Why Do I Cry Cutting Onions?

If cutting onions makes you cry, you’re not alone! Forget myths about breathing with your mouth open, lighting a candle, whistling while you cut, holding bread in your mouth, or holding a wine cork between your teeth!

Cutting an onion produces a series of chemical reactions that unleashes propanethial S-oxide (a noxious sulfur compound), an irritant that causes the eyes to fill with tears. If you want to prevent tears, you have to chop in a way that produces fewer irritants. You also have to prevent the irritant from reaching your eyes.

Here are 6 ways to stop crying when cutting onions:

1. Chill the Onion.
When onions are cold, propanethial S-oxide will evaporate. This will help take away some of the irritants. Chill onions for at least 30 minutes before cutting. Don't freeze onions, just refrigerate them.

2. Properly Cut the Onion.
Master Chefs cut onions so that they keep most of the exposed cut against the board. Learning how to cut an onion like this, step, by step will help you reduce eye irritants and ensure uniformly, efficiently cut onions.

Leave cutting the root of the onion until the last step because it has the highest concentration of sulfur compounds that irritate the eyes. There are numerous free videos online that show you how to cut an onion like a master chef!

3. Use a Sharp Knife.
Using a sharp knife results in less damage to onion cell walls. This way, fewer irritants enter the air.

4. Store Cut Onion Away From Work Space.
Turn both halves of a cut onion down on the cutting board immediately after cutting in half. Leave the side you aren't currently chopping unpeeled. Once you've finished with one half, move the diced onion into a prep bowl, and set it on the opposite side of the kitchen, before proceeding with the rest of the onion.

5. Use the Vent Hood.
Turn on the exhaust fan and place your cutting board as close to it as you can. This will pull irritants away from you and your eyes. If you don’t have a vent hood, use a fan to blow eye irritants away from you while you cut.

6. Safety Goggles!
If you are still bothered by onion irritants, invest in a cheap set of safety goggles from the hardware store. Goggles that provide a good seal/suction around the eyes are the only foolproof way of avoiding tearing up when cutting onions.

Need a gift for the gourmet cook in your life? Look no further! You can purchase specially made goggles just for cutting onions. Go to http://www.amazon.com/RSVP-International-Onion-Goggles-Black/dp/B0014SQU1A

Don’t let eye irritants stop you from preparing and enjoying onions! They are one of the most beneficial veggies around and should be eaten frequently.

For more information about the exiting health benefits of onions please visit: http://www.massachusettshealth.com/onions-garlic-health.php

For information on how to get the most from your vegetables please visit: http://www.philadelphiahealth.com/organic-local-or-conventional-foods.php