Why do onions make you cry?

Mrs_Weasley

I know this isn't OS and i apologies


DD was 'helping' me make spag bog sauce and we both had tears streaming down our faces and i explained it was the onions so now she wants to know

"why do onions make you cry?"

thanks mrs w xxx

thriftlady_2

Try typing 'why do you onions make you cry?' into Google

nickyhutch

If you wear contact lenses, they don't!

WelshWoofer

This may help explain it and why wearing contact lenses help...

Onions make you cry because:

1. When you cut the basal plate or shoot, they release an enzyme.
2. That enzyme reacts in the rest of the onion to release a gas.
3. When that gas combines with water, it creates an acid.
4. If that water is in your eye, you have acid in your eye. That makes you cry.

So, if you still want to cut some onions, there are some simple steps that keep you tear-free!
see here
http://www.wikihow.com/Chop-Onions-Without-Tears

nuttyrockeress

I always suck the end of a wooden spoon when I get a bad one! It works

Mrs_Weasley

rachelmk wrote: »

This may help explain it and why wearing contact lenses help...

Onions make you cry because:

1. When you cut the basal plate or shoot, they release an enzyme.
2. That enzyme reacts in the rest of the onion to release a gas.
3. When that gas combines with water, it creates an acid.
4. If that water is in your eye, you have acid in your eye. That makes you cry.

So, if you still want to cut some onions, there are some simple steps that keep you tear-free!
see here
http://www.wikihow.com/Chop-Onions-Without-Tears

thanks rachelmk x

tomorrow i will try and explain this to my 7 year old DD :eek::D

Stephen_Leak

HOW TO CHOP AN ONION QUICKLY, SO IT DOESN’T MAKE YOU CRY

See http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/videos/1059/chopping-an-onion

Chop the top off the onion. Cut it in half. Peel it. Discard the brown layers until you are left with the white of the onion. Take one half of the onion and make about 2 or 3 horizontal cuts. Then cut down vertically, holding the onion together as you chop. Turn the onion with the flat end facing the knife and chop downwards with a slicing motion to create a finely chopped onion. Discard the root. Repeat the process on the second half, if required.

jexygirl

I was told to lick my lips (and keep them wet) before cutting as the gases look for water to react with so if your lips are wet, its all good apparently! iyswim! seems to work ok, tho there are lots of other options and I dont have time! I always chop the bulb end last tho and lick my lips
not saying it works, but no one can see me even if it doesnt It does seem to help though.

Jex

akastuntfish

whistle while chopping onions...works for me

angeltreats

Stephen_Leak wrote: »

HOW TO CHOP AN ONION QUICKLY, SO IT DOESN’T MAKE YOU CRY

See http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/videos/1059/chopping-an-onion

Chop the top off the onion. Cut it in half. Peel it. Discard the brown layers until you are left with the white of the onion. Take one half of the onion and make about 2 or 3 horizontal cuts. Then cut down vertically, holding the onion together as you chop. Turn the onion with the flat end facing the knife and chop downwards with a slicing motion to create a finely chopped onion. Discard the root. Repeat the process on the second half, if required.

This is how I've always chopped onions and they don't make me cry, but (just to be weird) leeks make me cry! Does anyone else cry when they cut leeks?

shelly

I have found if I am cutting a big onion then breathing through my mouth helps, doesn't stop the tears and stinging entirely but does help alot.

The best thing I have found though is that for me it's only big onions that are a nuisance. If I use small onions then I only get a slight stinging but no crying.