How To Cut An Onion Without Crying

Onions are the backbone to many great dishes; countless delicious recipes begin with the simple simmering of oil and onions. But there is just one thorn in the usage of the flavorful root -- it has a tendency to make us cry when we cut into it. And for some of us, this problem is worse in the cooler months since onions harvested in the autumn are more potent and tart. Considering that we are entering the peak of winter, we felt that sharing possible "remedies" for this pesky reaction was well overdue.

Let's start with the simple explanation of why onions irritate our eyes, and then you can decide for yourself as to whether or not these no-cry onion solutions (or myths) do work. The root and shoot of the onion -- known as the basal plate -- contains enzymes that are released when cut into. When these enzymes are mixed with water, they create a sulfuric acid, and it's that acid that irritates our eyes. The best way to avoid these annoying tears when chopping is to stop those acids from reaching our olfactory and tear duct nerves.

Some tips that we have come across are as simple as whistling a tune while you chop (apparently this helps to blow the gases away from your eyes) to the somewhat shady -- in terms of safety -- recommendation of cutting your onion while it is submerged in water. Click through the slideshow below to read about some of our favorite remedies.

Looking for tips on the proper way to chop an onion? Check out the instructional video by The Culinary Institute of America.

What do you do to avoid a tearful onion-cutting session? Let us know by leaving a comment below.

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Comments

[blitznstitch]

08:55 PM on 01/12/2012

chop onion under cold water - then use a colander to separate onion from water - done.

[missy123]

05:51 AM on 01/09/2012

I find it even quicker to just cut off the root end rather than core it.
Or I just peel down the onion to the root after cutting the top piece off .
Both ways have worked like a charm!
No more tears!

[Sundae Driver]

05:39 AM on 01/09/2012

Best way to avoid crying while chopping onions? Watch Stewart or Colbert while dicing.

[excaderesdesire]

04:16 AM on 01/09/2012

Keeping the onions in the refrigerator does have a huge effect on cutting down on the tears. The root is the root of the tears.

When peeling an onion to chop if you cut the root off first it releases all the gases which cause the crying. The root is the last part you should cut off if you want to avoid the crying.

I learned this from a chef sadly to say this was many years ago and I don't remember who the chef was it's been so long ago.

Cut off the top first, then cut off the root. Make a thin slice down the side to remove the outer skin. *** When you cut off the root you can see the juices of the onion begin to pour out of the side where the root is. once you cut off the root keep the root side down as you cut the onion this also helps cutting down on the gas getting to your tear ducts which cause the tears to flow.

Been doing this well over 20 years and I haven't cried since!

[mike5236]

04:10 AM on 01/09/2012

All you have to do is use a sharp knife, and cut. Don't push through the onion, cut through it. Using a dull knife smashes the onion. So instead of all this goofy crap in the article, just go sharpen your knife.

[pammypoo50]

03:39 AM on 01/09/2012

try breathing though your mouth so the fumes dont go directly in your nose i ve been a chef for 40 yrs and i find this will work 99% of the time.

[jcoopers]

03:16 AM on 01/09/2012

Keep the onions in the refridgerator. If I think of it I will put them in the freezer for an hour or so before cutting...... the colder the better.

[Margaret Penny Wood]

02:09 AM on 01/09/2012

If you chop an onion the correct way you will have very few problems with tearing up. Cut the onion in half through the root to the top. Cut off the tip of the top and remove skin down to the root, do NOT cut root! cut through the onion longways up to, but not into the root. Put the flat side down and cut some vertical slices into the onion, then cut vertically across up to the root until you have cut as much as you can. Repeat the process with the other half of the onion. AS long as you do NOT cut into the root you will avoid the part that causes most of the tears. I have not had a problem since I started doing this and it makes cutting diced onions a breeze!

[OldladyVC]

01:59 AM on 01/09/2012

This method has been tried and tested. Put a wooden match with the red end of the match into your mouth. Breath through your nose while trying to avoid allowing the red end to get wet while in your mouth. The sulphur in the match will block the impact of the ensyme and will prevent the teary eyes. The match must be wooden to work.

An elderly woman shared this with me when I was learning to cook over thirty years ago. I did not believe it would work. To my surpise, it did.

[racendirt]

01:49 AM on 01/09/2012

That's why I use a food processor to chop onions or horseradish (which puts the onion to shame). I half expected the writer to say "have someone else chop it'. Yellow onions are the worst and, if you insist on chopping by hand, there really is no fool-proof method. Grow some really long arms.

[Podzak]

01:48 AM on 01/09/2012

I cry when I cut anything.....cos it's not the ex!

[marymary121]

01:28 AM on 01/09/2012

Keep your mouth closed while you cut onions. Don't talk.
If you keep your mouth closed, the onion fumes don't get into your mouth and you won't cry. I've been doing this for years.

[mawmawjacky]

01:17 AM on 01/09/2012

Keep the onions in the fridge. The cold keeps the gases compressed in the root area. Cut the root area off the onion first and discard. This puts the majority of the irritating gases into the garbage and saves many tears.

[randmhunley]

12:56 AM on 01/09/2012

cut onions under running water,
no tears

[njdavenj]

12:55 AM on 01/09/2012

There has to also be some kind of a pre-disposed genetic code, within a small percentage of human beings. Concerning this conundrum. I can peel and mince onion's while preparing meal's,
without any kind of side effect's that have ever caused my eye's any kind of discomfort. I'm pretty confident that I am not the only person on the face of this Earth, that can do this also. Without any
concern's about eye irritation.

[dontgiveupamerica]

01:01 AM on 01/09/2012

Well I'm jealous! I have to stop for a minute sometimes because the burning becomes so intense. I've tried the candle a lot and I've put a wet wash cloth beside the onion. No dice.

[msm0207]

02:29 AM on 01/09/2012

My skin (hands) retain the onion smell for a long time. Sickening. My granddaughter told me to wipe the hands, fingers with the flat of a stainless steel flatware knife! Works every time. It is amazing. Someone was complaining recently about the onion smell (washing doesn't help) and I mentioned this. Sure, it will. I said please humor me. They could not believe the smell went away!