How to not cry when cutting onions?

Question

I cant stand cutting onions. It hurts my eyes and they stay burning for hours.

Answer 1

Well, folklore says that if you breath through your mouth, the sulfuric compounds won't irritate your nasal passages. This is the basis for chewing gum, or holding a cracker in your mouth while slicing. The problem with this theory is that the chemicals actually irritate the eyes, not the nasal passages. so you can hold that cracker in your mouth and mouth-breath till you pass out, but you'll still cry--plus you will drool into your diced onion.

cutting the onion under running water works, but picture yourself awkwardly holding an onion under the tap while you wield a sharp knife. sounds dangerous!

You need to prevent the sulfuric compounds from entering your eyes. I've seen two tear-free solutions:

1) wear goggles. dig out your goggles from chemistry class, or use swimming goggles. wrap-around sunglasses would work too.

2) wear contact lenses. contact lenses are permeable, but they don't let the nasty onion essence touch your eyes. clear vision, no tears!

come to think of it, a well-positioned fan might work too.

my favorite answer above is to "let somebody else do it."

Answer 2

I found the best way is to hold the onion by the root and grate it on a grater using the size you want. You can do it really fast and plus I've been told its the root that burns your eyes. So this way you grate it fast and the root is left till the end.

I usually use the smallest sized grater because my brothers hate tasting any pieces of onion in the food but it still gives you the great flavour.

However when its grated really small just watch out you dont burn them plus there will be alot of the onion juice so make sure you grate it in to a deep bowl, and use the onion juice with your cooking.

P.S. Just watch out you dont hurt you fingers while grating

Answer 3

Put the onion in the refrigerato foir a while before cutting .
Peel the onions and put the peel in a covered container. (cover with cling film., to supress the fumes).
Cut the bottom of the onion last as it produces the most fumes.
While cutting, scrape the cuttings into a covered bowl ,periodically. That lessens the genration of fumes. Also rinse the knife and cutting board periodically to wash away the onion juice. Use cold water for the rinsing.

Answer 4

Chop onions without weeping: Stick your onions in the freezer for 10 minutes. When you chop an onion, it releases the bulb’s tear-triggering compounds, but cooling the onion beforehand slows this process down giving you time to finish the job before your eyes get red, swollen and irritated.

Answer 5

Cut the onion under water that the easiest way, or use a goggle

Answer 6

Wrap your head in cellophane or better still put onions in the freezer for 20 minutes before cutting.

Answer 7

THERE ARE SO MANY REMEDIES TAHT PEOPLE SAY WORKS EX ARE MATCH STICK IN UR MOUTH, FREEZE ONIONS BEFORE CUTTING THEM, WEAR GOGGLES, HOLD A BUTTER KNIFE IN BETWEEN UR TEETH WHEN U CUT THEM , LIGHT A CANDLE, HOLD ONION UNDER WATER FOR 30 SECONDS BFORE CUTTING. I TEND TO FIND NUTHIN COMPLETELY WORKS ALL TEH WAY... THESE THINGS U CAN DO ASSIST IN NOT MAKING IT SO BAD BUT I JUST PEEL MY ONION AND GET TEH JOB DONE QUICK AS POSSIBLE BLINKING A FEW TIMES OR TURNING MY HEAD BUT NUTHIN REALLY WORKS.... GOOD LUCK. U COULD BUY TEH PRECHOPPED ONIONS THEY ARE ONLY PENNIES MORE AND TEHY HAVE EVERY COLOR ONION AVAILABLE.

Answer 8

after peeling the onion , soak them in water to which a pinch of salt is added for about 5 to 10 mins . this will definitely work !! however i would suggest not to do so as it is a natural remedy to get rid of dirt from the eyes naturally , instead of using any eye drops . Hope this has helped.

Answer 9

freeze the onions before cutting them up

Answer 10

cut the onions near the sink and run cool water...I don't know why this works but it really does help♥