Onions, why do they make you cry when peeling and cutting them. Is there a way of stopping this?

Answer 1

The only one that succesfully works here is the cut the top of the onion off . Looking at the scientific structure of onions this would make sense. The others are rather amusing but i did try them all for an experiment and yes, this one was the only one which worked.

Answer 2

Yes, contact lenses really do work! - it's one of the few advantages of wearing them.

For people with decent vision, however, you can never really stop eye-watering (even chefs get it with strong onions), only reduce the effects by the way you cut and cook them.

1. Get a razor sharp knife. Blunt knives bruise onions and bruised onions give off a lot more eye-watering fumes.

2. Peel them whole and then slice them like chefs do. It's complicated so get a diagram off the web, but if you cut them this way, you keep the fumes contained in the onion until the last possible moment and only release them on the final cuts.

3. Never put your head over a pan of cooking onions or inhale the fumes. On the heat, they are giving off all their flavour and it's really going to hurt. Once they are sweated off, it's all over: they have given off the worst of their strength and your eyes can relax.

Answer 3

in my opinion wear swimming googles or glasses when cutting onions. according to this web page as onions are sliced, cells are broken open. Onion cells have two sections, one with enzymes called allinases, the other with sulfides (amino acid sulfoxides). The enzymes break down the sulfides and generate sulfenic acids. Sulfenic acid is unstable and decomposes into a volatile gas called syn-ropanethial-S-oxide. The gas then dissipates through the air and eventually reaches one's eye, where it will react with the water to form a mild solution of sulfuric acid. The sulfuric acid irritates the nerve endings in the eyes, making them sting. The tear glands then produce tears in response to this irritation, to dilute and flush out the irritant.

The release of gas can thus best be prevented by cutting the onions under running tap water or completely under water, though this may not be very practical. Wetting the onions and your hands before slicing will lessen the effect, as some of the gas will react with the moisture on the onions and on your skin (instead of the moisture on your eyes). It also helps to breathe exclusively through the mouth during the preparation. For more tips and information, please check links in External links section.

Answer 4

If you are peeling onions for pickling pour boiling water over them, then dip in cold, the skins will come off easily, cut stem end first root last.
When chopping cut root end last, Better still chuck them into a food processer to chop

Answer 5

Easiest way is to use a sharp knife with a good cutting action. The tears are caused by onion juice (an acid) being squirted into the air by your eyes or directly into your eyes thus making them tear (bodily defence designed to wash out the offending juice).
If you bruise or put undue pressure onto the onion it will squirt and you will tear!!
Cut them properly and you avoid the problem.....

Answer 6

when you chop onions acidic gases are released and this is wat makes you cry.

Peeling the onion and then chilling it in the fridge before you slice it will minimize the release of gas somewhat, because the change in temperature alters the compounds in the onion..also use a sharper knife so not as much gases are released with each cut

Chew gum while peeling onions to help you from crying..

Wear glasses or sunglasses to help prevent the gases from reaching your eyes..

Answer 7

apparently onions secret an invisible mist when they are cut open which rises up from the onion. when the mist touches a watery type substance i.e your eyes its reacts with your eye making it sting. so in theory if you could get the myst to come into contact with water i.e a running tap perhaps that will stop the crying!!

Answer 8

Fill a bowl with water and peel the onions under the water - the vapour will not then enter your eyes and trigger your tears!

Answer 9

According to Jamie Oliver - Dont cut the heart of the onion and it doesn't make you cry - i tried it whilst making hotdogs and it works.
x 1 x

Answer 10

Simple stop peeling onions.