How do I stop crying when I cut onions?

Question

Have tried the lemon juice and the running water thing.........thanks

Answer 1

The tearjerker in onions is a compound called propanethial-s-oxide, which is released in a vapor when onions are cut...

When the vapor comes in contact with the eye, it is converted to a form of sulfuric acid, which produces the stinging sensation and subsequent tears...

Cutting onions under water or chilling them before cutting, will retard the enzymes that generate the noxious chemicals.....

Some other suggestions for preventing tears when working with onions include;
1) Keep the root on while peeling and chopping. A variation of this is to cut from the top leaving the root end intact until the last cut!!!

2) Be in a well-ventilated place and cut fast!!!

3) Use a good, sharp chef's knife. It glides through the onion with ease, allowing less of the compounds that cause tears to come out...

4) Wear a pair of safety goggles or a cheap, disposable painter's mask...

5) Put a slice of bread in your mouth, with half of it sticking out to "catch" the fumes...

6) Put some white vinegar on the chopping board before cutting...

7) Burn a candle immediately adjacent to where you're cutting. The tear-causing gas is drawn toward the heat source...

8) Purchase pre-chopped onions...

Last, after cutting the onions, remove the smell from your hands is to run cool tap water over your hands while rubbing them across a stainless steel utensil, such as the bowl of a stainless steel spoon. If you have been cutting a lot of onions, this may not be as effective...

Answer 2

I've been cutting onions since time immemorial which I suppose means for a very long time and have never had any problem with crying. The people who told you to keep the root end -- that's the end with the little whiskers -- intact were absolutely right. Also I cut the onion the long way rather than across the center. You have better control of it that way. After you cut it in half the long way, lay the half flat down on a cutting board. Then slice straight up and down, turn the onion and make cross slices, making sure as people said to keep the root end intact until the very end. You will find that by doing this, you will never cry again.

Answer 3

When you start cutting the onion begin at the end furthest away from the roots or the bottom of the onion. this is where most of the juices that sting your eyes are. When you get to the bottom throw that part of the onion away. It works for me every time.

Answer 4

I have worn sunglasses and that helps. I've also heard to run the onion under cold water first and to make sure the onion is cold when it's cut. It's supposed to delay the release of the chemicals that cause the tears.

Answer 5

NO MORE TEARS!
Cutting onions is no reason to cry. To keep from crying when peeling and chopping, keep onions in the refrigerator for 20 minutes before cutting.

Answer 6

When cutting onions do it near the sink and run cold water. Every so often run the knife under the cold water. I usually splash some ice cold water over my eyes, and it works excellent for me.

Answer 7

Breathe through your mouth while cutting up the onions. It's the vapors irritating the lining of your nasal passages that makes your eyes water.

Answer 8

I use a food processor since I weep like a little baby when I cut onions. I also heard eating a piece of bread while you cut them will help. It didn't work for me though.

Answer 9

Put the onion in the fridge all day or in the freezer for a bit. A cold onion really doesn't bother my eyes at all!!

Answer 10

I think you have to wear goggles or wear a face mask or wash your hands or maybe look away, no thats a bad idea, you could cut yourself instead of the onion.