"Coping" with Onions

I have a very simple remedy that my mother taught me probably 40 yrs ago. Fold a piece of bread and put it in your mouth, but leave some hanging out. Because it is right below your nose/eyes, it will absorb the irritant and the smell won't bother you, nor will it make you cry. I've been doing it ever since and it works like a charm!

Onions release some sort of chemical when they are cut. Apparently, when they are cold, they release much less. If you either keep your onion refrigerated a few hours before you cut it (not all of your onions though) or you run it under cold water as you are peeling it, it is supposed to keep your tears from coming! I have also heard about the root end being cut last...

I have heard a few things to work... do not cut the hairy end of the onion off - while you cut the rest of it hold your breath peel the onion and place it in the fridge over night but my favorite way to prevent my eyes stinging, and it works most every time - is to plead for my husband to chop them for me!

I've always found that the best way to keep your eyes from tearing up while chopping onion is chop them next to the sink with cold water running. I think the water must help evaporate the fumes before they can bother your eyes. My mom claims that if you can balance a teaspoon on the end of your nose then your eyes won't water while chopping onions! *laughs*

When you peel them, leave the root on and run it under cold water before chopping. Never cut the root off, as thats where the juice that scalds the eyes are found. :-)

chill the onion first then dip it in ice water, then chop it won't bother your eyes then. the cold water sort of blunts the odor.