Cutting onions without the crying!

**MomToTwoBoys** · 10-03-2008, 10:27 PM

I'm not sure if this tip has been posted in the past, but I found it today:

If you're going to cut onions then make sure you a) have good ventilation, b) soak them in water, and c) use a sharp knife.

I've tried the candle burning trick, the wearing goggles trick, etc but I found the three methods to cutting onions without crying were pretty simple. I would peel off the brown outside (the part that's attached to the stem of the onion) to where all you have is the yellow/white/red outer layer. I then cut the onion in half, toss it into some water, and let them soak for about 30 minutes. After that, I put the onion on the cutting board and made sure I used a sharp knife. If you use a dull knife, it'll tear the skin that holds the odor cells that makes the onions stink and spray juice everywhere.

I read this whole scientific reasoning behind what causes people to cry when cutting an onion but I couldn't find it again.

**zakity** · 10-03-2008, 11:37 PM

I just don't breathe through my nose while I am cutting it up.

**Royal** · 10-04-2008, 02:27 AM

I heard that if you run the tap a little (not very frugal ,I know) that you shouldn't get all teary-eyed. I find that red onions are a lot better than normal onions when it comes to keeping dry.

**Michelle** · 10-04-2008, 07:10 AM

I just deal with it, but what's funny is that only my right eye tears up because I wear a contact lens in my left. I don't know why that is--(maybe the lens provides a protective barrier since it sits directly on the eye?), but it's pretty cool to only have to deal with one tearing eye

**YankeeMom** · 10-04-2008, 09:47 AM

I keep my onions in the fridge and I don't have a problem with them making my eyes tear up.

**jzkitten** · 10-04-2008, 12:43 PM

We just saw this hint on food detectives and the best way to cut onions without tears is to chill the onions prior to cutting.

**McD** · 10-04-2008, 12:58 PM

If I am wearing my contacts I don't tear up, but if I am wearing my glasses I am.

I worked at a grocery store in the kitchen/deli, which was right by the Chinese departments. The Chinese cooks wrapped Saran wrap over their eyes to keep from tearing.

**Nishu** · 10-04-2008, 04:51 PM

I've always bought white onions and only started tearing up when I use the yellow ones. I really don't use them enough to buy a bag.

**Wendy99** · 10-04-2008, 05:02 PM

wow perfect timing for this thread

I just bought a 10 lb bag of onions on sale today for $1.66 .. couldn't buy them individually for cheaper than this ... I'm 'trying' to cut them up and freeze them .. and I'm crying so hard LOL .. ugh ... have to take a break .. will continue later

**missyali** · 10-04-2008, 11:23 PM

Originally Posted by Wendy99

wow perfect timing for this thread

I just bought a 10 lb bag of onions on sale today for $1.66 .. couldn't buy them individually for cheaper than this ... I'm 'trying' to cut them up and freeze them .. and I'm crying so hard LOL .. ugh ... have to take a break .. will continue later

What an AWESOME deal! i love to buy them cheap and throw them in the food processor. I put them in containers of pre-chopped in the freezer.

**MomToTwoBoys** · 10-04-2008, 11:56 PM

Yeah, I got my 25-lb bag for $4.98.

I cut them up at just the right time too because some of them at the bottom were getting a bit soft on the first layer.

**shadowfax** · 10-05-2008, 09:20 AM

Cutting onions is something I do for a living. Some days I have to slice up about 50 pounds for onion rings. Other days I only have to do 5-10 pounds.

Cold onions are less smelly yes.
Running under water does help.
Make sure the onions are very fresh. The older the onion the more it smells.
Breathe through your mouth not your nose while cutting onions.
If you get too teared up go stick your head in a fridge.... at work I walk into the freezer or cooler and breathe deep through your mouth to clear the onion stuff.

If you have to cut up large amounts of onions you might peel them all and ask a local restaurant if they would put them through their Hobart slicer/copper.

For those freezing onions a question. Do you blanch them first or do you just bag them and freeze them? I want to start freezing veggies like peppers and onions and have not really done it before.

**nancycg56** · 10-05-2008, 09:32 AM

I find that if I cut the root end first, the onions don't bother me except once in a great while. I really hate the onion cry!

**YankeeMom** · 10-05-2008, 09:40 AM

Originally Posted by shadowfax

For those freezing onions a question. Do you blanch them first or do you just bag them and freeze them? I want to start freezing veggies like peppers and onions and have not really done it before.

I do not blanch onions or peppers before freezing. I just chop them, toss them in freezer bag & lay them flat in the freezer. I think the laying them flat is what keeps them from freezing in big, unusable clumps.

**shadowfax** · 10-05-2008, 01:28 PM

Thanks!
I want to go to the farmers market tomorrow. You can get whole bushels of peppers for $7!

Ok now can you freeze tomatoes and how would you do them?
I know how to can them but I don't have the jars or time right now.

I work in a restaurant so I can use the equipment at work for slicing and cutting.