Every cook knows the struggle of chopping onions. No matter how careful you are, tears inevitably stream down your face as you slice and dice these pungent bulbs. But why do onions make you cry, and more importantly, how can you prevent it?
The answer lies in the science of onions. Onions belong to the allium family, which includes garlic, leeks, and chives. These plants produce sulfur-containing compounds that give them their distinctive flavor and aroma. When you cut an onion, you break its cells and release these compounds into the air. Some of them react with enzymes in the onion to form a gas called syn-propanethial-S-oxide, which is the main culprit behind your onion tears.
This gas is volatile and quickly reaches your eyes, where it reacts with the water to form sulfuric acid. This acid irritates your eyes and triggers your tear glands to produce more tears to wash it away. The more you chop, the more gas you release, and the more you cry.
So, how can you stop this vicious cycle? There are many tips and tricks that people swear by, but not all of them are effective or practical. Here are some of the best ones, based on the science behind onion tears and the experience of passionate cooks.
- Cool the onion. One of the most straightforward ways to diminish onion tears is to refrigerate or freeze the onion prior to cutting it. This brings down the temperature of the onion and dials back the synthetic responses that produce the nerve gas. It likewise decreases the instability of the gas, making it doubtful that it will arrive at your eyes. In any case, don’t freeze the onion for a really long time, as it can influence its surface and flavor.
- Utilize a sharp blade. Another straightforward tip is to use a sharp blade to slash the onion. A dull blade will smash the onion cells and deliver a greater amount of the poisonous gas. A sharp blade will make clean slices and limit the harm to the onion cells. It will likewise accelerate the cleaving system, reducing your openness to the gas.
- Cut close to a vent or a fan. In the event that you have a vent or a fan in your kitchen, you can utilize it to blow away the poisonous gas from your eyes. Position yourself so the wind current is between you and the onion, and cleave away. The vent or the fan will scatter the gas and keep it from arriving at your eyes.
- Wear goggles. To put in any amount of work, you can wear goggles or glasses to safeguard your eyes from the poisonous gas. Ensure they fit comfortably and cover your eyes totally. You can likewise utilize swimming goggles or ski goggles for this reason. You could look senseless, yet you’ll be without tears.
- Flush the onion. One more method for lessening the nerve gas is to wash the onion under cool water previously or in the wake of stripping it. This will wash away a portion of the sulfur mixtures and proteins that produce the gas. It will likewise soak the onion and keep the gas from getting out of sight. Nonetheless, this strategy can likewise wash away a portion of the onion, so use it sparingly.
- Bite gum. Certain individuals guarantee that biting gum while cleaving onions can forestall tears. The thought is that biting gum animates the creation of spit, which assists with killing the corrosive in your eyes. In any case, there is no logical proof to help this case, and it probably won’t work for everybody. In any case, in the event that you like biting gum, it doesn’t damage to attempt.
- Light a candle. Another well-known tip is to light a flame close to the cutting board and cleave the onion close to it. The fire of the flame should consume a portion of the poisonous gas and decrease its focus in the air. Nonetheless, this strategy isn’t exceptionally successful, as the flame can consume a modest quantity of gas, and it could create more smoke and intensity in your kitchen.
- Cut the onion in an unexpected way. The manner in which you cut the onion can likewise influence how much nerve gas you discharge. The poisonous gas is generally packed in the root and the stem of the onion, which are the parts that keep the onion intact. Assuming you cut these parts last, you can reduce the amount of gas that leaves. This is the way to make it happen:
- Remove the highest point of the onion; however, leave the root in one piece.
- Strip off the external layer of the onion and dispose of it.
- Slice the onion down the middle through the root.
- Put the onion parts level on the cutting board, with the root facing away from you.
- Make vertical cuts along the onion, lined up with the root, but don’t slice through the root.
- Make flat cuts across the onion, opposite the root, yet don’t slice through the root.
- At long last, make slanting cuts along the onion, from the top to the root, and dispose of the root.
These are some of the best ways to chop onions without crying, or at least without feeling like a baby. Try them out and see what works for you. And remember, even if you do cry, it’s not a sign of weakness. It’s a sign of your love for cooking and your dedication to making delicious dishes with onions.
Related posts:
Why Does Cutting Onions Make You Cry? – Houston Methodist
Why onions make you cry and how to prevent it – Times of India
