10 tips to cut onions without tearing up your eyes

Here are some tips and tricks that can help you avoid getting teary eyes when chopping onions.

1. Chill

Chilled onion cells react more slowly when cut, so refrigerate your onions before cutting, peel them for at least 30 minutes, or freeze them for 10-15 minutes (depending on the size of the onion).

2. Cut onions under water

Cutting onions under water or running water will also help significantly because the water will dissolve the sulfur compounds before they can reach your eyes.

3. Sharp knife

Cutting and slicing onions with a sharp stainless steel knife that has been dipped in water before you start will significantly reduce the chance of your eyes getting irritated. If you are cutting a lot of onions or even just one layer at a time, dip the knife in water frequently.

4. Candle

Light a candle very close to your cutting board when chopping onions so the heat can draw out some of the sulfur from the onion.

5. Turn on the fan

Turn on the fan in the same direction as you sit to blow away the onion droplets that are sprayed when cutting onions.

6. Chew continuously

Chew gum or any food in your mouth. This will encourage you to breathe through your mouth, thereby sucking up the tiny droplets in the onion before they reach your eyes.

Use a sharp knife, slice next to the faucet, or refrigerate the onion before cutting.

7. Leave the onion roots

Do you cut off both ends of an onion before slicing? Don't! Try leaving the root until last, as sulfur compounds are more concentrated near the root.

8. Cut the onion top under water

As opposed to the above method, cut both ends of the onion under water. Then you can freely chop the onion without worrying about tearing your eyes.

9. Vinegar

Spray the cutting board with a 50/50 vinegar-water mixture, as the vinegar will stop the sulfur reaction. If this doesn't work, try spraying the cutting board with just vinegar. However, this may affect the flavor of the cooked onions.

10. Where to cut

Don't cut onions in a closed kitchen, choose a well-ventilated area with a fan so the gases can escape more easily.

Additionally, to wash off the onion smell from your hands, you can rub your hands with dry salt, lemon juice, rub your hands with a stainless steel spoon, or rinse your hands under water before rinsing with soapy water.

According to Giadinh.net