Why do onions make you cry, and how can you prevent it from happening? They’re made up of a tunic of outer leaves (the brown layer), scales (the white firm juicy edible part), and the basal plate (often called the “hairy part” or the “root”). When you cut the basal plate or shoot, they release an enzyme. That enzyme reacts in the rest of the onion to release a gas. When that gas combines with water, it creates an acid. If that water is in your eye, you have acid in your eye.
TIP: use chopped onions within 24 hours. They become infested with bacteria and can make you quite ill especially for immune repressed person.
- Use a very sharp knife when cutting onions. The enzymes are released when cells are broken or crushed; using a sharp knife slices through the onion rather than crushing and thus, fewer enzymes are released. Regardless of whether you employ different tactics too, use a sharp knife in every onion-cutting situation. It’ll go that much quicker!
- Chill the onions in the freezer for 10 to 15 minutes before cutting them. This reduces the amount of the acid enzyme released into the air and has zero effect on taste. This was found to be the most effective way to reduce tears by the television program Food Detectives.
The fridge can do it, too; just make sure not to keep them next to apples or potatoes, or leave them in there for too long (20 minutes should do it) — they can cause odors if you do.
- Cut the onion under water. This is an effective method, but the problem is that it’s a bit difficult to maneuver. In the water, the onion bits go every where unless you hold onto them and then scooping them up and draining out the onion water and it can all just not be worth it if you don’t execute it right. If you choose this method, plan out your attack beforehand.
Some say to do it under running water, but this is a bit tricky, too, obviously. The gushing water makes everything go a little haywire in your hands.
- Cut the onion near hot running water or a cloud of steam. Steam from a kettle or pan of water will do the trick. The science here is that the steam will draw out the vapors from the onion, dissipating them.
- Breathe through your mouth and stick your tongue out. This draws the gas over your wet tongue. The olfactory nerves, which are closely located to the tear duct nerves, will be by bypassed and there will be no tears generated. This is easily confirmed when you forget and breathe through your nose. Instant tears!
- Soak the onion in water. The enzyme is denatured by the water-air boundary. However, do know that this eliminates some flavor and that the onion is a little more slippery than normal (making it harder to deal with). If milder onions are okay for you, give this method a shot.
- Point your knife away from the tubes. Because onion “flesh” is tubular in construction, pointing the tubes away from you while cutting will keep the onion from spraying in your eyes.
Of course, a breeze of any kind can send the fine, misty spray toward your eyes, so pay attention to air currents too. Turn that fan on — and point it in the right direction!
- Whistle while you work. Whistling makes a significant airflow, specifically away from your face, which keeps the onion mist away from your eyes. Just pick a catchy tune that you won’t want to stop whistling and you can cut as many onions as you need.
- Stick a piece of bread in your mouth. Many people report that chewing, especially bread, helps avoid tears when cutting onions. Chew very slowly, letting the bread hang out of your mouth a little. Your mouth will water, which will be a little uncomfortable, but your eyes won’t! Others say to chew gum. There’s no real reason this might work, but you could give it a shot!
- Wear gas-tight goggles or a mask. If you have a pair of swimmer’s goggles or chemistry goggles that fit your face, this is one of your best bets. No onion air will be getting in there! But if they don’t fit your face, you’re just cutting an onion with weird glasses on, crying all the while. Be wary of the one-size-fits-all onion goggles you can find online. The odds of them fitting aren’t 100%. And if you have glasses? You’re better off with a different method.
- Cut the onion next to a strong draught from a fume hood, fan, or window. This is so that the gas is pulled away from your eyes. Get to chopping on your stove and use the vent (be sure to blast it at full power) that comes up above. Or just get next to an open window or get outside and enjoy the breeze.
- Wear contact lenses. They create a barrier between the surface of your eyes and the gas. If it’s this or glasses, definitely go for lenses!
Use some type of acidic solution. An ionic or acidic solution can denature the enzyme. Here’s a couple home remedy solutions from around the house:
- Put vinegar on the chopping board. The acid denatures the enzyme.
- Soak the onion in salt water. The ionic solution denatures the enzyme. But do know that this can change the flavor.
- Use the candle method. Light a candle and set it near the cutting board before cutting the onion. The gas released by the onion is drawn into the flame of a candle. Not your best bet, however. Some say it just masks the smell and doesn’t actually work. But hey, your kitchen will smell nice! Remember to blow it out after you’re finished cutting the Sweet onions, like Vidalias, are less cry-inducing. Consider using these instead.
- This is my personal favorite! While wearing kitchen gloves zest a lemon and place it within where you are cutting your onion. Or put a small amount of juice in a nearby bowl. The acid from the lemon draws the smell of the onion away fom your eyes. Then I add a bit of the zest or juice to whatever I am making to draw the flavor out into the dish!
Get the scoop on onions by reading Healthy Facts About Onions and
Chopping Onions Without Tears.
What do you do to stop the tears?
This article is part of the Tips That Help in the Kitchen Series, Tip Friday.
Wow! I’ve learned so much about onions from reading this post! Very informative! I especially like the whistling tip. 🙂 Thanks for sharing at the #Friday Funday Blog Hop!
I hope you get to use this infor in cutting onions. Let me know which one works best for you!
I am going to try these as my eyes always water when cutting onions – Thanks for sharing with Pin-worthy Wednesday Marilyn
You are welcome Amber. I hope one works for you.
This is perfect for me because I ALWAYS cry when I cut onions. Thanks for sharing this tip with is over at the Welcome Home Wednesdays Link Party!
You are welcome Lisa. I hope one of these works. I am glad I could help!
These are great tips! I am a huge crier when I chop onions! UG! A friend said to leave the hairy part on and it helps, now I understand why! LOL I get my husband to chop them, for some reason they don’t affect him at all! I am such a weenie!
Now that I stopped crying I have no excuse for chopping my fingers off! I use a tool like a hair pick and stick it in the onion then chop in between the tongs. Then I slde the onion off and cut myself with the knife. My kids think all onions are red! ????
This is perfect! onions are my worst enemy and I have been avoiding them because they seem to really affect me! Thanks for sharing this!!
I hope one of these help. I find rinsing then soaking in cold water helps me!
So many great ideas to try! I know I hate cutting onions, even though they add such great flavor, so I’ll have to give some of these a try. I usually rinse the onions first or burn a candle, but sometimes those onions still make me cry! Thanks for sharing, and you’re featured today on Inspire Me Monday! 🙂
I hope some of these make those strong onions less potent! Thanks CJ for sharing your thoughts! Let me know what happens!
Definitely some great tips!
Thanks for joining Cooking and Crafting with J & J!
Thank you Jess!
So many great tips! Who knew there where so many onion-tearing-up prevention methods out there. Thanks for linking up with Funtastic Friday.
Thanks Victoria. Some were just plain funny!
Great tips, Marilyn! I use the stove vent method, and run the onion under water before cutting, but I’ve heard the freezer method is better. I’ll have to try the others too. Thanks so much for sharing at Merry Monday! 🙂
Thank you Dee. I use the fridege and oven vent too! Thanks for sharing your ideas.
great tips! Onions used to bother me, but I think I’ve gotten used to them. Thanks for sharing!
You are welcome Anne. For me it’s the strong ones that get me everytime. #yumtum
These are great tips!
Thank you Angelina! Glad you like them.
I’ve always wondered why people cry when they cut onions. It all makes sense now! I had no clue about the science behind it. I practically sob when I cut onions, oftentimes cutting a bit blindly because of the amount of tears. Thanks to all of these doable tips I’ll be able to cut them clear eyed and with a smile!
Thank you so much for sharing these tips!
~Haley
Thank you Haley for sharing your thoughts! I am glad I could help.
These are awesome tips Marilyn as I love onions. I want to know more about the 24 hour thing. How do they get bacteria if chopped and kept in the fridge? Please advise and thanks again for these insightful tips. Have a blessed day!
Thank you Horace for asking! It just so happens I wrote a Tip Friday on that. It posts tomorrow morning. This url will be valid then. https://www.marilynstreats.com/tip-friday-health-facts-onions have a lovely week.
This is quite an extensive list and your personal favorite is mine as well. I buy Vidalia or Sweet Onions and have fewer problems with tears.
Those are my favorite also Sandra. The sweeter the onion the better for my dish! Have a gret week.
Love this post… I always avoid chopping the onions, but if I can make it easier, why not??
Thanks Andreaa! I buy white onions already chopped as they leave a strong order behind. Just remember to use chopped onions with 24 hours as they oick up bacteria and can make you ill!
These are all great suggestions, Marilyn. Thanks for sharing your post at the Over the Moon Link Party.
Thank you Sandy. Have a great week.
I am definitely going to have to give these a try to find the trick. I can attest to a sharp knife making a difference. I have learned that white onions produce the most liquid and are the worst for tearing, so I avoid those. I’ll let you know which of these i like best. What about you, Marilyn, which tips do you like best? I really appreciate this post…thank you for linking up with me at #UpsyDaisyLinkup!
I only cut up Vidlia anymore. The others really leave their presence known for hours! Thanks Regina.
Great tips! I especially love how some of them will make me look ridiculous! Lol! I love to make my family laugh when I’m cooking. Although, tricking my girls into thinking I’m really crying when I’m actually just cutting up onions is almost too fun to pass up…
For sure the kids will want to be in the kitchen helping while you do a few of these!
Such a great idea! Can’t wait to cut up an onion! Thanks for sharing at Family Joy Link UP!
Thanks Laura. And glad to have been invited to the party! Putting it in commentscis such a good way to announce it.
Wow, so many fantastic tips! I’ve never heard of half of these. Thanks so much! #MMBH
Thank you Erin! I hope you give a few a shot! Have a great week.
Thanks for sharing all these great tips with us. I always cry when I cut onions. This will be super helpful. I hope you can join us at Family Joy Blog Link Up Party this week. Check it out
Welcome to the blog Charlene and thank you for your comment. I went over to your party nd shared some links and left a commemt. Have a great week.
Another great tip Marilyn!! Thanks for sharing on the “What’s for Dinner” blog hop! See you at Over the Moon!
Thank you Helen. It is getting harder to come up with useful tips!
I really needed this info! Thanks so much! I’m going to remember these and try several of them at the same time for our next dinner…..
I am glad to help Marnie! Be sure to let me know which works best for you. I will keep my fingers crossed. Thanks for commenting!
I can’t wait to try these out! We just got a back of SUPER STRONG onions which is no big, but I have a ENTIRE bag of tears to go through, ha!
I m glad Morgan you now have some options. Let me know what works! I HATE strong onions. The odor lingers on my hands forever. Use thin gloves or lemon juice for that. Thanks for the comment. Have a good week!
Thanks for all the great tips! I cry non-stop when chopping any type of onion and I tried a few of those methods. What works for me is cutting up the onion outside. Now after reading your tips I want to try them out!
Let me know what you come up with Charlotte. Going outside won’t work well in winter.
Marilyn, I love this post! I’ve already shown it to multiple people, because everyone knows my onion crying problem. So happy to know there are other tricks I can try out, instead of just going outside. 😉
I had to come back and leave you another comment because this post is just what my onion crying self needed.
Thank you Charlotte. I am glad I could get some research to you. Knowing more than one way to accomplish a goal makes that goal more attainable. Let me know what works for you!