W
ho’s cutting onions? This is a popular phrase used to inform others that you or someone else is teary-eyed or crying. But have you ever wondered why professional chefs can chop onions with a straight face? You just thought about that, didn’t you? Well, that’s because they have a few tricks up their sleeves that I’ll be sharing here to prevent a watery eye in the kitchen. The hacks on how to cut onions without crying are lifesaving, or do I say, eye-saving? Read on and get yourself guarded before prepping your next meal.
What causes you to cry when cutting onions?
Before we get into the tears-beating tactics, let’s understand the science behind this kitchen phenomenon. Onions contain amino acid sulfoxides, which release volatile compounds when sliced. These compounds combine to form syn-propanethial-S-oxide, a potent irritant that makes your eyes water. When this substance comes into contact with the moisture in your eyes, it creates sulfuric acid, leading to that familiar stinging sensation and the reflex to tear up.
Check out 10 sure ways to cut onions without crying…
- Chew mint gum: Sounds silly? But it’s been proven effective. All you should do is pop in a piece of mint gum while you chop your onions. Chewing mint gum minimizes the effects of onion fumes on your eyes.
- Chill the onion: Place the onion in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes before cutting it. The cold temperature slows down the release of irritants, making it less likely to bring tears to your eyes.
- Soak in cold water: Another trick is to submerge the onion in cold water for a few minutes before slicing. This helps wash away some irritants, reducing their impact on your eyes.
- Use the sharpest knife you’ve got: A dull knife can release more irritants from the onion, so make sure your knife is razor-sharp. A sharp blade also allows cleaner cuts and less cell damage, which results in fewer tears.
- Wear sunglasses (or say onion glasses): Protect your eyes with sunglasses or specialized cooking goggles. This physical barrier prevents the irritants from reaching your eyes. I know this sounds too much, but it’s effective if you’ve got makeup on and wouldn’t want to ruin it with onion tears while cooking.
- Microwave onions: Gently heat the onion in the microwave for about 30 seconds before cutting. This will deactivate some irritants and make the onion less tear-inducing.
- Chew bread: For real, chewing a piece of bread while cutting onions stops the tears. The bread acts like a sponge, soaking up the stuff in onions that makes your eyes water. This way, fewer irritants reach your eyes, and you can cut onions without crying.
- Cut under running water: The flowing water helps wash away the irritants released when you cut the onion. This not only prevents the irritants from rising into the air but also flushes them away, reducing their chances of reaching your eyes.
- Cut near an open flame: If you have a candle or gas stove nearby, light it. The heat from the flame helps push the irritants in onions away from you. This means fewer of them reach your eyes, making you less likely to cry. (Note: Always be careful when dealing with open flames).
- Don’t cut the root end: Leave the root end of the onion uncut until you’re almost done. The root end has more the tear-causing stuff. By cutting it last, you release fewer of those irritants into the air, which means less tearing when you’re chopping onions.
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