I've spent many years trying all the tips and techniques and I call bullshit on them. Pardon my "french" but most of those techniques just don't work. Lets run through a list, shall we?
- Use a sharp knife to prevent slicing as many of the cells within the onion that cause the stinging reaction. - Uh, what?!? Onions cells are about 75 micrometers or 0.075 mm. That is small. A sharper knife will reduce how many cells from being broken? Not enough for me. I had new sharp knives to test try and it did nada in helping ease the crying and screaming (from me, not the onion). If this was the case, you might as well just forgo dicing or mincing your onions, which is how I need them most of the time. The more cuts, the more pain! Better just throw the thing in whole in your recipe - maybe that's a better tip.
- Cut your onions under running water. Oh sure, why don't I just hunch over the sink and try not to cut off a finger while the water is running. Maybe I'll dream of waterfalls while I give my onion a bath and lose a diced onion or two down the drain along with a fingertip, but maybe I'll cry less. Don't think it's worth it. Not very practical.
- Cut the onions fast - No kidding? Well, what do you think I'm doing? After the second cut, I start feeling the stinging setting in. After dicing a whole onion, it has taken me a good 20 minutes to recover, if not more. I'm literally blind because I can't open my eyes from the pain and I have once run into a wall running away from the devilishly laughing onion.
- Wear goggles or eye protection. -Why don't you also take out your swimsuit and flippers while you're at it? Pina Colada anyone? I'm sure I'd cut off a fingertip due to lost peripheral vision of my goggles. Does anyone really do this? Anyone??? Maybe I should look into patenting some onion goggles.
- Chew gum - Whoever came up with this idea must have an IQ of an ass or works for Wrigley's or Trident. Just you wait, commercials will be coming our way with 9 out of 10 chef's recommending chewing said gum while chopping onions.
So what tip or technique do I have for you today? It's super simple.
Put the onion to cool in the refrigerator.
Yes, that's all.
A cool onion never makes my eyes hurt or water. It's divine. I always have one or two in my vegetable drawer of my fridge and now I never have tears in the kitchen, except for tears of joy.
You'll thank me if you don't already know this tip.
You are welcome.
Power to the people.
I'll be honest I have used goggles (don't tell anyone) It's not something I do always, just when I'm canning a big batch of Salsa. Better to see than slice my hand off right? It made people laugh for sure, and when it came their turn to cut the onions they didn't hesitate to hunker down and put 'em on!
ReplyDeleteHey, my job has forced me to get pretty good with onions, having to slice 10-20 of the strongest red onions you've ever dealt with as quickly as possible.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I've tried the glasses idea (I used sunglasses). It really did seem to work for a while, but I don't really think it works.
Soaking them in cold water helps more than anything else. You want to keep them whole as long as possible, putting them back in a bowl of cold water between each step (say, slicing in half and removing core, put back, do the rest, then slice or dice).
It doesn't seem to affect the texture or anything.
Also, try not to look at it. I'm sure you already turn your face away as much as you can though. I hate onions. Nothing like trying to help a customer while I'm blinded from onions. Ugh.
Best of luck.
Um, also, I've found that stepping into a freezer really helps the pain if it gets bad. I recover almost instantly. Maybe sticking your head in a freezer would work...? Not kidding either. I'm not trying to make you look dumb in front of your family. Desperate times, right?
My students will love you for this! I haven't tried them all... it is so weird how some are so serverely affected by cutting onions, and it doesn't bother others at all... but, that photo is a work of art. Get it printed and framed.
ReplyDeleteDo you have photo shop, or use something else. I really wanna know.
:)
And, I know you have truckload of talent, too... but iphoto is not doing enough for me right now.
:)
Valerie
Goggles work (I just ordered a prescription pair through Clearly Contacts for $14). They're more effective if you also breathe through your mouth instead of your nose. Wearing contact lenses also helps.
ReplyDeleteAnd yes, a sharper knife reduces the amount of crying because a clean cut the first time, instead of sawing with a dull blade, is not only faster, but it also reduces the amount of juice you bring out of the onion when cutting.
My tried and true method is a) keep the onion cold, and b) use the mini food processor whenever possible. Or cut up larger amounts of onions with the slicing blade on your food processor and store the sliced onions in an air tight container in the fridge for a few days. If you use onions in your cooking or to toss into salads as much as I do, they won't sit too long in the fridge.
Chelsey: I've never had to do a large batch so really, I can see myself looking for goggles. I can see that being a big party favor! Power to you :)
ReplyDeleteAnon: Sticking my head in the freezer. That would be a SIGHT! My freezer is on the bottom, so I'd look like a dog on all fours with my head snuggling up to the ice cream bucket. hehe.
The only thing that bugs me about cold water is that I'm afraid that it would get slippery. Thanks for the tip: I'm happy with my refrigerator onions :)
Canadian Foodie: Yes, it's true. Even with contacts on, I get severely affected with the sulfuric -compounds.
Yes, I do use photoshop.
Sis: I'm guessing you ordered the prescription pair for swimming primarily? hehehe. Please wear them the next time I come over :)
ReplyDeleteI need a mini-processor. On the list :)
Hmm, perhaps my butter knife is crushing the onion cells a bit excessively, but my fingers are always safe!
ReplyDeleteI had another idea: don't blink for a couple minutes before you start cutting. That way your tears will dry up and the sulfuric compounds won't have any liquids to dissolve into!
Another handy tip, as my coworker always complains about the stink when i saute/caramelize onions for breakfast: do the cutting and frying the night before! Makes for quicker breakfast prep as well :)
I use the goggles I got courtesy of the US Army. Works pretty good. But if just chilling the onions in a fridge works, I'll do that. You look pretty funny standing in a kitchen with goggles on.
ReplyDeleteI feel your pain! I think some people are more susceptible to onion compounds, as I always have to take a deep breath, cut as fast as I can, and then a minute later run to the bathroom and soothe my streaming eyes. It actually interrupts quite a bit of my cooking...
ReplyDeleteI would swear that I saw a pair of "onion goggles" for sale once at Le Gnome and I kick myself for not buying them every time I cut an onion. Goggles have to look less stupid than red, running eyes and a swollen face!
Well, I have to take back the comment of goggle wearing. Who knew so many of you wore goggles! You closet onion goggle wearers, glad you have a forum to come out! hahaha.
ReplyDeleteYou guys are all hilarious :)
Onion Goggles exist. Search them :)
ReplyDeleteMaki, you made me laugh out loud with this post. I totally agree with you, and I always cry when chopping onions. I knew about the fridge trick ... and yet, because my fridge is so small I rarely keep onions in there! I guess I've learned to deal with the tears.
ReplyDeleteOne chopping technique I've been using lately which does make it MUCH faster (and gives you a teeny-tiny perfect dice) is called "ciseler". You don't cut all the way to the root end so the whole thing only comes apart at the end. google it!
Nicole: Thanks. Had absolutely NO idea :)
ReplyDeleteIsabelle: I often put in onions for 10-15 minutes before I cut them and it seems to do the trick.
Nifty idea on the ciseler technique. I'll have to give it a go :) Thanks!!!
I might be a little late in posting this, but for anyone "lucky" enough to require the use of contact lenses...these seem to work wonders when it comes to avoiding the onion fumes. If I'm wearing my contacts I can chop onions like crazy with no notice of it, except for the smell. If I happen to be wearing my glasses, I cry like a baby.
ReplyDeleteI wear contacts and STILL cry like a baby. I must be more sensitive or something.
ReplyDeleteI'll stick with the refrigerating them :) Thanks Janelle!