As my favorite vegetables along with garlic, I love onions. But the big problem with those is that whenever I chop them, I start to sense this burning feeling in my eyes. I tried to put on my sunglasses but that didn't work.
Why does that happen and is there anyway I could still chop onions without getting "burned?"
2007-03-30 04:04:28 · 31 answers · asked by Jonathan 2 in Food & Drink ➔ Cooking & Recipes
The worse part about chopping onions are the tears that flow from your eyes. There are many suggested methods for peeling without crying, and here is yet another
Put the unpeeled onion in the freezer and leave it there for about ten minutes.
Put on some sort of glasses. Tears are caused by the juices from the onion getting in your eyes and irritating them.
Remove the onion from the freezer and peel it. The onion can now be sliced, chopped, or minced without tears
If you use a sharp knife, there shouldn't be any tears. An onion makes you cry because acid is being released from the onion. Using a dull knife crushes the onion rather than cutting it, releasing far more of this acid into the air.
Try holding a wooden spoon or a piece of bread between your teeth while cutting. This significantly reduces the irritation to the eyes.
Put a fan behind you and towards the onions to blow the sulfur gases away from you.
Let the water run in the sink, while you peel the onions at the sink itself.
Fill your sink with water and peel and cut the onion under water. Works every time.
2007-03-30 04:22:46 · answer #1 · answered by ♥ sanaz ♥ 3 · 2⤊ 2⤋
I've heard that the best remedy is wearing contact lenses, but if you are not a contact lens wearer, that doesn't help!
Since it sounds like you use a lot of chopped onions in cooking, why not invest in an Alligator Onion Dicer? I picked one up at a local gourmet/cooking tools store for $20, and all you have to do is remove the outer peel and ends, then put the onion on the dicer and press down. The grid-like cutter dices the onions quickly and easily, and the onions don't get all wet and gummy as they sometimes do when "chopped" in a food processor.
Happy Cooking!
Maria
2007-03-30 15:24:09 · answer #2 · answered by Mocha Maria 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'veh eard that if you run cold water while chopping the onions it rinses off the liquidy substance the onion releases. The only problem with that is I'm sure there is flavor in the liquid..just as there would be with any other food. So try not to rinse it all away. Chop fast...but be careful you dont want to nic yourself......
chop in half.....take the halves and slice downwards..but leave a little piece on the end so it doesnt fall apart. Then slice downwards in the opposite way and you should get nice sized pieces as a result.
2007-03-30 11:14:34 · answer #3 · answered by Kris 4 · 2⤊ 1⤋
I just use a knife to chop them. Onions no longer make my eyes tear up. It used to be if I wore my contacts, I didnt tear up, but would with my glasses. But now it doesnt matter what I wear, I dont get teary eyes. So if you cut enough onions for a long period of time, you may build an immunity to it, like I have.
2007-03-30 12:50:43 · answer #4 · answered by ynotfehc 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Of course, chopping the onions in a food processor is the best and easiest but if you don't have one chop them near the stove with the gas burner on to burn off the gases from the onion if you have electric burners then light a candle next to your chopping board. Holding a soda cracker or a slice of bread in your mouth also helps.
2007-03-30 11:25:19 · answer #5 · answered by query 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
There are many ways to avoid (or at least help) this problem, these are some tricks I have learned from many different chefs I have worked with over the years:
1. Refrigerate your onions (weird, but it helps)
2. Breath through your mouth, or any activity that makes you unconsciously do this (like chewing gum or holding a toothpick or unlit match in your mouth)
3. Eat a strong mint while chopping (altoids are the best)
4. Burn a candle near the cutting board (helps reduce the vapors).
5. Contact lenses will keep your eyes from burning.
Hope that helps. :o)
2007-03-30 11:10:36 · answer #6 · answered by Chef Rachel 2 · 3⤊ 1⤋
Onions is also one of my favorite foods with almost anything. The way I do it is run cold water while chopping the onion up. It helps if you can stand by the sink when the water is running and chop away on the onions and you will be surprised how this will help. But make sure it is COLD WATER. Hope this helps. D.
2007-03-30 11:11:09 · answer #7 · answered by My-opinion-counts 2 · 2⤊ 1⤋
A cold onion from the fridge or rinsing the onion while preparing with cool water works for me. Also I've heard if you burn a candle next to you while you chop, it diffuses the vapors of the onion as well.
Good Luck!
2007-03-30 11:09:21 · answer #8 · answered by Green eyed girl 3 · 3⤊ 1⤋
Try chopping it under running water or in a bowl while it is submerged. Wearing glasses adds a little protection, but eventually enough gets in the air to irritate the eyes.
2007-03-30 11:09:07 · answer #9 · answered by Answerman 2 · 2⤊ 1⤋
When you chop onions it releases a liquid substance into the air. Try running water while your doing it, that usually helps.
2007-03-30 11:08:06 · answer #10 · answered by smoothie 5 · 2⤊ 1⤋