Do you love the taste of onions but hate having to cut an onion? Well, you’re not alone. Let’s face it, onions will have their revenge.
Why does this happen? Our body produces tears as it responds to compounds that consist of methionine and cysteine, which are part of the amino acid family. An onion releases these chemicals once it has been cut.
The painful tears that we get when we cut onion are enough to make us pause in our cooking prep work. So, here are simple tips on how you can cut an onion without shedding a tear.
Cut an Onion with a Sharp Knife
This is one of the basics, and probably, the easiest.
You see, as you cut into an onion, you are slicing through its protective membrane and releasing chemicals into the air. A sharper knife makes more efficient cuts and doesn’t damage as many cells.
Goggles
Break out that old pair of swimming goggles or invest in chemical safety glasses.
It makes sense to be able to learn how to peel an onion without crying by using goggles. You might feel a little silly, but hey, at least you won’t be in tears.
Cutting Onions Underwater
Have you ever considered cutting onions underwater? This is because when you’re slicing your onions fully submerged in water traps the fumes and keeps your eyes dry and sting-free.
Though, you do want to be careful when selecting the right container to do this. You want a flat surface to cut against if you can help it, so we recommend really large mixer bowls with wide flat bases or deep casserole dishes.
You definitely don’t want to cut them inside any stovetop pan – the last thing you want is to ruin your precious kitchenware, so be very careful.
Use a Small Fan to Blow the Fumes Away
There can be many ways to cut onions and keep the fumes away. In fact, you can use a small fan for that. This is a similar philosophy to the vent fan.
Place a fan next to your cutting board, flip it on, and enjoy a relaxing, tear-free onion experience as the fumes blow away.
Hold a Piece of Bread in Your Mouth
If you want to know how to cut ring onion but are too afraid about the fumes, get a piece of bread in your mouth. It may look silly at first, but hear us out.
Place a piece of bread in your mouth just enough to have it hanging slightly off of your lips. It’s supposed to absorb the harsh gases of the onion and leave your eyes feeling dry and free.
Don’t hold your breath on this one – literally, breathe through some bread. If you tend to drool, keep a few slices on stand-by – you know, in case it gets too soggy or tempting to eat.
Freeze the Onion
There is another way for how to stop onions from burning your eyes. To do this, just put your onion in the freezer for 15-20 minutes.
Be mindful of how long you keep it in there – after the recommended amount of time, the onion tends to harden and become much more difficult to slice. Cutting a hard, slippery onion is risky, and you want to protect yourself from serious kitchen nightmares.
We suggest using a thick cloth to hold the onion down initially. It will give you a bit more traction and protect your hand in the process.
Cut Them Under a Vent
If you have a microwave vent fan hanging over your stove, that’s good. Just set the cutting board beneath it and kick it on.
This is how to cut a white onion and not get the fumes on your eyes. This will take in the sulfuric gases and keep your eyes on the task at hand instead of in tears.
Takeaway
Now that you know some of the tricks to cut an onion and not tear up, we guess you will be cooking more onion rings from now on. Happy cooking!