A Simple Trick for Cutting an Onion Without Crying

In the kitchen, onions can be something of a necessary evil. They add so much to so many recipes, yet preparing them isn’t always the most comfortable process. Chopping or dicing onions can cause your eyes to burn and even cry because they release a chemical known to irritate your tear glands. 

You could, theoretically, don some onion goggles to prevent the problem (I’ve heard they really do work). But if you don’t want to buy eyewear for your kitchen chores, there’s another simple yet effective way to keep onions from irritating your eyes.

How To Cut an Onion Without Crying

There’s no shortage of lore about how to reduce the irritating effects of onions. Some people put a match between their teeth when they’re chopping, and others swear by sticking out their tongues in the process. If these tricks aren’t cutting it (and they’re probably not), stick your onions in the fridge.

The National Onion Association recommends chilling your onions for thirty minutes before cutting them to reduce the effects. You can also keep whole, peeled onions in the refrigerator all the time so they’ll last longer, but in general, you should keep whole, unpeeled onions in a cool, dark, well-ventilated place. Too much humidity (like in the fridge) can cause your onions to spoil faster.

The #1 Way To Store Onions To Keep Them From Going Bad

Other Tear-Free Tricks That Actually Work

Don’t have 30 minutes to spare? Carla Contreras, a chef and recipe developer, likes to put her onions in the freezer for 15 to 20 minutes before cutting them to speed things along. She also uses a very sharp knife, since a dull blade crushes the flesh of the onion and releases more irritating gas into the environment. 

You can also make the cutting process less tear-inducing by leaving the root end on the onion but trimming back any hanging roots and dirt. “This keeps the onion together as you cut it, but it also serves another purpose,” says Contreras. “The root has the highest concentration of sulphuric compounds that make us tear.”

Try Other Types of Onions, Too

A bit of strategy when you’re onion shopping may also help. According to Contreras, onions that are harvested fresh in the spring (these usually have green tops and white bulbs) are less likely to cause tears than dried, stored onions with the papery, yellow skins. Sweet onions like Vidalias and Walla Wallas also tend to be less irritating to the eyes.

In a pinch, you can also purchase pre-cut fresh or frozen diced onions at the grocery store. “I love this permission slip especially if onions are something that really bother you as you cut them,” Contreras says.