how do you cut onions without crying?

Answer 1

Putting them in the fridge awhile seems to help.
I hear underwater is good too.
Maybe wear goggles?

Answer 2

When you slice through an onion, you break open a number of onion cells. Some of these cells have enzymes inside of them, and when they are sliced open, the enzymes escape. The enzymes then decompose some of the other substances that have escaped from sliced cells. Some of these substances, amino acid sulfoxides, form sulfenic acids, which then quickly rearrange themselves into a volatile gas.

The gas reaches your eyes and reacts with the water that keeps them moist. This changes the chemical's form again, producing, among other things, a mild sulfuric acid, which irritates the eyes. The nerve endings in your eyes are very sensitive and so they pick up on this irritation (this is why our eyes sting when we slice onions). The brain reacts by telling your tear ducts to produce more water, to dilute the irritating acid so the eyes are protected. Your other reaction is probably to rub your eyes, but this will actually make the irritation a lot worse, of course, if you have onion juices all over your hands.

There are all kinds of remedies for dealing with this irritating phenomenon, some more effective than others. As a general rule, move your head as far away from the onion as you can, so the gas will mostly disperse before it reaches your eyes. If you really can't stand the tears, the simplest solution might be to wear goggles. This measure is very effective, but it may seem a bit extreme to those around you, and if your kitchen is steamy, you might not be able to see what you're doing (never a good idea when you're using a knife).

Peeling the onion and then chilling it in the refrigerator before you slice it will minimize the release of gas somewhat, because the change in temperature alters the compounds in the onion. Cooking an onion before you slice it will work also, for the same reason. Another easy solution is to cut the onion under water or run the tap over it as you slice.

Some people say if you hold a lemon, piece of bread or a sugar cube in your mouth, the food will absorb the gas before it reaches your eyes. Breathing with your mouth, instead of your nose, might also help because as you inhale, you suck the gas in and as you exhale, you blow it away. This keeps a lot of the gas from ever reaching your eyes.

Answer 3

There are lots of reported ways to cut an onion without crying --- some work and some don't ... I guess it depends on the person. Try a few and find out which one (or ones) works best for you ...
1) Cut under water
2) While cutting, keep your mouth open and breathe only through your mouth (your nasal passages are what get irritated, causing tearing) This one works best for me ...
3) Keep a piece of bread in your mouth while cutting
4) Soak onions in lemon juice and water before cutting
5) Buy only sweet onions --- they don't seem to irritate the membranes as much
6) Try cutting the root end of the onion off first

I'm sure there are more ways out there that I haven't heard of or tried ... But whatever you do, DON'T touch your face with onion juice on your hands ... That just makes matters worse! Good luck!

Answer 4

cut the ends off of them and peel them..soak them in ice water for about 10 minutes, rub a little vinegar on your cutting board before you put the onion down. Then cut the onion in half lay it flat sides down...cut thin slices crosswise (making sure it stays together and doesn't come apart into slices) then dice it the opposite way. You will eventually pick up speed and knife skills and you will be able to do it fast enough you won't have time to cry. I am a chef in training and that is the way I was taught by my executive chef and it works wonderfully for me.

Answer 5

Cut the onion in half, then leave it in the refrigerator for a day. It is not as fresh, but it won't make you cry because the gases that irritate your eyes will have dispersed by then.

Also, I have noticed that I don't cry when I wear my contact lenses, even with very fresh onions that are causing others nearby to cry.

Answer 6

I've heard:

*Bite on a towel when cutting them
*Chew a match stick
*Wear glasses
*Cut only from the root side first

I've not tried any of these, but just know that my eyes may tear up.

Wash your hands after though. That onion juice stuff can get in your eyes and burn.

Answer 7

Use one of those little mini-food-processors ... the kind you can buy at Wal-Mart for about $10.00. They work great. This method is also much-much faster than cutting onions by hand. (I have terrible sinus problems -- so cutting onions by hand not only makes my eyes cry but, even worses, tears up my sinuses.)

Answer 8

just remove the skin and soak the onions in water before cutting for about half an hour or so and than cut.

Answer 9

cut them cold, either refrigerated or under cold running water. use a stainless steel knife and try not to open your mouth. for some reason keeping your mouth closed while cutting onions helps keep the fumes out of your eyes. i read about it once but don't remember the science behind it. i also have a bit of stainless steel that i wash my hands with when i'm done that neutralises the odor on my hands. i don't remember the science behind that either. all i know is it works.

Answer 10

My mom taught to cut the onion in half and then run them under cold water. Sometimes the onions are so strong that you have to run them under water and pull them apart slightly to neutralize them.

Answer 11

if I think of it in time I put an onion or 2 in the fridge for about 30 minutes which really helps.