how do you stop yourself crying when chopping onions?

Question

I've heard all the usual ones about leaving the root on whilst chopping, putting a piece of bread in your mouth or a teaspoon but none of these seem to stop the tears rolling! Does anyone know a better way of beating the sting or are we all destined to cry with onion dishes?

Answer 1

i find running the onion under a cold tap before chopping helps!

Answer 2

The onion juices evaporate and spread and also the cutting action causes them to spray. This produces an invisible cloud (onion gas?) that stings.Any way to reduce this helps.
Try chopping underwater either flowing or in a water filled bowl. Alternatively try putting in the onions in a freezer for a whle first (not so long as to actually freeze them). Then when chopping the particles of moisture will have less energy to spread out from the onion.

Answer 3

i was always told to wash the onion under a cold tap first and even better to chop the onion under there if the sink is big enough both i have tried on differnet occasions and have worked on and off but in the end it all depends on the strengh of the onion when u peel it try not to take a layer of onion off as well as the peel the fumes are in the thin sliver u sometimes get coming off when cutting and that is what stings the eyes

Answer 4

The crying is caused by acidic fumes that are created when different enzymes in the onion combine. there is really no way to prevent it aside from wearing a full gas mask. the best way is to combine many solutions, have a well ventilated kitchen, use very sharp knives to prevent bruising the onion, cut it under water (and drain the water when you're finished) and cut long the grain of the onion. All these techniques will help.

Or you could just live it with because onions add a lot of flavor to your cooking and it will dissipate fairly quickly.

Answer 5

1. leave a filled glass of water in front of the onion when chopping it.

2. Wash the onion under water and continue chopping

Answer 6

Get someone else to chop the onions for you or if not slice the onion under running water which stops the acid fumes from rising into your eyes.

Answer 7

I used to put a small fan next to me on the counter facing the onion so that the air flowed away from my face. I tried chewing gum while I chopped onions but that doesn't work at all. Try the fan...

Answer 8

Put the unpeeled onion in the freezer and leave it there for about ten minutes.

Remove the onion from the freezer and peel it. The onion can now be sliced, chopped, or minced without tears.

Answer 9

out a spoon in ur mouth makes u look stupid but works. or u could leave the root on the onion until after u have chopped it then cut that bit of cus thats the bit that makes ur eyes water

Answer 10

The only way i know is to leave the root on and also you can cut up an onion put on a plate to take away the paint smell..

Answer 11

Try to chop onions in a running water.