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 as the water will dissolve the sulfur compounds before they can reach your eyes.
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3. Sharp knife
Cutting and slicing onions with a sharp stainless steel knife that has been dipped in water before you start cutting will significantly reduce the risk of eye irritation. If you are cutting a lot of onions or even just one layer at a time, dip the knife in water frequently.
4. Candles
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 fly away 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.
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Use a sharp knife, slice next to the faucet, or refrigerate the onion before slicing. |
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 a reversal of the method above, cut off both ends of the onion under water. Then you can chop the onion without worrying about tearing your eyes.
9. Vinegar
Spray the cutting board with a 50/50 vinegar and 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 onion.
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 remove the onion smell from your hands, you can rub them with dry salt, lemon juice, rub them with a stainless steel spoon, or rinse them under water before rinsing them with soapy water.
According to Giadinh.net