Most of us have probably chopped an onion at some point in our lives without too much trouble. However, a recently shared “genius” hack has made cutting onions easier than ever imagined.

Many people use a vegetable peeler to remove the skin from their vegetables, but did you know it can also be used for chopping?

A video shared on the Instagram account @allthingsexplained_ shows someone using a peeler to grate slices of onion. The caption reads, “A trick that may seem obvious, but that many people ignore.”

The post gained more than 301,000 likes, with many people discovering this hack for the first time.

One person exclaimed: “…That’s genius,” while another added: “Love this.”

A third commented, “Work smarter, not harder,” while a fourth person said, ” I’m learning new tips for when I start cooking.”

However, not everyone was impressed, with some thinking it’s just as easy to use a knife.

One person complained, “So, nobody can use a simple knife these days?” while another agreed, “Or you can just learn how to use a knife properly and cut it thin.”

This cutting method follows a ‘life-changing’ hack shared by a chef to prevent crying when chopping onions.

On Instagram, chef Erica Wides said: “There are two ways to prevent crying from cutting your onion – the first is using a very sharp knife… The sharper the knife, the less you cry.”

“The other thing is you have to use proper cutting techniques, and what that means is that when you cut an onion, you have to cut in [a] forward, gliding motion.”

The culinary expert showcased her technique, emphasising the importance of pushing the knife down and forward instead of directly downwards.

She explained that this method avoids bruising the onion’s cells, which can release more compounds that cause irritation.