We all know what I'm talking about here. I love cooking with onions, but I hate the smell that lingers on my fingers (and so does the person sitting next to me in class). No matter how many times you wash your hands it doesn't go away. But when I was little, my grandma taught me a trick that could very well be the holy grail of cooking.

After you chop onions (garlic or shallots, too), take a stainless steel spoon and rub your fingers on the spoon under cold water. Voila! The smell is gone. The steel from the spoon does something science-y with the sulfur from the onions, but does that really matter? The smell is gone. 'Nuff said. For those of you who need visuals, check out my secret cooking weapon step-by-step.

Step 1: Chop up those onions

dairy product, milk, cream, lard, flour
Chiara Maras

Whether you're making a pasta sauce, salsa, or just caramelizing some onions to eat (the best), you gotta chop.

Step 2: Try to get the stank out of your hands with just soap and fail miserably

milk, cream
Chiara Maras

I know you're gonna try it. Go ahead. Do it. But don't say I didn't warn you. 

Step 3: Grab a spoon

coffee
Chiara Maras

Any stainless steel utensil works, except for a knife. I mean, a knife would technically work, but no one wants to cut up their fingers.

Step 4: Rub your fingers all over the spoon under running water

water, coffee, beer
Chiara Maras

Give the spoon a nice massage. He/she has had a tough day at work and could use a little TLC.

Step 5: Victory! 

You are now free to do whatever you please with your hands without having to worry about applying lotion every five seconds.