Do onions really make you cry?

Question

If so, why? If not, where did that rumor come from?

Yea, for those who may be wondering...I'm ALWAYS in the kitchen. Its just whenever I peel or cut an onion, it has no affect on me, but to other people in my family, it does. So yea, I'm just wondering

Answer 1

Maybe not cry...more like eyes burn and water, but you can solve this by freezing the onion or placing a lit candle next to it while you are cutting.

Answer 2

When you slice through an onion, you break open a number of onion cells. Some of these cells have enzymes inside of them, and when they are sliced open, the enzymes escape. The enzymes then decompose some of the other substances that have escaped from sliced cells. Some of these substances, amino acid sulfoxides, form sulfenic acids, which then quickly rearrange themselves into a volatile gas.

The gas reaches your eyes and reacts with the water that keeps them moist. This changes the chemical's form again, producing, among other things, a mild sulfuric acid, which irritates the eyes. The nerve endings in your eyes are very sensitive and so they pick up on this irritation (this is why our eyes sting when we slice onions). The brain reacts by telling your tear ducts to produce more water, to dilute the irritating acid so the eyes are protected. Your other reaction is probably to rub your eyes, but this will actually make the irritation a lot worse, of course, if you have onion juices all over your hands.

If you keep rinsing the knife with cold water it will help slow down the tears.

Answer 3

Yes, as you cut into it vapor is released which diffuses throughout the air and irritates the eyes, and it is worsened if you rub your eyes. You do not 'cry' as such, but usually your eyes will become irritated, redden, and often will water. It does depend on the type of onion mind, some release more of the irritant than others. They often irritateyou sinuses too, so with all the sniffing you may appear to be crying.

From what I hear by chewing gum whist you cut them you can prevent the effects, but I do not know where that logic comes from hehe. I'm not too sure why you have a resistance to it but I guess you are just lucky!

Answer 4

Absolutely. But not everyone. It bothers some worse than others.

Onions release a gas and when it makes contact with your eyes, they will water and your nose will run.

Two things you can do to help, not that you have the problem obviously, but you could share with your family.

1: Use a sharper knife. The sharper the knife, the less juices and gases are released. It helps.

2. Cut onions under the fan, on high. It will pull the gases up, and for the most part, out of your way.

Answer 5

Well, yellow onions make me absolutely miserable whereas white onions, not so much. Don't know about red ones. i know it has to do with the juice. i have tried the candle trick, but it did not work with the yellow onion. i end up having to submerge the onion in cool water and just cut it under water so the juice does not escape. Even then i have problems sometimes. You are blessed!

Answer 6

that is amazing just shows how much you have been in the kitchen
go peel an onion and then ask this question
really
are you a space person here for a visit or what
let the onion answer this question for you

Answer 7

The odor of onions irritate the tear ducts in your eyes, causing them to water. If you actually cry during the cutting of onions then you are probably as crazy as Brittney Spears.

Answer 8

YES, it absolutely kills my eyes...it helpsif you cut them underwater or wear goggles...It also helps to cut cold onions, straight from the fridge...I am sure why any of those help, ecept for the goggles, which is obvious...the reason it kills your eyes is because the gas in the onion. I didn't use to cry, but then I said onions don't make me cry, and from that day on it has... It hurts, so be glad it doesn't hurt for you.

Answer 9

Yes, basically it's a chemical reaction between the eye and an enzyme released when you cut into the onions.

Apparantly Japanese scientists have isolated this enzyme and are trying to develop a "tearless" onion

Answer 10

Onions (cutting them) make you cry, it releases a chemical when being cut and it burns your eyes and you tear up. I now buy the pre cut onions in the freezer section. (Great idea)