While we’ve featured one or two ways to avoid crying while cutting onions in the past, this tip requires absolutely no preparation and should keep your eyes clear next time you’re cooking.
Photo by Jennifer Dickert.
Instead of going through a lot of trouble to avoid the waterworks, weblog Daily DIY says you can stop tears by merely putting your tongue on the roof of your mouth while you’re cutting. Whatever you do, though, don’t breathe through your nose—breathe through your mouth. You may look a little silly, but it barely requires any work on your part, and it’s sure to be a conversation starter with your dinner guests.
I couldn’t find any definitive information about this one, but a quick Google search shows that quite a few people swear by this solution. If any of you cooks out there get a chance to chop up some onions—or you already do this—give it a try and let us know how it goes in the comments.
Onion Tears No More [Daily DIY]
Swil
Saturday, October 31, 2009 at 10:32 PMFor both onion cutting without tears and visual comedy, wear swimming goggles.
Seriously. Works a treat. And looks AWESOME.
Jai
Sunday, November 1, 2009 at 8:13 PMThe best way to avoid crying, without looking like an idiot or using any gimmicks, is very simple.
Use a good knife, keep it very sharp.
That is all.
Brad
Tuesday, November 3, 2009 at 1:51 PMThe best way to avoid tears is to breathe through your mouth only. If you inhale the fumes through your nose they enter your sinuses and makes you cry.
Try it and you will see what I mean.
technojames
Monday, November 2, 2009 at 12:05 PMHold a slice of bread in your mouth by one corner…the bread absorbs the rising fumes and prevent them from getting in your eyes… you can then eat the slice of bread which has a nice hint of onion in it.
Graeme
Monday, November 2, 2009 at 1:36 PMIf I cut onions whilst wearing my contact lenses I never have any problems with tears.
Liz
Monday, November 2, 2009 at 5:26 PMGraeme, I’m the same! If i’ve got glasses on though, working quickly with a sharp knife and throwing away the ends straight away usually helps.
Ollie
Tuesday, November 3, 2009 at 12:51 PMLMAO WTF?
The reason you cry is because the vapour from the cut onion reacts with the fluid in your eyes to form an acid. The crying is your bodies reaction to flushing this out… WTF is holding your tongue one way going to do to prevent this? if it stops the tears then look forward to your eyeballs getting etched.
Best thing to do apart from a sharp knife is to wet the onion before/during cutting.
Dinty
Wednesday, November 4, 2009 at 3:37 PMBest thing that i’ve found is to put the onion in the freezer for a little while before cutting (not till the point where it becomes rock hard). The cold condenses the gases so they don’t rise up into your eyes.
andy
Monday, December 7, 2009 at 1:42 AMMight sound stupid but just gently and steadily blow while you chop. Works very well.