10 tricks to cut onions without getting teary eyes.

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

1. Chill

Onion cells react more slowly when chilled. Therefore, refrigerate onions before cutting or peeling them for at least 30 minutes, or place them in the freezer for 10-15 minutes (depending on the size of the onion).

2. Cut onions underwater.

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

3. A sharp knife

Cutting onions with a very sharp stainless steel knife that has been dipped in water before you start cutting will significantly reduce eye irritation. If you are cutting a lot of onions, or even just a single layer, dip the knife in water frequently.

4. Candles

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

5. Turn on the fan.

Turn the fan to face the same direction as you are sitting to blow away any onion droplets that splatter when you cut the onions.

6. Chew continuously

Chew gum or any food in your mouth. This will encourage you to breathe through your mouth, thus drawing in some of the tiny droplets from the onion before they reach your eyes.

Use a sharp knife, slice the onion along the edge of the faucet, or refrigerate the onion before slicing.

7. Leave the onion root intact.

Do you cut off both ends of the onion before slicing it? That's not a good idea! Try leaving the root intact until the end, as the sulfur compounds are more concentrated near the root.

8. Cut off the onion tops underwater.

Conversely to the method above, cut both ends of the onion underwater. Then, you can freely chop onions without worrying about stinging eyes.

9. Vinegar

Spray the cutting board with a 50/50 mixture of vinegar and water, as vinegar can stop the sulfur reaction. If this mixture isn't effective, try using only vinegar to spray the cutting board. However, this may affect the flavor of the cooked onions.

10. Cutting location

Don't chop onions in a poorly ventilated kitchen; choose a well-ventilated area with a fan to allow the fumes to escape more easily.

Additionally, to remove the onion smell from your hands, you can rub your hands with dry salt, lemon juice, scrub your hands with a stainless steel spoon, or rinse your hands under running water before washing them again with soap.

According to Giadinh.net