if you cut an onion

I do not have a problem with cutting onions, but I may be an exception. I was told that if you do not cut off the root, it will not make you teary. Other advice is to cut your onion under cold running water, or only breathe through your mouth. I guess my tip is just to get in there, be fast and get it over with.

I have cut onions so many times that I don't even cry when I cut them anymore. I think that if the onion is older it might be less potent, but that all depends on the onion and how potent it was to begin with. Also, not crying near onions comes with experience as well. The more you cut onions, the more you get used to the smell, and get use to not tearing up.

Well, my dear....here's my two-cents worth! I am a "Prep" cook at the ONLY local Pub here where I live...there are times that I am doing 50-60 onions (French Onion soup)...the bain marie..etc., and I always KEEP the Onions in the Cooler! Believe it or not, there is oil in the juice of the onion..and it doesn't release it's pungency at 42 degrees or less! Nothing about cutting one end off to reduce release! I do cut only one end of...but it is for ease of cutting...I leave the ROOT end in tact, as it holds the onion together whilst mincing or slicing. Room temperature...and it's runny eyes and nose! Can't be doing that in a Commercial kitchen!

hi 3snugglebunnies yes I think it is true as I have always cut onion that way and never had my eyes bother me. I did not know it was a tip; but as long as it keeps my eyes from tearing and stining thats the way I will do it.that is if I ever have a chance to get into an apartment again and cook for myself again.It does not seem likely for now as my son is just not makint that kind of money,rents here in Southern California are very hight going from 1300 to 1600 a month

I cut the onions on a cutting board, so the onion is far away from my eyes. I have seen some people cut onions in a blender. You put the quartered onion and some water and just blend for a second. The trouble with that is that you cannot leave it too long. I agree that old onions are better than new ones.

Well, I have never heard of anything like that about a fresh onion and an older one. But, somehow....now after reading that I think I have felt the same. I will try to apply this logic and check in future, if this is accurate. One thing that I really like about onion even though it makes me cry while chopping it........that I add it to almost everything I cook. Every other vegetable that I cook, onion will be one of the ingredients.

This is true about cutting one end off only. Don't cut the root off, but it still can make you tear up. I found an ideal way to decrease your tears when cutting onions. Run the peeled onion and the knife you are using under cold water before you slice the onion. Ideally, if you have your garbage or compost can in the cupboard under the sink and you can squat down and cut the end off and peel the skin over the can while under the sink, your head being outside the cupboard, you will not get any fumes while doing that. I rarely cry when I cut onions anymore. The cold water helps a lot.

Martha Stewart says if you have a lit candle beside you when you cut an onion you won't cry

Wow, there are so many different ways to not cry, the most surprising was the contact lenses one. I use to wear contacts, but I thought I still cried when cutting an onion. I saw I think Gerty say something about not cutting the root, maybe that is what you mean? Because all I could think of was just peeling one side of the onion, but sooner or later, you would have to remove the rest to cut and you will still cry, though not as much I guess. What I do is run it under cold water and breathe through my mouth. Sometimes I have to look up and away, and then take a deep breathe, that helps too.

No, I had to research this for school, and that's not true. The only tried and true way I know of to block the odors from making your eyes water is to wear contacts. I've never had a problem slicing onions because I wear contacts. Supposedly cutting it under cold water helps also, or making the onion cold because it slows the chemical reaction that causes the tear jerking odors.

That sounds like nonesense to me! Old or new - I don't know! What amazes me is how you can slice half a dozen without pain, and then you get a tear jerker - which looks exactly the same, is from the same bag, and might as well be an entirely different vegetable. And tears are worse, and last longer, when you wear glasses!

I think this to be true but a lot depends on the onion itself, like its size and color. I think the larger and darker the onion is, more it will induce tears while peeling or slicing and it will taste bitter too. I hope I am right but this comes out of a little experience I do have with onions.

Just keep the onions dipped in water for 5 minutes..after that take out and cut..then there would be no problem with the onion tears...Enjoy..

I was told my my cookery teacher that although it is not likely to stop your eyes watering completely (there's no perfect solution although a friend of mine says that if she wears her contact lenses when cutting onions she has no problems), cutting the root last does help. Apparently, there is some kind of substance in onions that releases a gas when the onion is sliced. This reacts with the water in your eyes and creates sulphuric acid which makes you eyes water. This substance (I'm not really sure what it is) is supposedly much stronger and more concentrated in the root (especially the part that looks different in the middle of the onion). If you cut the root last, your eyes don't have as much time to react to the gas while you're stood there slicing the onion. Sadly, this isn't much help when you have loads of onions to slice. I like the tip about using chilled onions - I'll have to try that!

I don't know how I can know if the onion is old or young but every time I cut an onion, it really makes my eyes teary. Literally every time. That's why I hate cutting onions, no matter what onion I cut, it still has the same effect to my eyes.

I have not heard this....but I know that if you get the juice on your hands...washing them good will take away the tearing.

I have heard that cutting them under running water really helps. I have to say that when I did it, I could tell a huge difference.

i wear contact lenses and i dont get teary when i slice onions. too bad for because everytime someone needs sliced onions at home, they ask me to do it for them

When I cut the onion my eyes flows the tears so I not like to cut the onion.

hi, i don't think so,because when we cut the onion it will always release a something that makes us to tear,and for me to avoid this i usually cut the onion far in my face or in my eyes,and i will turn of the pan so that it will never scattered the smells of the onions.