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Chopping onions without crying is definitely one of the great kitchen challenges 😅—but luckily, there are a bunch of tricks that actually work! Here are some tried-and-true methods:
🔪 1. Chill the Onion First
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Pop the onion in the fridge or freezer for 10–15 minutes before chopping. Cold slows down the release of the irritating gas (syn-Propanethial-S-oxide) that makes you tear up.
💧 2. Use a Sharp Knife
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A sharp knife causes less cell damage, meaning fewer irritants are released into the air.
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Dull knives = more crushing = more crying.
🌬️ 3. Cut Near a Fan or Vent
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Turn on a kitchen fan or cut near an open window so the onion gas blows away from your face.
💦 4. Cut Underwater (or Rinse Often)
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Some people chop onions under running water or in a bowl of water to prevent the gas from reaching their eyes.
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Or rinse the onion after peeling and slicing in half.
😎 5. Wear Goggles
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Yep, swimming goggles or onion goggles actually work.
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They form a seal around your eyes, blocking the irritating gas.
🍞 6. Hold a Piece of Bread in Your Mouth
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Sounds weird, but it’s an old trick! The idea is that the bread absorbs some of the onion fumes before they get to your eyes.
🕯️ 7. Light a Candle Nearby
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The flame may help burn off some of the sulfur compounds in the air, reducing eye irritation.
🧅 8. Cut Off the Root Last
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The root end has the highest concentration of the eye-irritating enzyme.
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Leave it intact while chopping, and cut it off last to reduce exposure.