How to Cut an Onion Without Crying
Daniel Duane demonstrates tear-free onion dicing.
POST A COMMENT |35
Comments
Real Aphrodisiacs for Valentine's
How to Make a Healthy Snack
McBites = Modern McNuggets?
Classic Valentine Dishes
How to Scrape a Vanilla Bean
Chocolate Beers for Valentine's
The exhaust fan works. An open flame also works.
But if I forget those and I am crying, what to do? This is bizarre, but it works for me: stick your head in the freezer. Presto bingo, tears gone!
Well, I never cut off the root (the hairy end of the onion).I slice the onion lengthwise and then chop,but always leave the root on. I never cry. Believe it or not..it works EVERY time....red,yellow or white..give it a try. I saw this on tv a long time ago:)
White onions don't make you tear as much as the yellow ones. Refrigeration beforehand does work; but, if I don't have the time, I simply chew a piece of gum while I am cutting them. It helps a lot to avoid the crying.
MFARMARCO...LOL. I seriously cut and run and come back and cut and run. After about 30 seconds the fumes have disipated enough to continue on. I just put up with it. Some onions are more gassy and the burning is really just fantatstic. Some don't bother me at all!
Actually, I remember them testing all of these old home remedies to this problem on Food Detectives. The method shown to work the best is to put the onions in the fridge. The colder they are, the less of the gas they kick out when you start cutting them, greatly reducing the tears. That's where I've always kept mine, and I really do feel a huge difference. Plus, also, there's the whole "science"...+READ
Actually, I remember them testing all of these old home remedies to this problem on Food Detectives. The method shown to work the best is to put the onions in the fridge. The colder they are, the less of the gas they kick out when you start cutting them, greatly reducing the tears. That's where I've always kept mine, and I really do feel a huge difference. Plus, also, there's the whole "science" thing to back that up. Or you can suck on matches. Whatever works for you.-COLLAPSE
I cannot believe anybody can try to tell that a fan helps! it is just pure chemistry, did you have it at school? It is eteric oils from the onion that come inside your breathing cavities and cause you "cry".Hold breath while cutting and you can be as close as you like to onion and WON'T cry
I tried dunking the onions in salt water, first peel then dunk it in for about 3 minutes, take it out and just cut it.
Ice water does work too but I found that the salt water works the best.
Just breathe through your mouth and not your nose and you won't cry.
TRY THIS, FIND A BIG BOWL (Like the one we use for punches) PUT ENOUGH WATER IN IT SO THE ONIONS ARE COMPLETELY SUBMERGED AND CUT UR ONIONS IN THE WATER!!!
Phil. Really? You don't know anyone in your life that has very sensitive eyes and still likes to cook?
The fan really does work and is the only thing that's ever worked for me. I found mine at a Home Depot for about $8, well worth it for how often I use onions in my cooking. It's only about five or six inches high so it stores easily. I can finally cut onions without needing to take a five...+READ
Phil. Really? You don't know anyone in your life that has very sensitive eyes and still likes to cook?
The fan really does work and is the only thing that's ever worked for me. I found mine at a Home Depot for about $8, well worth it for how often I use onions in my cooking. It's only about five or six inches high so it stores easily. I can finally cut onions without needing to take a five minute break for my eyes to clear up.-COLLAPSE
Around food? I hope not.
Has anyone tried holding a lit cigar, pipe or cigarette in their mouth while chopping onions?
try a teaspoon in your mouth when chopping - works wonders for me!"
For the last 15 years, I've done this, and amazingly, really does work, no gimmicks: Simply: DO NOT SLICE OFF THE STEM END OF THE ONION. Apparently, this is where the highest concentration of irritants are, and by merely starting with cutting off the root end, and proceeding to chop, you can avoid the problem, leaving the stem end on until the very last chop. (P.S., I am a blue eyed redhead who...+READ
For the last 15 years, I've done this, and amazingly, really does work, no gimmicks: Simply: DO NOT SLICE OFF THE STEM END OF THE ONION. Apparently, this is where the highest concentration of irritants are, and by merely starting with cutting off the root end, and proceeding to chop, you can avoid the problem, leaving the stem end on until the very last chop. (P.S., I am a blue eyed redhead who favors yellow onions and never refrigerates an onion.....)-COLLAPSE
I'm almost embarrassed to be on the same site as you people.
For god's sake, if you can't handle a little crying while cutting onions, you shouldn't be cooking or even allowed in a kitchen for that matter, even it's your own.
My wife swears that if you cut a piece of onion skin and place it on top of your head you'll be tear free... I think she saw that in a movie... hehehe
I run around the kitchen and chop at the same time.
My theory is the onion fumes have to find your eyes to burn them.
When I feel a sting I run faster.
Just kidding, I turn on my ceiling fan and that helps blow the air away from my eyes.
Martha Stewart also suggests to cut them near an open flame. It works pretty well. I usually just try to cut them as fast as I can. If I feel the tears start welling up, I'll run to the sink & rinse my hands with water.
Cutting near an open flame was something Alton Brown suggested. It helps move the air around you via convection. I dont really have room around my stove to do that, so I still tear up when i cut onions =)
If the recipe permits, DON'T use yellow onions. They contain much more of the tear inducing compound. I cook mostly with white onions and never have a problem.
Other suggestions about fridge cooling and cutting are good too.
My daughter and I both wear eye glasses or contacts, whoever has her contacts on does the onions, not a tear, ever...that's how we do it.
I have a pair of onion goggles. They work great, don't fog up and they don't have the rubber strap like swim goggles so they don't tear your hair out of your head, either.
I always keep the cut side down when I'm dicing or slicing. When I'm done, slosh the whole pile of cut onions into a bowl and away it goes. Never had a problem crying.
^ Great idea! I use swimming goggles and they work quite well for me, but I don't particularly like having my vision impaired (even slightly) when using a sharp knife, so next time I'm gonna give the exhaust fan a try.
I too am very sensitive to onion fumes. What works for me is to first use a sharp knife (it is also safer) and secondly chop onions near my exhaust fan. Works great! I am near the stove anyway when I chop onions because I chop and dump into a skillet/pot.
Everyone has an exhaust fan and then you don't have to purchase something else to then have to store in your kitchen.
my $.02 worth,
...+READ
I too am very sensitive to onion fumes. What works for me is to first use a sharp knife (it is also safer) and secondly chop onions near my exhaust fan. Works great! I am near the stove anyway when I chop onions because I chop and dump into a skillet/pot.
Everyone has an exhaust fan and then you don't have to purchase something else to then have to store in your kitchen.
my $.02 worth,
Anne-COLLAPSE
No need for a fan. First, keep onions in refrigerator. Second, cut each end off the onion, peel, and then chop. No tears. Chopping off the ends works even if you don't refrigerate, but not as well.
Either chop onions near running water or stick a matchstick in your mouth while chopping, these are southern oldwives methods passed down ......
The fan really does work.
For the very first time, I was able to chop up the 4 large onions I needed for Thanksgiving stuffing without crying. Definitely will keep the fan on hand and use it. And I had tried everything else with no luck.
We light a couple candles near the cutting board. The rising heat draws the fumes away.
I chop near a flame on the stove. It seems to help.
Keep your onions in the refrigerator.
A good, very sharp knife reduces the spraying of the sulfur compounds - since I've become sharp crazy and invested in good Japanese blades and whet stones, I've rarely had a problem. Pre-chilling is known to work,as well. 30-60 minutes in ice water will insure that the volatile molecules have less energy to launch into the air.
To further clarify, I think itsapeugeot means an unlit match.
my brother swears by putting a match under his tongue while cutting the onion.
ok, If I buy this fan, I don't have to ruin my makeup.
I don't want to buy fan just for this !
I've been crying really bad by cutting onion lately.
Is there any way "no crying during cutting onion"
with out using fan ???