What’s the Best Way to Prevent Crying When Chopping Onions?
Tearing up while chopping onions is a common kitchen annoyance. Luckily, there are several tricks you can try to avoid the stinging sensation and keep your eyes dry. Let’s explore what causes the tears—and the best methods to prevent them.
Why Do Onions Make You Cry?
When you slice into an onion, it releases a gas called syn-Propanethial-S-oxide. This gas reacts with the moisture in your eyes, creating a mild form of sulfuric acid. Your body responds by producing tears to flush it out, causing that familiar burning and watery-eye effect.
A Few Notes on Methodology
These tips focus on either reducing the gas that’s released or blocking it from reaching your eyes. Some work better than others depending on your kitchen setup and personal preference. Try a few and see what works best for you.
Heat Onion in the Microwave
Microwaving the onion for 30 seconds before cutting it can help reduce the amount of irritating gas it releases. Heat breaks down the sulfur compounds, making them less potent. Just be sure not to overheat it—you still want that fresh onion flavor.
Chill Onion in the Refrigerator
Cooling your onion for 30 minutes before chopping slows down the release of the tear-inducing gas. You can also pop it in the freezer for 10 minutes for quicker results. This is one of the easiest and most effective methods.
Hold a Slice of Bread in Your Mouth
It might sound strange, but holding a piece of bread in your mouth—so that part of it hangs out—can absorb the onion fumes before they reach your eyes. It also encourages you to breathe through your mouth, which keeps the gas away from your eyes.
Rub Knife with Lemon Juice
Before chopping, rub your knife blade with a little lemon juice. The acid can help neutralize the sulfur compounds as you cut, reducing the amount of gas that’s released into the air.
Soak Onion in Water
Soaking a peeled onion in water for 10–15 minutes helps draw out the sulfur compounds. This method reduces the onion’s sharpness and makes it less likely to cause tears. However, it may slightly affect the flavor, so use it wisely for raw dishes.
With these tips, you can keep onion tears to a minimum and enjoy cooking a little more. Try different methods and see which one fits your kitchen routine best!
