Raise your hand if you’ve ever felt personally victimized by an onion.
Of course you have. Those little buggers continuously make us cry and yet we still find ourselves coming back for more. Is it their charming good looks, or their amazing smell? A select few of us can handle our emotions around them, but for most of us, their mere presence makes us sob like a baby.
Onions, you are like the bad boy we just can’t resist.
But today’s the day to show those onions who’s boss. Don’t show them you’re weak; don’t let them make you cry. Fight back with these helpful tips.
Refrigerate or freeze onion
Photo by Alexis Aumiller
To ensure a tear-free chopping experience, put that bad boy in the refrigerator or freezer for about 15 minutes before you intend to use it. Chilling the onion causes the sulfur in the onion to be released more slowly, giving you more time to cut before the tears appear.
Soak onions in water
Photo by Alexis Aumiller
…Or cut the onions under water! Both ways will prevent the sulfur from reaching your eyes. Soak them for just a few minutes before you begin cutting the onions.
Breathe through your mouth
Photo by Alexis Aumiller
As we know, senses are greatly connected to one another – which is why it makes sense that breathing in an onion smell can affect your eyes. If you don’t want to shed tears while cooking dinner, breathe through your mouth. That way,
Wear goggles
Photo by Alexis Aumiller
It might seem ridiculous, but if you’re really committed to keeping those tears away, try wearing a pair of goggles. They keep the compound that irritates your eyes (wait for it)- out of your eyes. And if you just can’t bear to wearing swimming or science goggles, go buy yourself a snazzy pair of onion cutting goggles for only $20. That way you can cut onions without crying and be so kitchen fashion forward.
Run fan near cutting
Photo by Alexis Aumiller
Get that sulfur compound out of there before you even shed a tear. By having a fan nearby, you can push the compound out of the way before it even hit your eyes.
Microwave the onion
Photo by Leanna Smith
By heating the onion prior to cutting it, you are breaking down some of the compound that causes the tears in the first place. Place the onion in the microwave for 45 seconds before cutting.
Chew gum
Photo by Alexis Aumiller
Feel silly breathing through your mouth? Chew gum. The idea behind chewing gum while cutting an onion is that you will breathe through your mouth without realizing it. So stock up on some Winterfresh before making that onion dish you’ve been eyeing.
Wipe your knife with lemon (or lime) juice
Photo by Alexis Aumiller
Before you cut your onion, lather up your knife with some fresh lemon juice. Since lemon juice is such a powerful smell, it will overpower that of the onion.