How can I slice an onion without crying?

Answer 1

The bread in the mouth, open flame stuff are all scientifically unsound. The best thing to do is use a sharp knife and cut quickly. Work on your knife skills first, though.

Answer 2

Refrigerating onions cuts down on the chemical reaction that gets up into your eyes, but some onions are stronger than others too even from the frig.

Believe it or not, (continuous) whistling while you cut can help... not sure why, but it may be that the "wind" coming from your mouth is strong and focused enough to blow away the fumes from the exact area that would waft up to your eyes. You can actually start and stop the whistling to see the effect. . . kinda hard to keep up though .

I just try to cut them up as fast as possible (while still being safe)... learning "how to chop an onion," and how to use a chef's knife were the best helps for me, unless I want to whistle.

What someone said about using a fan reminded me that I have a JennAir cooktop, and it sucks "downward" into it's vent rather than from above... so I might try putting my cutting board onto the cooktop and slicing there --might actually work! Guess you could try putting a Dustbuster or other small vacuum on the countertop while you work too to suck up the immediate air... though it will just be vented back into the air.


Diane B.

Answer 3

Using a knife, cut a cone out of the bottom of the onion (where the roots come out). The diameter of this cone should be about a third of the diameter of the onion, and about 1/3 deep. Take this piece and throw it away (don't put it down the disposal!). This piece contains the part/gland that makes baby Jesus and everyone else in the room cry when you're chopping it up. Once you've gotten that piece out, chop off the top, peel, and slice the onion.

Been doing it for years, and it works like a charm. You know your cone is too small if it doesn't work, because you've cut into that teargas grenade.

Answer 4

Everybody made recommendations on the cutting/chopping part. I just slice the onion in quarters, put only the amount I will use in a covered food chopper and "Voila!" no tears. Of course, it also helps not to be too romantically attached to the onion. The other veggies may get jealous.

Answer 5

Cold onions won't spary the mist that makes people cry. So best you put the onion in the fridge till it's cold. Then slice it.

Answer 6

No kidding with this one...Place a wooden matchstick(s) in your mouth with the business end pointing outward under your nose while you slice (unlit of course). It doesn't eliminate the irrritation, but cuts it down consideraby. Apparently, the sulfur contained in the match head neutralizes the sulfuric fumes emitted by the onion.

Answer 7

As you slice an onion, the oil from the flesh sprays into your face and eyes causing you to tear up.
If you refrigerate an onion or cut it while it is very cold, the oil in the flesh does not spray as much as you cut.

Answer 8

I really hate chopping onions it's so annoying. I cant stand the burning and tearing up of the eyes. If you touch them to get the water away (with the other side of the hand) it makes it worse... So I will try these ideas. And hope that it works. If not NO MORE FREAKING ONIONS!!!!!

Answer 9

ok ok ok ok so first it is IMPOSSIBLE to cry while slicing a onion if you are chewing gum i honestly do not know why second wet you knife when slicing the onion bc the water dilutes the gasses and extracts of the onion

Answer 10

Slice the onion in a bowl of water. Its minute droplets of irritant that makes you cry, slicing it underwater stops those droplets from getting into your eyes.

Answer 11

Wear goggles. The onion fumes mix with your eye's natural tears and produces a highly irritating acid so your body naturally tries to wash out the irritant with more tears.