Eureka! (or how to cut onions with no tears)

[bloviatrix]

Let me state for the record that I'm extremely nearsighted. For the most part I wear eyeglasses, but when I'm feeling motivated (in otherwords getting dressed up) I put my lenses in. Today happened to be one of those rare days that I put my lens in (haircut). When I got home I had a lot of cooking to do in the kitchen because of Rosh Hashanah which meant engaging in one of my least favorite chores -- chopping lots of onions.

I'm extremely sensitive to onions, leeks, scallions, anything in the allium family -- they all make my eyes tear. I've tried just about everything: chopping on a counter next to running water, working near an open flame, and even wearing goggles. Nothing ever worked except making someone else chop the onions for me.

So, I started on onion number 1 which required a small dice. Normally just slicing the onion in half would start the tears. This time nothing.

Onion number 2 - more small dice. Still no burning or tears

Onion number 3 - medium chop. Still nothing

Are you sensing a pattern??

And so, I've discovered the solution....Contact lenses!!!! Wear your lenses in the kitchen. Your eyes will thank you for it.

[Gifted Gourmet]

Are you sensing a pattern??

And so, I've discovered the solution....Contact lenses!!!!  Wear your lenses in the kitchen.  Your eyes will thank you for it.

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I have worn contact lenses for some 30+ years and my eyes still tear up when I chop onions ... how big are your lenses anyway? mine are RGP (rigid gas permeables) ...

Wait, here is validation for your point, Bloviatrix:from none other than Cook's Illustrated

We tested over 20 methods for reducing the number of tears shed while chopping onions. If you wear contact lenses you’re in luck – they’re one of the surefire methods of preventing tears. The only other thing that’s as good as wearing contacts is to sport swimming or skiing goggles, which may make you look like a kitchen terrorist, but is extremely effective

[Dana]

I don't have any contacts, and the only thing that even remotely works for me is to keep my onions in the fridge. Keeping them cold seems to help retard the fumes.

[bloviatrix]

I have worn contact lenses for some 30+ years and my eyes still tear up when I chop onions ... how big are your lenses anyway? mine are RGP (rigid gas permeables) ...

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I've been wearing soft lenses for about four years. Before that I wore the RGP. The soft lenses are much larger than the gas permeables.

[durian]

I made this discovery, but sort of in reverse.

Wearing soft lenses for years, I just assumed my eyes had developed some sort of onion immunity. Recently switched back to glasses, and the tears came right back.

Now I wear a cheap pair of day-glo swim goggles when it's time to chop onions. Quite ridiculous looking, but it gets the job done.

[bloviatrix]

I had to chop a lot more onions this morning and made a point of putting in my lenses. Admittedly after 4 large ones I was getting a bit of an itch. But no burn and no tears. I guess I'm going to be wearing my lenses with greater frequency.

[agbaber]

additionally, the sharper your knife, the less you'll cry. The cells that hold the volitale "fumes" release more of em when you crush the cells as opposed to cutting them. I keep my santoku sharp enough to make short work of onions, but would fold if i tried to use it for any heavier work.

[jgarner53]

Damn. Just when I thought that having had lasik was the coolest thing ever.

[daniellewiley]

I made this discovery, but sort of in reverse.

Wearing soft lenses for years, I just assumed my eyes had developed some sort of onion immunity.  Recently switched back to  glasses, and the tears came right back.

Now I wear a cheap pair of day-glo swim goggles when it's time to chop onions.  Quite ridiculous looking, but it gets the job done.

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I'll need to get me some of those!!

I used to rely on the contact lens trick, but got lasik in January.

Better eyesight, but lots of tears!

[halland]

I don't know why this works but it does for me. This is a tip from a good friend of mine. When chopping onions, hold a small chunk of bread in your mouth. Not a whole slice, just a small piece that will fit into your closed mouth.

Try it, let me know if it works for you.

Hal

[johnnyd]

One day I was chopping onions on a plank, on a beach and realized I had no tears or discomfort of any kind. The answer: it was a windy day.

From then on, I just blow (continuously, if they are the kind that really bother) on the onions as I chop and the fumes go elsewhere.

Later I was in a real kitchen and the first day I had to prep a whole freakin' sack of 'em. I just set up a small fan by my elbow and chop, chop, chop...

[s'kat]

Unfortunately, I haven't found this to be true. I wear soft contact lenses, and always cry when chopping onions.

[Wolfert]

I sprinkle the work space with a little vinegar. Then when I'm half done chopping the onions I sprinkle them as well. When I'm finished I just quickly scrape them into a sieve and run the onions under running water, shake dry and continue my cooking.

Edited September 16, 2004 by Wolfert (log)

[Toliver]

One day I was chopping onions on a plank, on a beach and realized I had no tears or discomfort of any kind.  The answer: it was a windy day.

From then on, I just blow (continuously, if they are the kind that really bother) on the onions as I chop and the fumes go elsewhere.

Later I was in a real kitchen and the first day I had to prep a whole freakin' sack of 'em.  I just set up a small fan by my elbow and chop, chop, chop...

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I stumbled onto this trick, too. Works quite well except for the people downwind.

I was also surprised to discover that green onions can cause me to tear up, as well. Granted I was chopping up about a crate full, but by the end I was crying like a Tammy Faye Baker.

[durian]

Damn. Just when I thought that having had lasik was the coolest thing ever.

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I think lasik is very cool, and want to get it in the future. Even if it means a lifelong commitment to goggles for onion-chopping.

[SobaAddict70]

I used to cry but not any more.

I think I've gotten used to it. Score one for evolution!

Soba

[Squeat Mungry]

Well, that must be why I've never been bothered! I always assumed I was just lucky or something, but I am always wearing my contacts except when sleeping, so that must be it! (I lose and/or break regular glasses far too often for them to be practical for me. Thank goodness they make cheap sunglasses -- you wouldn't believe how fast I go through those!)

Come to think of it, I do seem to remember some stinging when I was a kid and still wearing regular glasses. Well, whadda ya know -- guess I'm not so special after all!

Cheers,

Squeat

[Carolyn Tillie]

So those of us with perfect vision will just have to continue suffering while chopping onions.....

[andiesenji]

Here is my "secret" - I have had lasik surgery also, but just in one eye. I like having super sharp close vision in one eye even though it means I can't see across the room with that one. I lived like that for 60 years.

Anyway, my opthamalogist told me I have chronic dry eye. He said he could give me a prescription but I would get just as good a result with an over the counter product, GenTeal Gel eye lubricant, made by CibaVision.

This is a thick gel which apparently coats the entire eyeball because if I use it prior to chopping onions, shallots, garlic, or ramps - - - I do not tear as much and if I use a nose clip on my nose, I do not tear at all.

I figured this one out years ago when I noticed that if my allergies were active and my nose was plugged, I did not tear as much when chopping onions.

Apparently the volatile gasses affect the nose as well as the eyes.

[afoodnut]

Hmph. Is everyone else happy all the time? When you need to cry...

Volunteer to chop the onions.

[saskanuck]

OK, so I'm not crazy after all. When I used to wear contact lenses, I could chop onions without much problem with tearing and burning.

Now that I've been back to glasses for a few years, I can't chop onions without feeling like I've been napalmed.

I thought I'd just become more sensitive over the years to the onion fumes, but I guess not. Now I get my husband to chop the onions whenever he's around, because they don't bother him at all (and he has perfect vision, the sod).

Too damned bad I can't wear contacts any more.

[hshiau]

I don't know why this works but it does for me.  This is a tip from a good friend of mine.  When chopping onions, hold a small chunk of bread in your mouth.  Not a whole slice, just a small piece that will fit into your closed mouth.

Try it, let me know if it works for you.

Hal

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Wow! No one has responded to this. Sounds ridiculous and would probably make a great photo opportunity but I'd love to know if someone tries this and it works!

[russ parsons]

it was working on a story on this topic many years ago that actually got me interested in writing about cooking and science. i had interviewed the usual suspects (chefs) and the answers were so all over the place i realized they had no earthly idea. one guy swore the best way was to slip a piece of raw potato under the ball of his foot. i am not making this up. so i decided to find out what it was that created it, and that got me onto a couple of scientists (as someone pointed out, it's the disrupting of the cells ... technically the gases [a kind of sulfur] are not enclosed in the cells, but are created when the chemicals within the cells combine when the cells are ruptured ... if you want more, go buy "french fry"). interestingly, there is still some disagreement among scientists whether this reaction occurs only in the eye or also in the upper sinus.

i have very sensitive eyes (and, presumably, sinuses) and have tried everything short of going back to contacts and nothing works very well. i keep my knives sharp and i cut quickly.

[memesuze]

I'm a swim goggles and very sharp knife woman myself - the bread [or cracker] in the mouth never worked for me - I think the theory is that breathing through the mouth minimizes tears

[scott123]

I celebrate tears. If an onion is strong enough to make me cry, that means there's some goooooood eatin coming down the shoot.

It's when I don't cry that I start getting worried. No tears, no flavor.