You've probably heard dozens of old wives' tales and pseudo-scientific advice for cutting onions without tears. Two of the most ludicrous are holding burning matches in your mouth while you chop, a fire hazard to say the least, and chewing on a raw onion, which merely adds more onion close to your mucus membranes. Most of these homespun ideas just aren't very effective, but we've got five tips which are.
Five Tips on How to Cut Onions Without Tears
Cutting an onion produces a series of chemical reactions that unleashes propanethial S-oxide, an irritant that causes the eyes to fill with tears. If you want to prevent tears, you have to chop in a way that produces less irritant, and prevents the irritant from reaching your eyes.
Here are our five favorite ways to stop the waterworks:
1. Use a sharp knife. A sharp knife will cause less damage to cell walls, and fewer irritants will be released.
2. Keep the exposed cuts away from you. As soon as you cut an onion in half, turn both halves down on your cutting board. Leave the side you aren't currently chopping unpeeled. Once you've finished with one half, move the diced onion into a prep bowl, and set it on the opposite side of the kitchen, before proceeding with the rest of the onion.
3. Cut the onion properly. Chefs have an efficient way of dicing onions which conveniently keeps the most of the exposed cuts against the board. This Chow video will walk you through the process.
4. Chill the onions. With a cold onion, less propanethial S-oxide will evaporate. You'll still get some irritants, but this will help. Remember – refrigerate, don't freeze. Frozen raw onions are often mushy when they thaw.
5. Run the vent hood. Position your cutting board next to the stove and turn on the exhaust fan. Irritants will be pulled away from you and your eyes.
Still having problems? Buy a cheap set of safety goggles from the hardware store, the only method guaranteed to fully work. Also check out these goggles designed just for onion-choppers!
Dinner tonight: Quick onion soup!.
Comments (7)
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Comments imported from original post (tech problems tonight - sorry).
or, as we do in our home: just have me do it.
The bf's eyes water terribly while chopping onions, but I'm somehow impervious. I chop, he stirs.
posted by nadarine on 2008-03-04 16:29:55
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loots of eye drops b4hand..and b fast
posted by troz on 2008-03-04 16:56:38
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Wetting the knife with cold water before cutting helps too, as sulfur reacts with water on the knife and not with the moisture in your eyes.
posted by bubble on 2008-03-04 16:56:55
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I always burn a candle right next to the cutting board, not sure if it's an old-wives tale, but it seems to work.
posted by Zaya on 2008-03-04 17:29:50
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wearing contact lenses makes a huge difference for me. When I have my glasses on I can barely see through the tears.
posted by Eliza on 2008-03-04 17:31:56
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Me too, Eliza! I was going to ask about that. I have no problems when I wear contacts.
posted by faith on 2008-03-04 17:36:22
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Onion is so bad I've cried over food with raw onion in it. My solutions: I do all the early slices (everything except that last run of chopping that actually makes the dice) first and then do the last chops seconds before tossing the onion into the pan. Or I wear tactical army goggles.
posted by Matcha on 2008-03-04 17:43:25
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The candle thing works great for me too, I saw it on Martha Stewart.
posted by sally599 on 2008-03-04 18:15:34
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My mom always recommends the candle too. I haven't tried it though...I just take the pain and cry like a man!
The New Cook
posted by Andy2 on 2008-03-04 19:57:40
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Eliza & Faith, me three!
posted by Nougat on 2008-03-04 22:26:41
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....
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I rinse the onion in cold water after peeling it and after I cut it in half.
Then I chop like a manic!
I hope you Meat in your Onions!
view phauxtoe's profile
I watched the Chow video...
She needs to sharpen her knife!
You dont need to do the horizontal cuts, just keep the vert cuts close. Its quicker and Safer!
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My MIL gave me onion goggles. I've gotten used to breathing through my mouth (instead of my nose) when cutting onions, and it seem to do the trick (plus I wear contacts). The onion goggles don't look terribly flattering (but they do help you look like Bono).
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I wear contacts, and have never had an issue with chopping onions. The rare occasions where I'm cutting onions while wearing my glasses, look out - major tears. So the goggle solution makes sense - something to prevent the fumes from reaching your eyes.
view mangosteen's profile
I know this sounds silly, but vinegar really helps. Put some on the cutting board, or soak a paper towel in it and sniff it just as your about to cry. Will you look like a fool? Yes. Will your eyes water? No.
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