No More Tears (Chopping Onions) (French, better, kitchen, cooking)

[personne]

I know that this tip for cutting onions will sound cooky (it does to my own ears!) but it works for me and everyone I've given it to.

Drink a full mouth of water and don't swallow it while you cut them. Apparently, the concentration it takes to not swallow prevents you from tearing up.

Another (more scientific but much more bothersome) is to take off the very thin peel around the onion. It contains sulfur which is the reason for the tears.

[Berthamay]

Another hint is to wash your hands with cold water and soap after cutting onions to reduce the onion smell on your hands

[Threestep2]

Originally Posted by lubby

Is it true holding a match stick between your teeth works? I remember this tip from the movie "The Help" but wasn't sure if it was true.

It does work:>) Something about sulphur.

[campion]

Originally Posted by apexgds

I didn't realize that for years I've been chopping onions with ZERO tears. Didn't even think about it.

Then a couple nights ago, I found myself cutting onions and crying buckets. What had I done differently? I was wearing my glasses. Normally, I wear contacts. I had no ideas that my contacts prevent me from crying when cutting onions.

Lesson learned.

Oh yes. On those few occasions when I'm cooking and not wearing my contacts, I truly regret it! The pain is unbearable.

[Dirt Grinder]

Originally Posted by Threestep

It does work:>) Something about sulphur.

Uh... no it doesn't. The match won't act as a magnet for sulfenic acids. You'll tear-up and you'll look silly with a match in your mouth.

[Dirt Grinder]

Originally Posted by personne

I know that this tip for cutting onions will sound cooky (it does to my own ears!) but it works for me and everyone I've given it to.

Drink a full mouth of water and don't swallow it while you cut them. Apparently, the concentration it takes to not swallow prevents you from tearing up.

Another (more scientific but much more bothersome) is to take off the very thin peel around the onion. It contains sulfur which is the reason for the tears.

LOL - not even close. That "more scientific" approach isn't very scientific - and it's incorrect. Sulfur won't cause tears unless you grind it into your eyes or it's in an acidic compound - and why would it only be in the "very thin peel?"

[momtothree]

I cut the root/hairy part off last. (saw a chef suggest it) And I have very little or no tears. I also chop next to the stove while it's preheating the pan. The heat helps dissipates any "onion" fumes.

[rural chick]

I'll try it with paper towels. I'll use one paper towel and fold it up a couple of times to get the multiple layers so the paper towel gods don't crash down upon me for using too many paper towels!

[Jaxson]

Originally Posted by momtothree

I cut the root/hairy part off last. (saw a chef suggest it) And I have very little or no tears. I also chop next to the stove while it's preheating the pan. The heat helps dissipates any "onion" fumes.

This is what I do also & don't have any problems with tears either.

[aneye4detail]

I wonder if anyone has cut themselves while cutting an onion because they couldn't see...

I just wanted to report that putting a piece of bread in your mouth totally works!