10 Tips for Chopping Onions Without Tears
Use Vinegar
Mix equal parts water and vinegar and spray or pour it onto your cutting board and knife before chopping onions. Vinegar helps reduce the reaction of sulfur compounds, which are the culprits behind tearful eyes.
Chill the Onions Before Chopping
When onions are chilled, their cells react more slowly when cut, producing fewer tear-inducing sulfuric acids. Pop your onions in the freezer for 15-20 minutes before chopping to reduce the potential for tears.
Turn on a Fan
Position a fan to blow away from you, carrying those irritating onion vapors in the opposite direction.
Chop Under Water
Chopping onions under running water or in a bowl of water can be incredibly effective. The water captures and dilutes the sulfur compounds before they reach your eyes.
Leave the Root Intact
The root end of an onion contains a higher concentration of sulfur compounds and is where the cells are most likely to break, releasing those compounds. So, peel your onion as usual, but chop it from the root end last to minimize cell breakage and tears.
Use a Fresh Potato
Slice a thin piece of potato and rub it vigorously on your knife before chopping onions. The vitamin C in potatoes neutralizes the sulfur compounds, allowing you to chop onions tear-free.
Light a Candle
The heat from a nearby candle flame can help draw away the sulfur compounds released by the onion, reducing their concentration in the air around you.
Wear Protective Eyewear
Shield your eyes from the onion’s vapors with swimming or gardening goggles. Any eye protection that provides a good seal will do the trick.
Munch on Bread
Try popping a piece of bread or a cracker into your mouth before chopping onions. With food in your mouth, your nose is less likely to be irritated, reducing the chance of tears.
Use a Food Processor
If all else fails, or you’re chopping a large number of onions, consider using a food processor. Simply peel, trim the roots, and chop the onions into chunks before giving them a whirl in the machine.
Source: Health and Beauty (translated)
