Calling all cooks, or wannabe cooks

[linderlizzie]

Does anyone have a good strategy for cutting onions that does not involve extreme eye pain?   Just wondering.

I've tried lots of different ways so far, but nothing really helps. I do like to cook  and this has always been an issue for me.

Thanks for any help. Please amaze me with your words of wisdom. 

[ErinCarter]

My grandma always says to cut it underwater. I have never tried it but she swears by it!

[Penwoir]

I too suffer from the same thing. Many times I have to break from cutting up onions because I cannot see what I'm cutting. I actually have to go outside for a couple of minutes  before I can open my eyes again.  Shame as I love fried onions.  My husband suggested putting tight fitting coggles on - which I did and it most definitely improved the situation, however I did have a whole houseful of people looking and laughing at me.  Not sure whether I was the target of a joke there! Be interested to see what everybody else has to say.

[BlackSheepNY]

Does anyone have a good strategy for cutting onions that does not involve extreme eye pain?   Just wondering.

I've tried lots of different ways so far, but nothing really helps. I do like to cook  and this has always been an issue for me.

Thanks for any help. Please amaze me with your words of wisdom. 

I wear contact lenses.  When I cut an onion, I never cry!

[sak4kat]

Um well a couple things I do.  One peel the skin off the onion.  Run water over it.  Keep the water running while you cut the onion quickly - keep the pan or where your putting the onions handy so you can move them right away off your cutting board,  put the cutting board and knife into the water and wash immediately...I always keep my hands damp from the running water.  The more you do use onions, the faster you get past the tears.

[catchow]

I wouldnt suggest cutting under water, good way to cut yourself.

I have found during the summer when its hot, I have the fan blowing on me when Im in the kitchen to stay cool, but have noticed it also blows away the onion fumes away from me.

I dunno I dont have issues really, I just cut them fast. Use a Chef knife to make your work go faster, instead of a paring knife which takes longer

[6265AT99]

Does anyone have a good strategy for cutting onions that does not involve extreme eye pain?   Just wondering.

I've tried lots of different ways so far, but nothing really helps. I do like to cook  and this has always been an issue for me.

Thanks for any help. Please amaze me with your words of wisdom. 

keep your knife wet with water - it helps.  Or, just put it in  a food processor!!!

[kapeh12]

Couple other tips I've been told that may help is to refrigerate the onions before cutting - cold onions are less likely to make you tear up than room temperature.  Also try to breathe only though your mouth - that the onion fumes getting into your nasal passage is what causes your eyes to water.

[msmoneybags48]

I have refrigerated onions,, to no avail.  Taking the skin off works for me.  The skin is what makes your eyes water up.  I turn it over, take a knife, lift up enough of the skin where I can pull it off, and then *bleep* it off as quickly as I can.  I have to cut up onions because my husband is a freak for them.  When he eats beans, peas or greens, he has to have raw onions on the top of them.  I am just glad he didn't do like my ex-father in-law; when I met him, he drank a concoction of Old Forrester 86, sugar and onions. He never got sick, but I tell you his breath was so bad you'd be in a hurry to get away from him.

[potluck6]

Ive heard if you blow out a match a long one and then hold it in your teeth while your chopping that helps. tried it once I guess the sulfer from the match helps.I usually cut some and then walk away for awhile.

[angprescott]

I run cold water and cut next to it, it helps.

[skrogman]

Can't tell ya honestly any good ways for chopping to help you out.  I have one of those cheater onion choppers that you press up and down on the top of and do it the easy way.  I like it both for that reason and because it actually chops finer than I could myself anyway.