How do you cut onions without breaking down crying?

Question

It's always so emotional for me.

Answer 1

make sure you have a really sharp knife.

That will eliminate crushing the cells of the onion and causing sulfuric acid to make you cry

also you won't cut your fingers off.

Answer 2

This question is asked so many times - with so many different "remedies". A few days ago (on Rachael Ray's new show), someone 'guaranteed' this: after slicing the root and top ends of the onion, put it in a bowl of ice water for about 15 minutes. Of course the onion is nice and crunchy when ready for cutting.
Another person (on the show) said she wears goggles when cutting up onions, but I think I'd try the ice water, first!

Answer 3

Before you peel them cut them then remove the peels. This works at the restaurants I worked at! Another thing that helps hold your breathe while you cut the onion! Another method is have something playing that makes you laugh.. you can't cry and laugh at the same time can you? If you are going to cook the onions seperately in a pot clean them well and don't peel them. If you cooked them whole in the pot or just cut in half and unpeeled. The
cooked skins will slide right off. You also get more flavour from onions cooked with the skin on! Unfortunately it's not good to fry them with the outer skin on! Also you need to remove skin
if your using them in stew!

Answer 4

Wow... alot of answers all for just cutting an onion!!!

I find it an emotional strain too. I tried pretending the onion was someone I hated... but I don't really hate anyone! Next, I tried to cut it really fast but that just made a horrendous mess! I also tried using dried onions but they don't taste the same. So now, I just talk to them softly so they don't suffer....

Ok, what really works? Use a sharp knife, and cut with the cuts facing to your left or right (i.e. don't look at the face of the cut).

Answer 5

The onions have a core 'bulb' and that is what makes you cry. if you cut around it, you will not have that problem. it is in the core of the onions. If you cut the sides of the onion, rather that cutting directly in the center, you will see it and be able to avoid cutting into it.

Answer 6

Try breathing through your mouth not your nose. try holding a toothpick between your teeth. when you cut the onion in half, quickly put the cut ends down on the cutting board to keep the gas from hitting you in the face. Also, if you need to get the smell off your hands try washing them with lemon or wash them while holding a butter knife. I heard that metal helps to eliminate the odor as well.

Answer 7

what my mother always does is when she cuts first starts to cut the onion she takes the first piece she cuts and then she starts to rub the part she cut against the onion in a circular motion where she cut it she says this keeps the acid from coming up into your eyes when cutting and my fiance says too keep a cold bowel of water beside the onion when cutting,she says this always works for her.she says not once has she cried

Answer 8

get one of those two gallon Glad storage zip lock bags and place your hands and onion in there so the chemical fumes from the cutting of the onion can not get to your eyes or nose...

run the water and cut the onion under the ruining water....

trick someone else into doing it for you.....

get one of those new kitchen aides that cut the onions in a special container....and it is sealed as you cut them...


but the frozen one already cut up...

good luck
smile

Answer 9

First, peel the onions and cut off the ends. Then, soak them in an ice bath for 15 minutes. After that, cut with a sharp knife.

Answer 10

Try turning hot water on and cutting the onion near the sink. It has always worked for me!

Answer 11

They had the answer to this Monday on Rachael Ray Show. Cut them in half, take off the skins. Put the cut side down in an ice water bath. Let them stand for about 15 mins. Take out, dry, cut anyway you wish. One viewer even showed she uses those little goggles for swimming.