Onion slicing secrets: Tear-free tips for the home cook
Slicing onions is one of the most common tasks in the kitchen. Whenever possible, I have my partner do it, as he is much more resilient than I am against the irritating substances. However, I don't always have that option. It turns out there is a way to make it easier.
31 October 2024 18:32
You might avoid slicing onions, but there are dishes where finely chopped onions play a crucial role. And you have to admit that onions chopped with a knife taste much better than those minced in a standard food processor or blender. So, here's how to slice onions without shedding tears.
Why do you cry when cutting onions?
Until recently, it was believed that it is the smell that irritates the tear ducts. There's some truth to that. The smell is essentially molecules released when the fibres are cut. In the case of onions, it's about allicin, a chemical compound with a distinctive irritating smell and antibacterial properties. This also explains why some people claim that crying while cutting onions is healthy.
Don't want to cry? Chill the onion in the refrigerator
One method for painless onion slicing is to chill it first in the refrigerator or freezer. Peel it and place it in the fridge for about 30 minutes. The colder the onion, the less irritating gas is released. However, be cautious with the freezer. An overly frozen onion may lose its sharpness.
Method for slicing onions – water with ice cubes
The second suggestion is to immerse the onion in icy water. It's best to prepare a bowl with cold water and add a few ice cubes. Just a moment is enough to neutralize the substances that irritate your eyes. It's worth keeping a bowl of icy water nearby so that during onion slicing, you can immerse the vegetable again.
Lit candle for irritating gas from onions
This isn't about any magic. A candle lit near the cutting board on which you slice onions causes the irritating substances to rise higher. So, there is a good chance that most will bypass your eyes, allowing you to shed far fewer tears.
Vegetable chopper
As a last resort, you can use a practical kitchen gadget, like a food processor or a blender with special blades for chopping vegetables. The advantage of such a device is that it has an airtight container that prevents irritating substances from reaching your eyes.
The downside is achieving the appropriate size of onion pieces. The blades do not chop evenly and, in a short moment, can turn the onions into mush. So before seeking help, try the three suggestions above.
