Diced Onion Gadget?

Hi Folks,  Anyone out there have an idea where to find a good tool to dice onions in a quick and easy way?  Thanks, Tom

I saw recently in another thread a great looking tool, I myself am ordering one now. http://www.asseenontvguys.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=200

BryceIrving


I saw recently in another thread a great looking tool, I myself am ordering one now. http://www.asseenontvguys.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=200

My friend bought one of these and the hinge broke the 2nd time he used it! Also, they call it a "Vidalia Chop Wizard" but the onion in the picture in their ad is a red onion. Vidalia's aren't red. I guess they don't know their onions!

I've used an Osterizer  (blender) and food processor with water, pulsed the onions and using a sieve, drained the water out when needing lots of onions. A bonus is that the onions are mellowed somewhat.

Those gridded prodtucts are a total waste of time. In fact you really gain no time using one when you factor in the special prep and cleaning. First off, you can only process small onions and even a half is too much for the those choppers in most cases. Take a good look at the grid size and a typical yellow onion. Even if you quarter the onion, it takes some muscle to close the lid. Then there's the next problem, cleaning the darned thing. They include a comb-like scraper that with your best efforts and using a stiff vegetable/nail brush with plenty of hot,soapy water, you still can't get the punching section on the lid clean. Mine went back after a week. I got tired of standing on a small utility step stool to get the leverage and pushing with both hands. Sometimes it seemed that the chopper was going to break before the onion. If you still want to play with gadgets, buy a decent mandoline and then dice the slices with a knife

Much better to invest in a good Santuko,Chinese cleaver, or Nakiri knife and chop the old fashion way for a good dice. Much faster and the cleaning is a snap.

Get a sharp knife and watch a video on how to chop onions. The faster the better. You only have so many tears to shed. I'm not being a wise guy all those gadgets don't work........Good luck.....Bill

Star0082


Hi Folks,  Anyone out there have an idea where to find a good tool to dice onions in a quick and easy way?  Thanks, Tom

Hi Folks,  Anyone out there have an idea where to find a good tool to dice onions in a quick and easy way?  Thanks, Tom

Yeah, It's called a sharp knife. Available at a store near you!

In AZ we have a store called Smart and Final.  The sell a 3lb bag of diced onions for $3.99.  Costco has them for $2.99 but they have a very strong smell and are a little slimy.

http://www.smartandfinal.com/

If you want the best...

http://www.zesco.com/products.cfm?subCatID=366&PGroupID=060612SS01

Hmm, I'l have to rethink ordering that now. Probably just go with Foodbme's suggestion of a knife.

Look at the scale of that slap-happy jackass and the chopper. You probably can only chop very small onions.

It not only took leverage, but it also took springing my entire weight on both hands to drive the onion through at times. There's no way with that force you're not going to either bust one of the tray or lid hinges after a while.  They also show other vegetables and include a larger grid. To dice peppers for example, you first have to cut them into rings. Then you have to cut the rings to coil them up to fit the grid. Then you close the top.  I could have an entire pepper diced with a knife in the same amount of time. Dicing carrots was equally abusrd. I'm glad I was able to return it at BBB.

Dicing onions is good basic training in developing knife skills.  If you plan in being in any facet of the biz requiring food production, I cant stress enough how important it is to get handy using a knife!  Plus the satisfaction you get when somebody oohs and ahhs about your ninja like abilities.  Unless you you are prepping a literal ton of onions, youll find that its just as fast and give a much nicer end product.
 
If you are bothered by the tears here is a sure fire way to mask the effects of onions.  Hold a lit match between your teeth!

Call Billy Mayes

Well definitely not a gadget, but if you need a consistent dice in volume I recommend you look into a robo coupe something like this:

http://www.robotcoupeusa.com/products/product-info.php?id=77


Cheap, no, but very good equipment.

OK, I first of all would like to thank all of those folks who took the time to tell their story of experience with a particular gadget, to them I'm grateful.  I would however say that I now understand why others who have asked questions and are never heard from again stop asking.  I was looking for input about the various gadgets out there for this purpose.  I'm glad that it was pointed out that a KNIFE will do the same thing.  I suppose a lawnmower would work also.  Thanks to those who answered with their hearts in the right place, no thanks to those who didn't. 

I still have and use this weekly!  Diced onions are not a problem.
http://video.google.ca/videoplay?docid=-7452477641676271162&q=Dial-O-Matic+&ei=7OJPSLqWNIiQ4wLwrIS2DA&hl=en

Star0082


OK, I first of all would like to thank all of those folks who took the time to tell their story of experience with a particular gadget, to them I'm grateful.  I would however say that I now understand why others who have asked questions and are never heard from again stop asking.  I was looking for input about the various gadgets out there for this purpose.  I'm glad that it was pointed out that a KNIFE will do the same thing.  I suppose a lawnmower would work also.  Thanks to those who answered with their hearts in the right place, no thanks to those who didn't. 

That's a jerk answer, a knife is the fastest and involves less clean up. Those that answered in that manor were offering good professional advice. Junk equipment meant to take your money,...... is junk equipment  plain and simple. A good knife is a tool you should have for life, but note I said a good knife.
JUack

I used to use the as seen on t.v. choppers but I kept breaking them. I have the Nemco it is worth every penny. I use it to prep for four condiments trays. It makes prepping faster and less stressful. With a knife yes if you have culinary art skills and a master with a knife you can cut the perfect sized onions. In the fast life of business and getting the carts out, it is worth investing the money. Trust me

Jeez, I posted on a  thread a while back about the vidalia chop wizard.  We used it for two years, no kidding, a lot of onions in that two years.  Of course you have to either cut the onions in at least half, better yet, quarters, but it saved many hours of "knifing and dicing" with a knife.  We just bought another one.  If you prep your onions for it, its awesome.  Of course you cant put a whole onion in it, it isnt big enough, but I wouldnt be without it. 

$20.00 for two years, so I didnt cut  my fingers off is worth it to me, I suck at knives!!!

TommyB - That looks like something you would find at COSTCO...

Tommy B

 
I don't think this unit actually chops onions. It's a dispenser for pre-chopped frozen onions. They use them at Costco & Sams Club.

Oh... thats how they get the onions in at Sams! I was wondering how they shipped them. Not that bad for something previously frozen but now I see where the watery texture comes from.

As for the onions, I 've only used it about 10 times but I got a Faberware version of the chop wizard at wal-mart for about 15 bucks.

I will second the notion that it works pretty well. I am a big guy though and I can see why others may not think its too easy. I found that a quick half or quarter cut of the onion makes it work really nice. I like the look of the perfect clean chop. I'm ok with a knife but not that good!

I also use it to dice fresh jalapenos. Just pop it on whole (well, cut off the top) and BAM. Perfect dice on those too.

Dom

dtortor1


Oh... thats how they get the onions in at Sams! I was wondering how they shipped them. Not that bad for something previously frozen but now I see where the watery texture comes from.

As for the onions, I 've only used it about 10 times but I got a Faberware version of the chop wizard at wal-mart for about 15 bucks.

I will second the notion that it works pretty well. I am a big guy though and I can see why others may not think its too easy. I found that a quick half or quarter cut of the onion makes it work really nice. I like the look of the perfect clean chop. I'm ok with a knife but not that good!

I also use it to dice fresh jalapenos. Just pop it on whole (well, cut off the top) and BAM. Perfect dice on those too.

Dom

My Daughter-in-Law is a Pampered Chef Peddler and I bought a chopper from her that works great on Small Quanities.
http://www.pamperedchef.com/our_products/catalog/product.jsp?productId=240&categoryCode=CE
I've had it for 3-4 years and it's still sharp

Star0082


Hi Folks,  Anyone out there have an idea where to find a good tool to dice onions in a quick and easy way?  Thanks, Tom

Yeah! It's called a knife

David O.

I bought an Oster Food Crafter at the thrift store for $5. I came with a "French fry" blade (thick julienne) and I quarter up my big sweet onions then sling 5lbs thru the machine.  I'm bad with knives.  This way I stand a better chance of keeping what's left of my fingers.  And it FAST.

Here's one on eBay  http://cgi.ebay.com/OSTER-FOOD-CRAFTER-PROCESSOR-SLICER-SHREDDER-CHOPPER_W0QQitemZ350201609742QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item5189a47e0e&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1205|66%3A2|65%3A12|39%3A1|240%3A1318|301%3A0|293%3A1|294%3A50

Star0082


OK, I first of all would like to thank all of those folks who took the time to tell their story of experience with a particular gadget, to them I'm grateful.  I would however say that I now understand why others who have asked questions and are never heard from again stop asking.  I was looking for input about the various gadgets out there for this purpose.  I'm glad that it was pointed out that a KNIFE will do the same thing.  I suppose a lawnmower would work also.  Thanks to those who answered with their hearts in the right place, no thanks to those who didn't. 

My Answer was a knife and a video. When some people get into a small food business and they are not a Chef their cooking skills may be limited. It takes my wife 5 minutes to chop a onion and I do it in 30 seconds. I use a chef knife and she uses a paring knife. Her way is for a family of 4, my way is for a restaurant operation that things have to be done fast. A Chef can't spend all day chopping. WE have the fastest and easiest ways to do everything. Practice, Practice, Practice it takes time to get good at it, but each time you will get better and faster. Remember keeping your fingers is a good thing....................Good luck............Bill                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            

 Thank you BillyB for the insight. I am a restaurant chef and I can fill a 2 gallon bucket of diced onions in about 10 minutes. Practice is the key!!! I have shaved the knuckles of my fingers more than I want to admit but I am very fast!! I also learned to crack 1,080 eggs in about  15 minutes. It just takes lots and lots of practice. When you are in the volume food service business you have to learn to do things fast and be able to multitask.
  Star, I didn't mean to sound rude, but to someone like me it is natural to use a knife for all tasks as I have worked in kitchens that had NO food processors at all.
 Hope you find a method that works for you.


David O.

ok, this might sound stupid....but are not diced onions available via your major food distributors?  (Like a SYSCO or something)  And if they do - What's the quality like - I know these would be great (or - ok, nothing is ever as good as fresh chopped) for cooking with - but once defrosted - how are they on a dog?

Anyone? Input?