Tuesday 29 October 2013

You're Going To Make Me Cry: Onion Cutting Tips



I hate cutting onions. Seriously, I hate it. It makes my eyes burn and I always tear up. I go to extreme measures to insure my eyes won't hate me by the end of my onion chopping. Here are some of my tips - be sure to share your own!


Cut it properly

via
The image above is a perfect example of how one should cut an onion (feel free to follow the via link for detailed instructions). Don't try to be a Gordon Ramsay and assume that if you start chopping really quickly, it'll get the job done. It won't. The tears you end up experiencing may be from cutting your own finger off.

Use a candle

via

Set a lit candle near the onion you're chopping. Apparently, the gas emitted from the onion is drawn to the flame.

I tried this with a tea candle and it didn't work very well. Make sure the candle you're using has a bigger flame.

Keep your lips closed and breath through your nose

When you're chopping onions, you should keep your mouth closed the entire time to prevent tears. I don't know if that's just an old wives tale or not. I'm not sure what the science behind it is either. I do it anyway and it actually seems to help!

Squint

Don't be a fool and chop with your eyes closed. That's never a good idea (for obvious reason) but I find that squinting helps. When you need to open your eyes fully, look away from the onion.

via

Wearing contacts?

I've read that wearing contacts while chopping onions helps create a barrier between your eye and the gas omitted by the onion. Sorry, but I call BS on this one. I've worn contacts while cutting onions and I still tear up. What's worse is when I take my contacts out: my eyes burns!

What tips and tricks do you have for cutting onions without crying?

14 comments:

  1. I find yellow onions make me cry less than white, so I just buy those instead!!

    I also recommend removing eye makeup before you chop

    ReplyDelete
  2. I buy my onions pre-chopped. hahaha kidding! although, it would help!

    ReplyDelete
  3. My eyes have never watered cutting up onions. I must be a freak! X

    ReplyDelete
  4. i hold my breath while chopping onions. it kinda works!

    -kathy
    Vodka and Soda

    ReplyDelete
  5. Aw that sucks your eyes hurt so much from chopping onions, I've never had too much difficulty with it, sometimes I tear up occasionally though!

    ReplyDelete
  6. I haaaaate chopping onions. I've heard if you start to tear up, stick your face in the freezer for a few seconds and it'll go away. It works for me. Honestly though, I just hate everything about chopping onions, tears or not. I've started cutting mine into large chunks and then putting them in the food processor to finish the job, haha.

    ReplyDelete
  7. I wear my shades in the house. Yup, that's right.. If you were to drive past by house around dinner making time.. you would catch me wearing my sunglasses in the house, while making supper. I'm just super cool like that. (It helps.)

    ReplyDelete
  8. Ooh, never thought about using a candle. When I chop onions, they never come out all uniform and perfect like in the tutorials. I've learned to just let go and have oddly sized chopped onions. :)

    ReplyDelete
  9. I make my husband cut the onions in my house! :)

    ReplyDelete
  10. Wearing contacts while cutting onions is a godsend! One major perk of not having perfect vision =) In the rare instance I cut one without contacts I can't believe how badly my eyes burn

    xxx
    Jaclyn
    Http://www.loveandbellinis.com

    ReplyDelete
  11. I used to wear contacts and agree that that tip is BS! lol

    ReplyDelete
  12. I always cry too! I'm going to try the candle tip!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Such a good post! I love your blog, I'm a new follower!

    agirlandhersparkles.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  14. These are such interesting tips! I read once that eating a mint or chewing mint gum helps, so I do that every time, and it does seem to help a bit!

    ReplyDelete

I love comments. Thanks for making me smile!