How to Cut an Onion Without Crying
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Published December 03, 2007
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 ???
my brother swears by putting a match under his tongue while cutting the onion.
To further clarify, I think itsapeugeot means an unlit match.
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.
Keep your onions in the refrigerator.
I chop near a flame on the stove. It seems to help.
We light a couple candles near the cutting board. The rising heat draws the fumes away.
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.
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.
Either chop onions near running water or stick a matchstick in your mouth while chopping, these are southern oldwives methods passed down ......
Either chop onions near running water or stick a matchstick in your mouth while chopping, these are southern oldwives methods passed down ......
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.
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
^ 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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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 =)
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.
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.
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'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.
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.....)
try a teaspoon in your mouth when chopping - works wonders for me!"
Has anyone tried holding a lit cigar, pipe or cigarette in their mouth while chopping onions?
Around food? I hope not.
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.
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!!!
^ yes, and you can also prevent a loaf of bread from drying out and getting stale by storing it in a BUCKET OF WATER.
Just breathe through your mouth and not your nose and you 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.
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