Ever wondered about the right way to slice green onions? Then I have the guide for you! Follow the step-by-step pictures and video below, and learn how best to slice and cut your green onions, scallions and spring onions.

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I use scallions, green onions and spring onions a lot in my cooking and I love their sweet onion taste. Used raw as garnish or added just at the end of cooking - either way, I think you'll love the touch they add!
Green Onion FAQ
You can - and should! - use both the white bulb and the green stalks of the green onion.
The short answer is: yes, and no. Also: it depends on who you ask.
They are basically the same to begin with - they can all come from the same onion varietals. And while the names are often used interchangeably, the general concensus seems to be that they differ in maturity.
Scallions are the youngest, and the bulb is therefore the smallest. Then come green onions, with a bit more of a bulb. And finally, spring onions - with an even more pronounced bulb.
For it to be a "true" spring onion, it should also be planted in fall, and harvested in spring (hence the name).
The taste is similar, with all of them having a mild onion flavor and therefore being great to use raw. However, scallions are milder than the other two, and true spring onions are much stronger in flavor than both green onions and scallins. In most cases, though, spring onions are just green onions with a different name.
The onions shown in the pictures in this post are green onions.
Green onions are great to use as a garnish for pasta, dip, soup and salads and can also be incorporated in different dishes. The latter is common in Asian cooking, where it's often added to stir fries and ramen.
Generally, you can also use green onions for anything where you would otherwise use chives - the taste of green onion is similar, but a bit more intense.
You can often use green onions instead of shallots, although shallots have a bit stronger taste.
You can also use green onions instead of leeks.
What you need to slice green onions
Ingredient notes & substitutions
- Sharp knife: this will make your work a lot easier than trying to use a dull one
- Green onions - this method also works for scallions and spring onions.
How to cut green onions
- First, clean off any dirt from the onion, then place it on a cutting board. Cut off the root end from the white bulb
- Then check to see if they outer layer of the onion looks nice, or if it's damaged. If it's damaged, remove the outer layer.
- Cut off the ends of the green part as these are often a bit tough
- Separate the green tops from the white bulb
- Slice the white bulb length-wise, but hold it together
- Turn it, and then chop it by cutting across the slices
- Grab the green tops and slice thin
- Repeat until done!
Tips & tricks
- Use a sharp knife for the easiest chopping
- Chop the white bulb separately or the pieces can end up too big, and the onion taste might be too overpowering
- If the bulb is not pronounced you can just slice the white part with the green stems
- If the recipe calls for cutting on the bias, this just means to cut them diagonally. Place your knife at a 45-degree angle when slicing the green part.
- Store in the refrigerator after chopping, in an airtight container. They're good for up to 5 days.
- Freeze leftovers after chopping for up to 3 months
Recipes using Green Onions
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Recipe
How to Slice Green Onions
Print RateIngredients
- spring onions, scallions or green onions
Instructions
- Start by cutting off the root part of the white bulb, and the tops of the green stalks. Check to see if the outer layer of the onion is damaged or if it looks nice. If it doesn't look nice, peel it off and discard it.spring onions, scallions or green onions
- Cut to separate the white bulb from the green stalks.
- Chop the white bulb as you would an onion - first slicing lenghtwise, and then across the slices.
- Slice the stalks thin.
- Use in cooking or to top finished dishes. Enjoy!
Equipment (may contain affiliate links)
Video
Notes
Tips & tricks
- Use a sharp knifeĀ for the easiest chopping
- Chop the white bulb separatelyĀ or the pieces can end up too big, and the onion taste might be too overpowering
- If the bulb is not pronouncedĀ you can just slice the white part with the green stems
- If the recipe calls for cutting on the bias, this just means to cut them diagonally. Place your knife at a 45-degree angle when slicing the green part.
- Store in the refrigeratorĀ after chopping, in an airtight container. They're good for up to 5 days.
- Freeze leftoversĀ after chopping for up to 3 months
Nutritional information is approximate and automatically calculated, and should only be viewed as an indication.
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