ASK THE CHEF: Chopping Onions

[unfittedcornet]

put water on your eyebrows it really works

[redfairy2781]

put the onion in the freezer for 10 minutes. then when you got to chop it there will be no tearing.

[Kennylol]

wear contacs, problem solved. or wash it in water when peeled, the water will absorb the sulfur gas.

[littlehedgehogfeet]

I'm a bio student, so I just pop on my laboratory goggles when I'm slicing onions. My roommates think I'm nuts. It works in the lab and the kitchen!

[EowynEvans]

Goggles or contact lenses! works in my house. though axe the googles if you are entertaining better to have weepy eyes than explain the googles!

[ZeFuror2508]

Setting the onion in a bowl of ice prior to cutting makes the chemicals not react when cut.

[lalafunnys]

I heard chewing gum helps keep the fumes from really getting to you. I've tried it before and it does help, but it's kind of rubbish xD

[SoomySooma]

Gordan Ramsay had a trick and it's to leave the root of the onion not chopped off. That way the onion wont start to bleed hence no fumes and no tears.

[OakAged72]

@SoomySooma Sounds like utter nonsense. You think when you cut any part of an onion's flesh it won't bleed just because there's a root connected elsewhere? Makes no sense.

[chilliparks1redhot]

i could literally smell the onion. and i love the sounds! nomnomnom!

[drpimpelmees]

Used to wear contacts instead of glasses,

I just rememberd how they shielded me 100% from onion induced sadness

[kitkatzinix]

Use a sharp knife, soak the board and your hands with water.

[AlexIsMusical]

Use a sharp knife and wet it before hand.

[crystalgail316]

Julia Child always said to use a very sharp knife to avoid the juices from squirting which make you cry. Another tip to get the onion smell off your hands is to wash hand in water and then sprinkle about quarter amount of salt into hands and scrub for about 30 seconds. Wash hands one more time and repeat till onion smell is gone. This really works wonders!!

[OakAged72]

@crystalgail316 Sorry, a quarter of what amount???

[heyitsparadii]

Chewing gum.

[glitterland18]

@heyitsparadii tht doesnt really work i tried 

[999JoshMan]

open your mouth or wet your hands

[leliescassetjes]

breath through your nose, it filters the fumes :)

[gaara6189]

Rub the onions on thy butt see it make wonder. NO I AM SERIOUS!!

[shinydiamond111]

Stick it into a freezer for 5 min. Then you can cut for years without crying. :)

[LizSubshine485]

try chewing a couple pieces of gum

[sgalan92]

Before chopping an onion I always place it in the freezer for 20 minutes. it allows for the juices to solidify and prevents tears in my eyes.

[pskully]

To avoid tearing up while chopping onion, light a candle! I'm not sure why it works, but it does~

[OakAged72]

@pskully That makes sense and probably works. The flame heats the air and causes an upwards current above it, drawing air in from below and beside it. Just don't use those onion-scented candles that are, um, all the rage these days.

[BabySiidat]

if u leave it in the fridge for a few hours or so - it will avoid tearss

[CutieNoorah]

chew gum whilst cutting onions, it really helps! :D

[bellalovesicecream]

to stop the tears rub a peice of union under each of your eyes, it sounds stupid but it DOES work!

[DeepSetEyesDance]

TO AVOID SORE EYES/TEARS I PLACE A STAINLESS STEEL SPOON IN MY MOUTH TO REMAIN THERE THE ENTIRE TIME THAT I'M CUTTING THE ONIONS.THIS METHOD NEVER FAILS TO PROTECT. 

[OakAged72]

@DeepSetEyesDance Yeah and it's also a great way to annoy the hell out of your mouth while looking rediculous at the same time! Go for it!

[ssgower]

Suck on a metal spoon, no idea why but it has always worked for me!

[strdgladis]

put a slice of pickle under your tongue and leave it there until your done with the onion

[glitterland18]

When you wear goggels the gas of the onion won't come in contact with your eyes and you won't start crying

P.S i got the tip when i was in a airplane

[Theoroia]

wear a welding helmet

[neurob4rry]

i never cry when i cut onions, i think it's because i have contact lenses

[schlumpfine103]

I've got contacts, and I never have to cry while chopping onions :)

[kakelll]

my brother taught me to put my tongue out when i chop onions, because your tongue absorbs some of the gasses that make you cry! you look ridiculous though, so i only do it when i'm alone in the kitchen ;)

[TheMelodiiees]

haha,i always wear swimming goggles

[applepyewithicecream]

Well, all you have to do is keep your chin up while you chop it. As long as you're not looking down, it's way harder for you to cry...

[maxdolfijntje]

I just found a video of gordon ramsy explaining you shouldn't cut off the root, because that's what makes you cry the most (Gordon Ramsay: How to Chop an Onion by htan)

[maxdolfijntje]

take a peeled union, but it in a food processor (or something similar), process it :P, and done! fast and no crying :D

[RockyRaccoonsFriend]

My eyes got teary just from watching this! i mean wtf?! ^^

[artbot2310]

run them under water after you've halved it before you start slicing.

[MrFaddoul]

onion fumes make you cry when breathed in through the nose.... while cutting them breathe through your mouth and you should be fine :)

[MissBrookeNoel]

If you cut the onion while it's under water the aroma that causes you to cry is released in the water which means no more tears:)

[randomsmiley]

sucking on a spoon handle stop s crying when cutting an onion, dont know where i got it from but always works for me lol :)

[bluebrontides]

The BEST way to avoid tears while cutting onions is to freeze them about 15 minutes before. I saw this on Food Science. :D

[Fahnestock1]

Sorted Solution: Light a candle. Any candle works and just have it near by!

[LuckyPilsen]

use ice cold water to rinse both the knife and the board before u start... this works for me:)

[daveygravey123456]

best way is to use a sharp knife

[fearfrozen75]

have a table top fan beside u

or

soak the onion in water first

[anneminator]

My cookingteacher told med to breath trough your mouth at all times :) The nose and the eyes are connected in a wierd way so if you awoid breathing trough your nose the tears are less likely to come :)

[riddleprofessor]

I'm just happy for my bad sight when i cut onions, since contact lenses keeps you from crying

[ITELLlittleLIES]

the onions will release the stuff that makes you cry when the cells are brused so make sure you have an extra sharp knife to cut the cells and avoid brusing.

[ChenRuiQi93]

Where googles!!!~

[jpbager]

Put the knife under cold water

[manhuntsoap]

put the onions in the fridge before cutting. or just breathe w ur mouth while cutting

[LOLItsToastyXD]

@manhuntsoap Nah, that trick doesn't work. It's not the breathing in of the onion fumes that cause your eyes to water, rather the formation of sulfuric acid in your tear ducts.

[EllyKSaysHi]

burn candles beside you while dicing the onion.

[ZaffyB]

try putting a toothpick in your mouth and holding it with your front teeth. it helps :)

[Suzaku7410]

If you don't whanna cry, then put your onions in a bowl with warm water, just 3 min before you need them. When you need to use them, they are very easy to pill and won't make you cry :)

Regards - Danish cheff ;D

[randomnessiskewel]

if you sit down on a chair while cutting onions, you won't cry :)

[xantho00]

i turn on my stove vent ,cut onions breath threw mouth not nose

[mra098310]

spritz vinegar on the cutting board :]

[SuperPari22]

right before cutting the onion into pieces...make sure to soak in water for few minutes.....it always works for me!!!!

[icecream629]

u put them in the fridge (: it works for me

[sarah1oszter]

I used to wear google lol but a teacher told me to breath through my mouth rather than my nose and that works well for the most part.

[purpledinosaur84]

chew gum :P

[MJG164]

freeze your onions before you chop them you wont get the smell or the juice in your face or eyes

[taxihamster]

Cut the onion next to a flame, either a match or a gas burner if you have one.

[melitcc]

when the onion gets cut, enzymes from inside the onion are being activated and they tend to get into the first watery structure they find, and that is usually your eyes. It always, always works if you slice the onion with wet hands, so they are the first watery structure. I hope it makes sense.

[LOLItsToastyXD]

@melitcc First watery structure they find? I don't think enzymes are living organisms... They are proteins... So they don't know where to go first. Basically, they'll drift up towards your eyes and cause an allergic reaction.

So, some methods is to use a fan, wear some protection, or chop near a flame.

I don't understand how keeping bread in your mouth works... Maybe it's a placebo or something else is happening internally. Cause the bread will dissolve due to starch enzymes in your mouth.

[melitcc]

@LOLItsToastyXD No, sorry, you're right. I don't really know why, it's a vague explanation in my head. Maybe it's something like this : some enzymes get activated and they cause some volatile substances to get activated too and then my story with the water. Give it a try, you'll see, it works.

[LOLItsToastyXD]

@melitcc Enzymes don't activate things... They catalyze a reaction a chemical reaction and even still if they sped up a chemical reaction that let volatile substances to be release, the volatile substance doesn't have a mind of it's own making it want to go to the first body of water it sees/senses.

Onions make you cry because when you cut them, they release a sulphur compound catalyzed by some enzymes. When they reach our eyes they create sulfuric acid, irritating our eyes.

[melitcc]

@LOLItsToastyXD Ok, sorry, my bad for trying to give a vague explanation, that probably I didn't understand myself. Thanks for clearing things up. My point all along was to suggest to you to try washing your hands and keep them wet before and during the cutting of the onion. I always do this, and it always works. Forget my bad explanation.

[xpockyloverxx]

lol i wear my sunglasses while im cutting onion

.....it works half the time :D

[isobelallertonx]

i put on goggles when i chop onions

[somewhatcompetent]

I got two.

1. run the onion under water. (it works sometimes :/ )

2. Chop fast. :)

[LtMajorHippie]

where swimming goggles, that will stop you from crying and protect your eyes from the fumes that come from cutting onions.

[11crissi11catz]

@LtMajorHippie Or you could just wash the onion after you've halved it.. gets rid of the fumes

[LtMajorHippie]

@11crissi11catz oh, thanks! that's a really good idea... and it'll make you look alot less rediculus ....

[tmacg86]

@11crissi11catz Or Used a Sharp knife, 90% of crying from onion chopping is the dull knife

[OakAged72]

@tmacg86 Exactly.

[Bassetenator]

@LtMajorHippie I used my goggles from my high school chem class, then someone nicked em from my locker when i had them at school.....

[thekiller0673]

@misshill96 it's called PLACEBO

[Yiing1994]

people with contacts won't cry :)

[mushroomfamily101]

Breath with your mouth not your nose inhaling the onion with your nose makes you cry :'(

[emogirl1102]

@mushroomfamily101 its actually the juices from the onion that make you cry :)

[kwlkt]

The roots are the most potent bit... don't chop them till last and you should be good :)

[MrCapotie]

The best way is to place a fan above your onions. Thar blows away the thing that makes you cry. True Story...

[greenchocaholic]

@misshill96 I think it's all about breathing through your mouth and not the nose, so anything in your mouth will do as long as you can concentrate on the correct breathing.. :P

[killabean]

the sharper the knife, the less the tears

[Sumaiya86]

when i chop onions and i have contact lences in, it stops my tears :S

[tedchow2002]

dont chop the root then no tear :)

[TheLya1000]

Chew gum. And you'll not cry :)

[james142]

put a tea spoon in your mouth works every time !

[georgiegan]

Read about soaking the onion before chopping, chewing gum. Or what my mum does, chop so many onions her eyes got used to it.

[orlin123456789]

the best solution i have found, that is easiest and doesnt involve looking like a weirdo with goggles is to have a sharp knife and being fast

[degsie92]

I usual put em into water before cutting them, or take water on the knife.

[Popinv3ietkid]

Hold a cup of water next to the onions when your chopping. Because the onion goes to the nearest water source when you chop the onion (Your tear ducts). Having the cup of water there helps.

[stephosityy]

Chewing gum is said to help..

[PandaBasher]

Put your head into a bath of acid prior to chopping the onions, and I guarantee you won't notice a thing.

[MrHalasa]

chew gum when chopping onions and you wont even feel a thing!

[maskmefromreality]

stick your tounge out while chopping onions to stop your eyes from wattering

[TheDwarvinator]

lemon in the mouth!

[JudieKiley]

I never cried from an onion, am I that black hearted?

[cmjones1090]

If you have a bowl of water near by that will help. Also, the sharper the knife and the fresher the onion, the less tears.

[theloyalbadger]

how on earth do you not cry when chopping them up...?

[RoCkINStaRrz]

soak the onions in ice cold water first:) before cutting

[Toldasor]

people with glasses, and especially contact lenses, don't suffer from it.

also, looking away or letting an electric fan (or a friend with a fan) blow away from your eyes

[sammyyrox]

Soloution: don't chop onions, get someone else to do it :)

[rkdrummer216]

Freezing the onion a little bit works.

[mulambo420]

i do it like that but in a more dangerous way lol

[ebc1011]

to stop tears?!? i soak the onions for about 10 mins before soaking also makes it a little less stronger!!

[aresinnet]

breathe through your mouth instead of your nose when chopping onions, reduces tears.

[downwiththelingo]

wear your contact lenses!! that's what i do, and i don't tear up at all!!

[fabbodabbo123]

I wear swimming goggles when I chop onions ( when there's no-one else around that is ) it may look strange but it really works ;) loving sorted , keep it up guys ;)

[Urs7ula]

i find that if i don't breath through my nose my eye don't burn or tear up...i found that out coz, i tryed the whole chewing gum thing and it kinda worked...so i find don't breath through your nose and wash the them.

[EdNMen]

Contact lenses stop me crying every time. It's the only positive thing about being short sighted!

[UnknownEntryRetype]

A small piece of bread between your top lip and gum seems to work. No idea how, but my eyes don't water when I'm doing that :-P

[feifus]

Any tricks to stop tearing up. I hear that using a warm, wet knife helps - is that true?

[bobbirox94]

ctfxc sent me

[oopsgirl34]

just tried this! thanks so much.  They look great and its so efficient my eyes don't water

[JanaylaBob]

Cutting the top of the onion off and peeling place the onion upside down on the board. Slice downwards through the rings of the onion layers. Place on it's side and dice leaving the root intact

[leighanamarie]

Put a couple saucers of water around the chopping board as the chemicals are attracted to liquid hence the eyes but are then attracted to the saucers. Love sorted. Ben MARRY ME PLEASE I'd doo all the washing up

[feitocomfruta]

The reasons onions have the strong flavor they do is due to sulfur in the soil, and certain onions have less than others (Vidalia, GA has very little in their soil, hence the "sweet"). Onions release sulfur when you rupture cell membranes, and the moisture in your eyes combine into a mild form of sulfuric acid. The best tip I have heard for this is to make sure the onions are super-cold to reduce the release of the sulfur, and use a really sharp knife to reduce the amount of ruptured cells.

[Cherie8290]

keep your knife and onion dry or soak them with water before cutting

[heyyferr]

Put a wooden spoon in your mouth and it absorbs the enzymes no kidding

[Mrbunbun18]

Chew gum it acualy works!

[RoyceRandomness]

Chewing gum while cutting an onion won't make you cry.

[emilyissoawesomelike]

Simply leave them in the fridge. People think they will make your fridge smell - but they don't. And, they don't make you cry when you cut them once they've been in the fridge, either.

[jessicaward662]

if you wash the onion under a running tap after you have removed the skin, then cut as usual and you wont cry :)

[GunFreak12354]

put the Onions in the chiller or the Frezer it help it just depends on the Onion

[moviestar909]

Onions dont make me cry im perfect

[oxyanxo]

my grandma taught me to slice it with the onion under water. or run the onion under cold water.

[muffinshmn1]

I think if you try and avoid cutting the root unless needed, the onion releases less gas which minimizes the eye watering.

[HaRuKaXll]

cold onions don't make me cry

[lizbillybob]

I've heard, though I haven't tested it, that if you light a candle and put it on the countertop, that it has some sort of reaction that will stop your eyes from watering...

[AlwaysSpeciaL1]

I'm brazilian so I don't how to say that, but to don't to cry just fill your mouth with water or saliva! I tried, and works!

Tip from my cooking teacher!

[HeartsForTheWin]

I cant stand onions, not only do they make my eyes water, but my eyes feel like their on fire too :/ when my mum cooks onions, I have to leave the room and get as far away as possible, and even when i do my eyes still hurt for ages.

is their anyway i can stop it from hurting when im not the one cooking it?

[viennx]

cut the onions in half then leave them in a bowl of tap water for a few minutes!

oh and make sure the fleshy side is facing down the table or chopping board as you're cutting them :)

[Dorie1095]

you can either chew gum, run the onion under cold water

or you can put them in the fridge or freezer! :)

[PsychicTheFunDude]

Easy for you to say, your pro

[Shiroi]

I say put them in a fridge first before cutting them up...really helps

[shadow0mega]

to stop yourself from crying, use a sharp knife, using a knife that isnt as sharp causes the onions to "spit" an acid or something everywhere which can get into your eyes and nose and stuff, hope that helped...

[annapudin]

it helps if you cut your onion under the cooker's ventilation, it sucks in the fumes that come from the onion.

[steffanii]

i find that cutting with a ceramic knife really helps when cutting onions :)

[primmese]

I heard if you chew gum while chopping onions helps

[KyrylTube]

Whistling while you cut -- keeps some of the fumes away :)

[BlueSkyDaisukiAyumi]

When onion cells are broken, they allow enzymes called alliinases to break down amino acid sulphoxides and generate sulphenic acids. This, through a complex process triggers a volatile gas (onion lachrymatory factor/ also called LF) which eventually reaches the eyes and cause a stinging sensation. To dilute the gas, the tear glands come into action.

To avoid this, pop the onion in the freezer for 5 minutes before you start chopping them up and use a sharp knife for minimum cell destruction!!!

[XPURPLElemonadex]

I suck or chew something whilst cutting onions. It really helps!

[hanneramser]

I wet my knife with cold water, works for me every time.

[Nhoddus]

I just cut them in water just covering the onion.

[visibLyiinvisibLe92]

just put oil on your blade it will help trust me.

[toastergoboomyai]

The chemical in onions that makes them caustic is the same one that makes you cry; it gets into the air as you slice and disturbs your eyes. if you put the onion into the freezer for just long enough for it to get cold without freezing, the chemical becomes more dormant and affects your eyes less.

[caroklp517]

@newmattygosling lol super onions o.O

[dandiliions]

To prevent tears 1. use a sharp knife(enzymes are released when you cut into onion cells) crushing these cells releases more enzymes, sharper knife fewer = fewer enzymes released. 2. Chill onions in freezer before cutting (reduces amount of acid enzyme released in air) 3. Wear goggles preventing the gasses from the acid enzyme getting in your eyes 4. cut onion underwater 5. cut onion where there's a draft. 5. breath through your mouth or stick your tongue out nasal path leads to tear ducts. : )

[gumfoil]

I just rinse onion halves under the tap for a couple seconds; it doesn't completely work, but is easy and good enough for me.

My main problem with onions, though, is how they make my hands smell. To get rid of the oniony smell rub your hands with stainless steel, something like a spoon or sink fixtures.

[anashuabanerji]

if you chop onions wearing contact lenses you REALLY DON'T cry :D believe me...I alternate between specs and contact lenses..I cook regularly and have observed this! btw,great method..should make chopping smarter.thanks as always =)

[DcansuozkanD]

there are actually goggles to chop and dice etc. onions

[Adnan248999]

Cut the onion in half leave the skin on. Put both sides into hot water for 5 minutes then take out and remove the skin. Leave to stand for 5 to 10 minutes as the warmed up onion draws out the tear inducing vapour much quicker and then you're ready to cut.

[ZainabTalha95]

u can put da onion in chilled water for 15 mins before cutting or chopping or watever ....and also if u cut them in a open space u wont cry!!!.

[SarahYusoff]

My parents told me to wear lab goggles haha

[VanityismyReligion]

i know it sounds silly, but keeping a mouthful of water in your mouth while chopping onions works wonders.

[skatergirl671]

Wear goggles! i tried it, it works!!!

[Tallyloolah]

metal spoon in mouth mostly helps for me, handle end in mouth, a strange tip i was given by a friend. :)

[mystifyrara]

chewing gum! i got this tip from a show called 'whats good for you'. i tried it and it works!!

[TanaLovesYew]

I dont know how to prevent crying from Onions, But my mom tought me this trick to ease the burn...

Turn of running water from a Fausset, and put your eyes up real close,(for about 5-10 seconds) But dontp ut them directly into the running water. Little tiny sprits of water will go to you eye, refreshing it, and cleaning out the burn. Helps a ton!

[chrackhead]

Take onion directly from fridge. Then the smell-onion aromas that will make you cry dont go to the air that easily and you wont cry(or dont start right away, at least :P)

[StDraco]

I fill my water with water while I slice onions. Can't talk for a while, but it works wonders!!!

[agapathus]

I love onions, but whenever I cut them, i cry! what do you recommend?