Onion helps fight inflammation, regulates blood sugar, and improves bone and joint health. However, the gas released from onions stimulates nerve cells in the eyes, causing a stinging sensation and prompting the body to produce tears to wash it away.
There are many tips to help you cut onions without tears. (Photo: EatingWell)
ThS Brian Chau, a food scientist at Oregon State University, explains on Business Insider that “when you cut an onion, the enzyme alliinase is released along with a group of compounds called cysteine sulfoxides. Through a series of chemical reactions, a volatile gas called propanethial S-oxide is created and released into the air”.
Tips for cutting onions without tears
Not all onions cause the same discomfort. Sweet onions and green onions contain less sulfur compounds than red, white, and yellow onions, so they tend to cause milder reactions. Meanwhile, many other types of onions can make your eyes water.
To avoid this discomfort, you need to apply the following tips for cutting onions without tears:
Use a sharp knife
Cut and slice onions with a sharp knife made of stainless steel that has been dipped in water. It will significantly reduce the stinging sensation.
Famous chef Julie Andrews, author of many cookbooks, says, “A sharp knife will cause less damage to onion cells, reducing the amount of gas released.”
Brian Chau says, “A dull knife will only make slicing and dicing more difficult and increase the time you’re exposed to the volatile gas. Investing in a knife sharpener or purchasing a new knife may not completely prevent crying when cutting onions, but it will make it a more comfortable experience.”
Chill the onion before cutting
To apply this tip for cutting onions without tears, you need to plan ahead by refrigerating the onion before you start cooking.
Andrews says, “This is probably the best method,” and Brian Chau agrees, “Chemical reactions slow down at low temperatures.” Place the onion in the refrigerator for 30 to 45 minutes and take it out when you are ready to cut the onion. Try to do this quickly because as the onion warms up, you may start to feel your eyes sting.
Storing onions in the refrigerator will cause them to spoil quickly, so you should only put them in the refrigerator when you’re about to use them.
Wear goggles
Wearing goggles is a tip for cutting onions without tears that many people use. (Photo: ThriftyFun)
If you always have difficulty cutting onions, wear goggles to create a barrier between your eyes and the gas that rises.
“Specialized onion-cutting goggles or swimming goggles, safety glasses can be used,” says Brian Chau.
Cut onions under water
Cutting onions under water or under a faucet is also a highly effective tip for cutting onions without tears. The water will dissolve the sulfur compounds before they have a chance to reach your eyes.
Leave the root intact
The compound that causes tears is most concentrated in the root area of the onion. Therefore, when slicing, cut the stem and bulb first, and then cut the root to minimize eye irritation.
Turn on a fan
The gas that causes your eyes to sting rises vertically when you cut onions. So, turn on a fan blowing in the same direction as your line of sight to blow away the air streams and onion particles.
Use vinegar
Mix some vinegar with water, wet the surface of the cutting board with this solution before cutting the onion. Vinegar has the ability to inhibit the sulfur reaction, making cutting onions easier. However, be careful with the amount of vinegar because if you use too much, it will change the taste of the onion.
Use a candle
Light a candle near the cutting board, the heat emitted from the candle can burn off some of the gas released from the onion.
Chew bread
Principally, when you do something that forces you to breathe through your mouth, your nose and eyes will be less irritated, resulting in fewer tears. That’s why you should chew a slice of bread (or any other food) or chew gum… while cutting onions.
In addition to the above tips for cutting onions without tears, Brian Chau suggests that if you have the means, you should invest in specialized kitchen utensils: “Buy a good food processor with a chopping or slicing attachment. You reduce the risk of crying from onions because the contact time will be reduced, and the onions are placed in a closed environment.”
A lower-cost alternative is a vegetable slicer. You can use it with most vegetables and save a lot of preparation time.
According to VTC news
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