Tears and cutting onions are correlated. Onions are an integral part of Indian cooking; hence we hardly can omit them during making Indian cuisine. But the tears are free-flow while cutting it. It’s super messy. And, I just hate it. And you know what the irony is? An onion that makes you more cry is more likely to produce better taste. What a con! So, I had to figure out how to cut an onion without crying. To my surprise, there is ample leeway to avoid this mess. I opted for a couple of them.
Here is the list of how you too can escape tears while cutting an onion.
Chill the onion:
Peel off the onion and put it in the refrigerator for 30 minutes before cutting it. Don’t forget it to keep in an airtight container; otherwise, its odor may stick to the fridge.
Cool the onion:
This one is my personal favorite. Peel off the onion and cut it into halves. Put it in a bowl of water for 15 – 20 minutes. This will minimize the irritants.
Cut the onion under running water:
If possible, cut the onion under a running stream. Not to forget, only a few cutting shapes allow this step. This will not work for the fine chopping.
Use a sharp knife to cut the onion:
Whenever we cut the onion, the cells of the onion get damaged, and the irritants release. The more the knife is blunt, the more the cells will be damaged. It’s better if you use a sharp knife. It will cause less damage to the onion cells; hence releasing lesser irritants.
Cut the onion near a flame:
I don’t know the exact scientific analysis behind this method, but some people talk about this process if you ask them how to cut an onion without crying. Maybe, the heat helps in reducing the irritants. So, better cut the onion near your burner while it is ON, or light up a candle nearby.
Use goggles or glasses when you cut the onion:
It may look funny wearing goggles or glasses for cutting an onion, but it works as a shield between the eyes and the vapor. You may try this.
Cut the onion quickly:
Cut the onion swiftly. It will minimize the time for the vapor to release. But, this one is a bit tricky. You need to be a pro to do it with speed. If you are an amateur in the kitchen, don’t try it.
Cut the onion butt at the end:
The onion butt or the root end has a higher concentration of the irritants. Cutting it at the end minimizes the exposure leading to lesser secretion of tear.
Conclusion:
I hope you got all your answers. So next time if someone asks you how to cut an onion without crying, smile and say it’s possible. Just go for these methods, and you will figure out which one suits you well.
Read other Kitchen Hacks here.