the root & throw this bit away (or save for fridge bottom soup :money:)

The science bit ... most of the volatile oils in an onion are at the root end .. by minimising the cuts into this area you release less 'vapour' into the air & so less tears! :j ... really works too

I 'processed' one of those bags of red onions that you get in supermarkets in about 10 maybe 15 mins max. They were starting to sweat & go soft, so I chopped the lot & chucked them in the freezer .... so handy! :beer:

MoneySavingUser

Thanks guys

Yes it does seem like too much hassle!

xrjtg

Psykicpup wrote: »

1) (do not peel yet) Cut onion in half from stalk to root ... now you can peel easily

Sounds plausible. If it works, I'm indebted to you!