How to cut onions correctly–and what science has to say about it.

Onions rank among the kitchen’s most essential flavor enhancers. Few dishes can do without them—yet chopping them often brings frustration. Teary eyes, sticky fingers, and uneven pieces that rarely measure up to plan. The process proves simpler than it seems. First and foremost: a razor-sharp knife. This lets the blade slice cleanly through the onion rather than crushing it, yielding uniform cuts, less released juice—and far fewer tears. How an onion is cut makes all the difference in the final dish.