There are several old wives’ tales out there about How to Cut Onions Without Crying, some or most of which aren’t exactly effective. In fact, some are just downright ridiculous. There has to be a way to cut onions without blinding yourself with tears though.
While there may be no way to fully avoid your crying eyes, there are ways to at least minimize the tears that result from cutting onions. Having tears start streaming down your face makes you not want to do this chore.
Why Onions Make You Cry
When you cut an onion, a series of chemical reactions take place. These chemical reactions produce something called propanethial S-oxide, which is considered an irritant. Propanethial S-oxide causes the eyes to fill up with tears, as this is the body’s natural way to flush out an irritant.
This means, that if you want to avoid the tears associated with cutting onions, you are going to have to discover a way to cut those onions that prevent the irritant from being able to reach your eyes.
How to Minimize Your Tears
Sharpen Your Knives
Using a sharp knife can prevent large amounts of irritants from being released from the onion. The sharper the knife, the less damage it does to the cell walls of the onion. This can make a huge difference in how much you cry while you chop onions for dinner.
Turn The Onion Over
Once you have cut the onion in half, turn them down onto your cutting board. Do not peel the sides of the onion until you are ready to chop them. Upon completing the chopping of one half, move the diced onion into a separate bowl and put it on the other side of your kitchen. This will certainly help to prevent the irritants from reaching your eyes.
Chill The Onions
The colder the onion, the less propanethial S-oxide will be released. There will still be a bit of irritation, but it will be minimized.
You can freeze the peeled onion for about 15-30 min. Even rinsing in cold water seems to help me too. Just be careful as the onion will be slippery.
Turn on the Fan
Put your cutting board next to your stove and turn on the vent hood fan. Doing this will suck air up and help to push the irritants away from your eyes.
Cutting onions doesn’t have to leave you all puffy-eyed and sad-looking. Just make sure you minimize the chemical reactions that result from cutting onions, and take precautions to keep the irritants away from your eyes.
Check out our other posts to help you with:
How to Spring Clean Your Kitchen
Comments & Reviews
Annette Swint Gamble says
There is only one way that I don’t cry chopping onions. I “stole” a pair of my daughter’s swim goggles. I may look funny, but i don’t cry so bad that I chop the onion with my eyes closed. Swim goggles are a much safer choice.
Tara Noland says
Much safer than with your eyes closed for sure Annette!!
Fiona McVicar says
The best way is to suck a tea spoon. Put the tea spoon upside down on your younger and breathe through your nose. The metal helps with the chemical reaction. Works every time. Try it. I teach young adults with learning disabilities. Even they do this now.
Toni | Boulder Locavore says
I need these tips! I can’t help but cry whenever I cut onions!
Heather says
I’m totally an onion cutting cry machine. I had heard water helps, but I need to try icing the onions.
Lena Burkut says
That is absolutely insane! I can’t imaine how many tears I drop while cutting an onion!
Cat says
My husband’s great aunt was the one who taught me how to do a lot of cooking right after we got married, and learning to not cry cutting onions was one of her tricks she shared with me! This is how she does it, too.
Lisa Bristol says
My eyes always water when I cut onions. I have started to keep them in the fridge and it does help. I will have to try sharper knives.
krystal says
What a cool way to cut onions without crying. Neat kitchen hack – I need more of them!
Vera Sweeney says
Great tips for cutting onions! It never fails, I go to cut an onion, and I look like I just got done watching Marley and Me!
Amy says
Oh my gosh, white onions are the worst for me. I cry up a storm and then my eyes burn for hours later. I need to use some of these tips like chilling the onions! Thank you!
Liz Mays says
This is such good advice and onions are definitely key ingredients in lots of recipes. I use them in sauces quite a bit. I haven’t tried the freezing trick!
Alicia Gonzalez says
I use onions almost everyday! I’ll have to try the chilling to see if that helps. On the bright side, since I cut them so often, I’m pretty fast. lol
Cierra says
Cutting onions makes my head hurt as if I have a headache. I will definitely try these tips.
Jill says
On a windy summer day I will sometimes go outside to chop onions! I have one of those ‘smack chopper’ gadgets that works pretty well too – I just have to remember I have one!!
Tara Noland says
Good suggestions too! Thanks!