What REALLY works to stop you from crying when you chop an onion?

Question

here's what has not worked:
Running it under cold water first
keeing the root on
wearing any part of the oinion on my head
Using a food processor (in fact, this makes it worse!)

Short of putting on my snorkel or swim goggles, has anyone had any real luck with any REAL solutions?

I forgot to mention, what doesn't work is "getting used to it"

I'm going to be 41 soon, and have been cooking for at least the last 30+ years (I'm Italian, you grow up in the kitchen)

Answer 1

Lighting a small votive candle near my chopping board. I thought it was the most bizarre thing I've ever heard, but it actually works. I have super sensitive eyes and keep my onions in the fridge and did all the cold water rinsing and all, and nothing worked until I tried the candle.

Answer 2

I don't test other solutions, but everytime i use a fan to push the onion gases away from my eyes, this really works for me.

Answer 3

In forty years of cooking, I've never had that problem. I have seen other cooks make the mistake of absently touching their faces while slicing and dicing onions or before washing their hands afterwards - and they got pretty uncomfortable that way. If it really bothers you, use a milder onion, like a Vidalia.

Answer 4

Running an onion under cold water first will not work. You have to cut it while under the cold running water stream to be effective. This way does work. Or, you can buy the onions frozen already diced.

Answer 5

Haha I actually do use the swim goggles that cover your nose as well...my husband gets a kick out of it.

Answer 6

Try chewing a piece of mint flavored chewing gum, it works for me. Good luck.

Answer 7

Sometimes - if it is going into a cooked dish - I buy the bags of frozen chopped onions - viola - no chopping, no tears

Answer 8

Peeling and slicing the onion UNDER running water!! It works!

Answer 9

Try putting it in the freezer for like 15 minutes before cutting. If it still bothers your eyes, then add 5 more minutes in the freezer next time.

Answer 10

the yellow onions always make my eyes water, but the red onions don't plus I like them better anyway.
I've also heard, now I don't know if it works but I've heard you can hold a fork in your mouth while you chopping and that's suppose to stop the tears.

Answer 11

If you ran the onion under cold water while slicing...wouldn't you lose a lot of flavor? It would be equivelent to poking meat excessivly...it drains all the flavor of the juices.
I think the only way to become immune to it, is to slice lots of onions. I am a cook, and I slice about 3 onions in a working day. They don't bother me anymore at all.
Sorry I haven't a REAL solution, I just wanted to mention that I think the running water isn't such a good idea. You know the saying..."blood, sweat and tears.....went into cooking a meal...." Well, I think that is the point. You at least will have the tear ingredient in there. You have to sacrifice for good food:))