How can I cut an onion without crying?

Answer 1

Wear contact lenses (works for me!)

Chill the onion in the fridge first. Studies at Bristol University found that this reduces the volatility of the crying chemical.

It also helps if you avoid cutting into the root-end of the onion, which is where the eye-watering chemical is strongest. Cut slices down towards it, then turn the onion a quarter-turn and do the same again. Cut across, above the root, and hey presto, diced onion and fewer tears.

Ah -- and wash your hands straight afterwards!

Answer 2

Chill the onion in the fridge for an hour or so b4 slicing them(the lower temperature slows down the speed with which the tear-inducing liquid within onions evaporates).

Because tearing, rather than cleanly slicing, an onion releases more of the culprit liquid.

It also helps to use a sharp knife. If onions cause your eyes to stream, peel them under running water.

Also another advise is cutting the bottom, root end of the onion b4 the top.

I always use a small container of vinegar and a lit candle b4, I want to slice the onion.

Hope that helps!xx

Answer 3

You dont need to go through any of this although cutting the onion under water is close to the real 'cure' for streaming eyes. Put a cutting board over the sink ( they make those that fit) and run the water next to it but not on it and chop the onion on the board. The running water disperses the gasses that make you cry and you dont have to get everything wet which could be dangerous as is cutting anything which is slippery. Easily solved.

Answer 4

Always store onions in the fridge as cold onions tend to make you cry less. Also cut the onion near running water.
Wash your hands with cold water and lemon juice afterwards

Answer 5

Always carry an onion around with you. Then when you start crying because of a sad movie or a fight, start cutting the onion then.

Answer 6

Run the onion under cold water before cutting or put a teaspoon in your mouth when doing so. Believe me the latter works, I do this all the time when working with onions.

Answer 7

Burn a non-scented candle while cutting it (light it about 5 minutes before you start cutting and keep the candle next to the cutting area). You can also try putting a bowl of ice water next to the onion while cutting. I have tried both and it although it does not stop the crying, it does reduce it by a whole bunch.

Answer 8

First cut the root-end off. This relieves the surface tension and the juice doesn't spatter as much. Then continue to peel off the outer layers, and rinse Immediately.
Use a very sharp knife; clean cuts don't spatter as much either.
Chop quickly and not carelessly.
Work near an open window or turn on the extractor fan.
For a fine-minced onion with few tears, use a food processor.

Answer 9

Cutting onions under water or chilling them before cutting, will retard the enzymes that generate the noxious chemicals," recommends Forberg.

MORE ADVICE:

1.Keep the root on while peeling and chopping. A variation of this is to cut from the top leaving the root end intact until the last cut!

2.Be in a well-ventilated place and cut fast!

3.Use a good, sharp chef's knife. It glides through the onion with ease, allowing less of the compounds that cause tears to come out.

4.Wear a pair of safety goggles or a cheap, disposable painter's mask.

5.Put a slice of bread in your mouth, with half of it sticking out to "catch" the fumes.

6.Put some white vinegar on the chopping board before cutting.

7.Burn a candle immediately adjacent to where you're cutting. The tear-causing gas is drawn toward the heat source.

8.Purchase pre-chopped onions.

Answer 10

Some people wear googles
Some put a wooden spoon in their mouth
Some even chop their onions under running water
I am lucky as i do not usaully cry when chopping my onions, so i do not know if any of the above really work.