re: How to keep from crying while slicing onions?

1.) keep a burning candle close
2.) keep a bowl of water close
3.) the best way.... freeze the onion before cutting it.

quote:

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If you soak the onion in water before and then cut the onion into a bowl of water, you'll hardly feel the effects.

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But you'll lose a lot of flavor.

Howyafigger?

i think the key is to chill, not freeze them. freezing may cut down on crying but it will have the adverse effect of destroying the onion cells. onions have a high water content and, thus, do not react well to freezing. freezing will destroy the cell walls and you will end up with a pile of mush once they thaw. depending on the dish, this is not a desirable outcome.

chilling them in the refrigerator is enough to cut down on the crying. no need to fully freeze them.

My Grandma would always hold a piece of bread in her mouth when she cut onions. (I tried it once and it didn't work, but it gave my wife a good laugh!)

Here is the best answer of all. When you are in the kitchen cooking most times the stove is on and it is hot. I put a small fan on the counter and face it towards me while I am cutting onions.

No tears.

That simple.

put them in the fridge for an hour before slicing..

Try a lit match in your mouth, and chop the onion before the flame reaches your face. You won't even think about the tears.