How to Cut an Onion Without Tears

So you’re preparing dinner all by yourself when a family member walks in, takes a look at you, and turns white. “Is everything OK?!” they’ll ask. “Did somebody die?!” You laugh through the tears and say, “Oh no, I just cut an onion!”

Has that happened to you before? It has certainly happened to me. Those pesky, stinging tears that go along with chopping up an onion are such a pain! Luckily, though, these tears can be easily avoided if you know what you’re doing and you have the proper equipment. Read on for the proper way to cut an onion. As an added bonus, discover the best techniques for caring for “onion eyes” on the following page.

So why do onions make you cry in the first place? Well, it’s all about the enzymes. Cutting into an onion breaks cells, and causes different enzymes to interact with each other to produce a whole new enzyme. This enzyme irritates your eyes, which creates tears.

Earlier: 12 Ways to Enjoy Arugula

1 of 2

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Winn A.

2:01PM PDT on May 18, 2013

Thanks

May 18
send a green star

Mary H.

4:59AM PDT on May 18, 2013

Burning a votive candle (unscented is always best when you're cooking) always works. For some reason, the onion fumes are sucked toward the heat of the flame and then consumed. It works every time. Recently, my chef son-in-law was cutting onions in my kitchen, and I lit the votive candle He was truly astonished at the effectiveness of that little flame in reducing the onion fumes to almost nothing. Imagine that--a chef learned something from me, ha, ha!

4:58AM PDT on May 18, 2013

Lady K.

7:43AM PDT on Mar 30, 2013

cool ty

March 30
send a green star

Nona E.

7:32AM PDT on Mar 18, 2013

I move the cutting board under the vent hood and cut with the fan on - works great. Also have had success with cutting them under water.

March 18
send a green star

katarzyna p.

8:48AM PDT on Mar 13, 2013

my partner isn't affected by onions but i am! the easiest for me as it makes my eyes stream and sting badly is either get him to cut the damn things. or put them in a blender!