She Strengthens

The Ultimate Guide to Onion-Free Tears

Are you tired of shedding tears every time you chop onions? You’re not alone! Onions have a way of making us cry, but it’s not just because they’re sadistic – it’s science!

The Science Behind Onion Tears

Onions contain amino acids called sulfoxides, which are released into the air when you cut them. These sulfoxides convert into a super-annoying chemical that wafts into your eyes, causing them to sting and produce tears. It’s like an onion revenge-fart, and it’s not pretty.

7 Proven Techniques to Keep Your Eyes Dry

Tired of being a slave to onion tears? I put seven relatively simple strategies to the test to see which ones really work.

Freeze the Onion

Freezing the onion takes away the sob factor. Simply peel and freeze the onion for 30 minutes before slicing. The verdict: it works!

Soak the Onion in Cold Water

A cold water bath chills the onion, slowing down the production of chemicals. While it’s not as effective as freezing, it’s still worth a try. The verdict: better than nothing.

Use a Super Sharp Knife

A sharper knife cuts cleaner, damaging less onion skin and releasing fewer gases. The verdict: half-hearted attempt, half-hearted results.

Microwave the Onion

Nuking the onion makes it softer, but harder to slice, and it smells like fried pee. The verdict: total failure.

Keep a Piece of Bread in Your Mouth

This sounds ridiculous, but it works! The spongy texture of the bread absorbs some of those noxious chemicals before they attack your eyes. The verdict: it works, plus you get bread!

Wear Goggles

If goggles can keep water out of your eyes, surely they can block an onion fart? Unfortunately, sunglasses didn’t cut it. Maybe full-on onion-cutting goggles would make a difference. The verdict: didn’t really work.

Keep the Sliced Side on Your Cutting Board

This technique claims that fewer chemicals will float toward your face if the cut-side of the onion is face down. The verdict: didn’t work, didn’t make sense, and now I’m both crying AND confused.

The Verdict

Freezing and creating a physical barrier between you and the onion are the most effective tricks. So, freeze them or shove a slice of bread in your mouth while you chop. As for the rest? They just don’t cut it.