I can't. But I'm open to learn anyone's secrets.

The old joke answer is "get someone else to cut the onions" but -- Run a knife under super hot water, make your first slice, run the top of the onion under the hot water, and then every couple slices run the knife under the hot hot water. Works for me and has for some people I've known and the one who taught it to me! Then when I'm ready to dice them, I turn my head away from the onion, take a deep breath, squint just a bit, and if I need to let the breath out, I turn my head. Take another breath, start dicing. I always wait to breathe in until my head is turned and then I get to the sink to put the knife in and run my hands under hot water.

Seems to work for me at least. Maybe something to do with not breathing in the fumes or getting them in my eyes full-on.

But then again, if I have a sinus headache I want to cut onions because then it loosens everything up in my nose by crying

I cut the core out of the bottom of the onion and I don't end up crying. Just cut out a cone shapped piece out of the bottom of the onion and see what happens.

My mom told me that since she started wearing contact lenses, she does not cry when peeling onions. Can anyone comment?

I read somewhere that they are supposed to go in the fridge overnight before you dice and then the fumes will be less.

Ginger

quote:

Originally posted by Diana Strinati Baur:
My mom told me that since she started wearing contact lenses, she does not cry when peeling onions. Can anyone comment?

I've definitely noticed a difference between wearing my contacts and wearing glasses when working with onions. With contacts, I find less irritation.

I've refrigerated my onions for years,so they never really seem to bother me any. I also cheat sometimes and use my mini-cuisinart. Never ever shed a tear that way. I bought it for $20 at walmart.
Ida

McCormick Dried Minced Onions in a bottle.

No tears.

I take a piece of plastic wrap and drape it across my hands like a blanket as I'm cutting.
Sounds crazy but it works.
Keeps the microdrops of juice from getting in the air, and I can see what I'm doing.
Next time I cut onions, I'll have Dan take a picture and post it.

Put the onion in the freezer (if you are going to use it for cooking) for 30 minutes before you start and the liquid, which the fumes come from, are semi frozen... no tears..

Before that, I know this sounds dumb, but I wore my snorkeling mask... I could see and no tears. You look stupid BUT it had great results

Doug

Thanks for some great suggestions. I'll be trying one of them tonite, not sure which. Maybe a couple...

I do know which one I won't be trying (I don't own a snorkeling mask). Picture, Doug? It's such a visual.

Irarely cry over onions. I ususally cut onions by removing the top, then the root end, and then I cut them lengthways.

Lengthways cut onions I think caramelise better than crossways cut.

Well, I tried the plastic wrap tonite, but it was rather awkward. It kept falling off - a couple times I cut the onion. I guess there's a learning curve that goes along with it. I must admit that I didn't cry, though!

quote:

I do know which one I won't be trying (I don't own a snorkeling mask). Picture, Doug? It's such a visual.

OH NO>>> that's too much for anyone to bear!!! It would be better placed on Monty Python or Saturday Night Live!!

Doug

You know when I first saw this thread I thought I must be buying tearless onions because I never cry when chopping onions.
But...I have been to the eye doctor and he has tried to fix my awful vision by wearing one contact lens for distance vision and then a 'bare' eye for near vision.(so far so good if I can remember which eye to look through the scope with )
BUT...when I was chopping onions tonight I had tears~ on one side.
Solved that one!

It makes sense, bugalu, that contacts would protect your eyes!

Someone once told me to try only breathing through your mouth while you're cutting the onions, but I've never perfected that method at all, and I still cry!