Don't Cry About Onions!

Just finished chopping a huge number of onions for a recipe and it reminded me of the old days when I was a Suba instructor and did a lot of underwater photography. You didn't want a conventional mask with a high volume of air in it, you wanted a mask with two lenses and minimized air in them for that activity.

I was chopping a large volume of onions today and wished I still had the mask so I would avoid tearing up. Any divers in the group?

Lince.jpg

J

Seems like that would do the trick for chopping onions, and if I had a pair of those I'd give them a try. I've considered buying onion goggles but I'd want to hear from someone who's used them first.

I open my kitchen window, which is just to the left of my huge cutting area, sometimes there is a gentle breeze that comes in...works nicely. I used to hold a slice of bread in my mouth, and I think that did help...also, putting your onion in the fridge the night before to chill it is also supposed to help.

I open my kitchen window, which is just to the left of my huge cutting area, sometimes there is a gentle breeze that comes in...works nicely. I used to hold a slice of bread in my mouth, and I think that did help...also, putting your onion in the fridge the night before to chill it is also supposed to help.

Yes! When I've taken onions out of the fridge and sliced them they've been much easier on the eyes. Makes sense given that you'd expect less of the annoying chemicals in the air when the onion is cold. Now if I could only remember to put them in the fridge....

[Robin Garr]

I've got to agree with the refrigerator option. We routinely store onions in the crisper drawer and go directly from fridge to cutting board. Never shed a tear, and I haven't detected any issues with lack of flavor or complexity, etc.

[David M. Bueker]

I open my kitchen window, which is just to the left of my huge cutting area, sometimes there is a gentle breeze that comes in...works nicely. I used to hold a slice of bread in my mouth, and I think that did help...also, putting your onion in the fridge the night before to chill it is also supposed to help.

Yes! When I've taken onions out of the fridge and sliced them they've been much easier on the eyes. Makes sense given that you'd expect less of the annoying chemicals in the air when the onion is cold. Now if I could only remember to put them in the fridge....

Our back room (where I keep onions, potatoes, etc.) is about 45 degrees F this time of year. So no crying while chopping onions.

Might it be the about variety of onion?


I cook with red onions and I am never troubled.

Red onions do not cause tears?

[David M. Bueker]

Red onions can be just as bad.

Red onions do not cause tears?

Not for me. I read they are milder.

[Jenise]

Red onions can cause tears, definitely. The only ones that almost never do? The light champagne colored sweet onions I mentioned earlier in this thread.