Onions…they can be any chef’s best friend or worst nightmare! If you are like most people, you probably share the unfortunate experience of having to shed tears every time you want to cut an onion. Don’t feel alone though, as almost everyone sheds a tear or two with this shared human experience.
Botanically, onions contain special compounds that are released when they are cut. Upon cutting, these chemicals can be kicked into the air and mixed into a slew of compounds irritating our eyes. Luckily, some onions are less tear-inducing, and some people are generally less susceptible to the effect than others.
If you are someone who simply cannot keep it in when cutting onions, keep reading to learn how to cut onions without crying!
1. Chill Your Onion and Knife
One way to beat the unstoppable urge to cry with onions is to chill them before use. Likewise, chilling your knife may also affect slowing the release of the “crying chemicals”.
Chemically speaking, when the compounds are released from onions, they have to undergo a series of reactions to form the compounds that are irritating to our eyes. One way to slow down reactions such as these is to lower the temperature of the chemicals involved. Thus, by reducing the temperature of your onions (and your knife), you can cut onions without crying!
Some people swear by this solution so much that they opt to freeze their onions 30 minutes before use.
2. Leave The Root Intact
If you’re like most people, you want to get the process of cutting an onion done as fast as possible! Take a moment to make sure that you leave the root intact and attached to the whole onion when you are initially peeling and cutting.
According to most sources, the root contains elevated concentrations of the sulfur compounds that are responsible for making us cry. Thus, by leaving the roots uncut, you are preventing them from being released into your eyes.
3. Use a Fan in the Kitchen
Usually, it is best to keep clutter out of the kitchen, however in the case of cutting onions, it may be useful to bring in some machine power!
Most sources agree that using some sort of ventilation system is a great way to get the air flowing. Having air movement can prevent irritating chemicals from flying up to your eyes. Using a standing fan, opening windows, or simply turning on your oven’s built-in fans are great ways to get the air moving.
Generally speaking, the best method with a fan is to aim it across where you are cutting. This will allow whatever chemicals the onion releases to move away from you, rather than moving up in the air column.
4. Consider Investing in Some Onion Goggles
Although it may sound a tad bit dorky, some people absolutely swear by using onion goggles in the kitchen. Onion goggles are a special type of goggles that are designed to be worn in the kitchen. They typically allow you to keep a good field of vision, while also blocking out the fumes that onions can waft into your eyes.
As an added bonus, onion goggles are also great for preventing other air-borne chemicals from getting into your eyes. They are great to use to protect your eyes from oil and smoke when you are grilling or frying food!
5. Sharpen Your Knives
Another unique solution to the problem of crying when you cut onions is to keep your knives sharp. One of the main reasons why onions make us cry is because their cells release chemicals when they are broken. Using a sharp knife is proven to keep more cells intact during cutting. This will lead to less of these chemicals will be released. Thus, by keeping your knives sharp, you can keep your eyes tear-free!
6. Try Chewing Gum
Chewing gum is yet another solution that many people offer to solve the issue. Interestingly enough, the idea has to main points: First, it is thought that strong-scented mint gum can overpower some of the onion’s chemicals and scent, preventing a crying response. Secondly, chewing gum can help encourage people to breathe from their mouths, which can also help to prevent the crying chemicals from getting to your eyes.
At the end of the day, this solution specifically seems to only work for certain people with differing success. If you find gum to be a difficult solution, you may want to try breathing from your mouth directly to achieve the same effect.
7. Cut Your Onion Under Running Water
One last solution to your onion problems is to cut your onion under running water. With this solution, the thought is that the water will absorb and prevent chemicals from being released into the air. For it to work, you pretty much need the whole onion (or at least the part you are cutting) to be covered in running water.
Most people find that this solution is a great one, but as you can guess, it can be a damper on your water bill if you cut a lot of onions. Additionally, many people find that you need to set up your cutting board in your sink for this solution to work, which can also be a challenge!
