Solution to teary eyes when cutting onions! Tried it tonight, and it worked perfectly!

[AndrewR]

Here it is!! I put mine on and was able to chop two large, very powerful onions without any tears whatsoever. The dog got a little freaked out, but it was better than last week when my eyes burned for an hour.

I tried soaking the onions in water before cutting them, but that did absolutely nothing.

Another batch of chili cooking in the slow cooker tonight!

 

[kt]

No teary eyes when chopping onions here.

 

[rmrf]

or you can just hold a match between your teeth so the head is under your nose. that works fine for me.

 

[TallBill]

lol, i should try that.. nawh, my wife freaks out whenever I wear the gas mask around the house.

 

[Zim Hosein]

Originally posted by: rmrf
or you can just hold a match between your teeth so the head is under your nose. that works fine for me.

Unlit or lit! :evil:

 

[imported_Cameron]

Originally posted by: TallBill
lol, i should try that.. nawh, my wife freaks out whenever I wear the gas mask around the house.

I'd hate to see what all goes on at your house..

 

[Grey]

Originally posted by: AndrewR
Here it is!! I put mine on and was able to chop two large, very powerful onions without any tears whatsoever. The dog got a little freaked out, but it was better than last week when my eyes burned for an hour.

I tried soaking the onions in water before cutting them, but that did absolutely nothing.

Another batch of chili cooking in the slow cooker tonight!

Why do I have this urge to run from the room in panic?

 

[rmrf]

Originally posted by: Zim Hosein

Originally posted by: rmrf
or you can just hold a match between your teeth so the head is under your nose. that works fine for me.

Unlit or lit! :evil:

try it both ways, and you could probably guess which way I use

 

[AndrewR]

Originally posted by: kt
No teary eyes when chopping onions here.

Depends on the onions. With sweet onions or Vandalias, there's no problem. These ones I bought recently, not sure where they were from, were borderline chemical weapons. I've NEVER had onions that strong before, and I had a brief, less potent sampling of what pepper spray must be like.

Why do I have this urge to run from the room in panic?

No idea. Of course, I used 4 cans of kidney beans in the chili so I might need to wear the mask again after I have a bowl.

 

[Greyd]

Originally posted by: AndrewR
Here it is!! I put mine on and was able to chop two large, very powerful onions without any tears whatsoever. The dog got a little freaked out, but it was better than last week when my eyes burned for an hour.

I tried soaking the onions in water before cutting them, but that did absolutely nothing.

Another batch of chili cooking in the slow cooker tonight!

They key is putting the onion under cold water or soaking it under COLD water. I never have problems with onions when I do this.

 

[FoBoT]

gas mask, sure
or try burning a candle nearby

 

[imported_KuJaX]

could be the lamest thread evar

 

[AndrewR]

Originally posted by: Greyd

Originally posted by: AndrewR
Here it is!! I put mine on and was able to chop two large, very powerful onions without any tears whatsoever. The dog got a little freaked out, but it was better than last week when my eyes burned for an hour.

I tried soaking the onions in water before cutting them, but that did absolutely nothing.

Another batch of chili cooking in the slow cooker tonight!

They key is putting the onion under cold water or soaking it under COLD water. I never have problems with onions when I do this.

I thought about the running water idea, but our sink is crap which makes that difficult. Since I have the gas mask, I'll probably just use that -- I've worn it enough already that it doesn't bother me a bit to wear it for a few minutes to chop onions.

Of course, most people don't have gas masks lying around their houses. For them, the running water trick should work.

 

[AndrewR]

Originally posted by: KuJaX
could be the lamest thread evar

And you posted in it. Congrats!

 

[AreaCode707]

My roommate gave me her swimming goggles to use once. Worked pretty well.

 

[anxi80]

just chew some mint gum when cutting onions. i gave that solution to a co-worker at my old job and it worked well for them.

 

[Finns14]

Well do any off you know why onion make you tear. Its because when the sulfur gas(which is why they stink too!) hits your eyes its converts to sulfuric acid and burns your eyes I don't see why running water or the match or anything else would work( IDK matchs have sulfur maybe something like that) Best trick I learned besides goggles/gasmask is to put your onion in the freezer prior to cutting them and then just cut them quickly. If its cold enough there won't be any gas.

 

[Rubycon]

LOL you need a better range hood with more CFM...

Onions do not release sulfur trioxide (which becomes sulfuric acid upon contact with water) AFAIK. Well at least the ones that are for human consumption.

 

[fire400]

you guys are wusses, if chopping onions makes you cry, I would love to see you guys walk through the streets of Iraq, today - right now.

 

[Finns14]

typo sulfenic not sulfuric sry but the pricipale(lol possibly another typo) is still the same

 

[JonnyStarks]

I heard that if you put a small piece of bread between your upper lip and teeth then it stops your from crying... never tried it but it would probably look slightly less goofy than a gasmask.

 

[Amused]

Pop them in the freezer for 30 minutes or so before cutting them.

 

[Finns14]

AHHH read the thread all you have to do is run the onion under water or put it in the freezer and stop reposting ahhh!!!!

 

[fartbag]

MCU-2P=Win!

 

[AndrewR]

Originally posted by: fire400
you guys are wusses, if chopping onions makes you cry, I would love to see you guys walk through the streets of Iraq, today - right now.

I leave for Camp Sather in January. How about you?