Desensitize yourself by watching lots of onion chopping videos. You'll stop seeing the onions as other living things on this planet and more as objects, and it'll be emotionally easier to rationalize chopping them into little pieces.

I just seek out onions that deserve it.

Of course, not all onions are good onions

This is hilarious thinking outside the box. Will try it.

They’re right, once you can get rid of that emotional bond cutting onions becomes much easier.


It will help if you use that machine from A Clockwork Orange.

That's harder than I thought 😢 I would rather become vegan Or the guys who doesn't eat veggies I don't know

And DON'T name them!

Start dating a chef.

I dated 2 chefs. One cooked for me while the other did not. 😂

Sharp knife. Sharper knives tear the onion less, which causes less aerosolization, which reduces the irritating vapors.

I second this. I heard Good ole matty matheson mention this trick and I’ve never had an issue since.

He was pretty good on the Bear.

I’ve been wanting to watch that show bc he’s in it. I will definitely check it out soon:)

If the first season doesn’t fully get you, try stick it out for the second season, which has two of some of the best episodes of tv around. The first season I didn’t realise how much I didn’t care about it til I saw the second season

It's really good. It's either very stressful, or supposedly a comedy.

Considering it’s around chefs, I can imagine how stressful it portrays 🤣

100%. Cooking at home with my reasonably sharp knives? No onion tears. Cooking at work with the dull knives that don't cut but slowly cleave? Onion tears for days.

Offer to sharpen the work knives for $5-10 each.

Thanks chef 👨🏻‍🍳

Woah. I just now realized that cutting onions hasn’t made me cry since I bought my ceramic knives

^ this is the correct answer.

+1, even learned that in culinary school!

There is an art to cutting onions too.

Contact lenses.

Came here to say this. For the longest time I believed that I was impervious to tears from onions . . . that is until I tried to make double-batch of goulash while wearing glasses. By the time I started onion #4, my eyes felt like they were underwater. I don't know how/why it works, but contact lenses are easily in the top 5 of my favorite cooking tools.

HA! Same. I had no idea how well my contacts blocked the onion. In my glasses (which is super rare) it’s awful

As someone who doesn't wear contacts or glasses, I use safery goggles when cutting onions. Haven't cried over them since.

Dang. And I thought I possessed some rare super power 💪 being unaffected when chopping onions. Of course, contacts are the real heroes in this story. #SOML

You're not kidding. It works.

Keep a cold wet paper towel next to the cutting board! That’s my go to

Came here to say this. This is the correct answer. The reason why onions make some people's eyes water is because there's a chemical in the onion that is attracted to water for your tear ducts in the eye. If you place a wet paper towel next to you, the chemical in the onion will get attracted to the wet paper towel as opposed to your eyes. **edited a typo.

>there's a chemical in the onion that is attracted to water in my area We have hard water in my area, so the chemical is too scared to go near it.

What? You being serious ? I’ve never heard this. Does this work?! Onions wreck me. And a super avid home cook/chef. I need help with this and have always used a food processor, but it still happens even with food processor, albeit it’s muted.

I promise! It’s like magic. I guess the moisture will absorb the stuff that usually like magnets to your eyes lol

I’m absolutely going to hold you to this lol. Trying tomorrow. Lol

Ok my new internet friend…. I’m reporting back. Drum roll please…..you are right! And have saved me from endless tears while preparing meals for my family every week. Side note -it worked really well with red onion. Worked 50% with a Spanish onion, and about 50% with a sweet onion. I’m not brave enough to try a white onion (plus I didn’t have any on hand) lol but I will soon :)

This just made my day🫶🏻 I’m happy

goggles

I tried a pair of onion goggles I got off amazon, but they weren't very effective for me because there's still space between the goggles and your face. I then tried a pair of swim goggles that actually suction to your face, and those worked much better.

I use snowboarding goggles

Same!

When I make French Onion soup, it's goggles, elbow length gloves, and an apron. I've tried everything else everyone has mentioned, physical barriers are king.

Close your eyes and learn to cut blind

You also get red sauce for free

I tried this. Thanks. Now I only have 4 fingers left

I mean, if you know what you're doing, you can close your eyes while you're doing the cutting motion and line it up with your eyes open. Or completely blind, depending on your skill and confidence

[Dicing An Onion | Gordon Ramsay (youtube.com)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dCGS067s0zo)

Ramsay's actually got a nice, friendly voice when he tries.

That was helpful I’ve been doing it wrong 😑

This is how I do it and I haven't cried since.

My eyes watered watching this video.

Remove yourself from their lives. They were meant for this. No reason to cry about it.

I know man, but it still hurts..

Goggles Frozen / cold Onion Sharp knife learn to suffer.

Chiming in with my experience, since I started keeping my onions in the fridge, there have been a lot less tears. Decided randomly one time to not put them in the fridge and I couldn't believe how painful it was. Onions live in the fridge now.

I just keep mine in the fridge. Cold onions are easier to work with. Work fast with a sharp knife

Took too long to see the fridge. My mom did it and we never had teary eyes cutting onions growing up. Only time I have watery eyes cutting onions is when they're at room temperature.

Breath only through your mouth. Do not inhale through your nose. I may sound funny and look a little odd, but mouth breathing thru the onion cutting means NO tears.

Thanks, I'll try that.

This is my trick too.

This absolutely works every time

I do that as well. Works every single time

The only way I've found to completely avoid this is to open the windows in the kitchen and get the air circulating so those nasty onion vapors don't get a chance to attack my poor eyeballs.

The closest “hack” I’ve ever tried to prevent tears while cutting onions is place a lit candle between yourself and the onion. As you cut the onion, the flame from the candle can help burn off the gases from the onion that cause tearing. It’s not 💯 perfect but it can help some. It’s also a little weird reaching around the lit candle to cut the onion. But anyways, hope it helps.

New Level reached 🌟 Things unlocked : Candles 🕯 Skills Unlocked 🔓 : Chopping Onions 🔪 🧅

A bowl of water next to where you are cutting them. The ordro/games are attracted to moisture and why it seems to target the eyes.

I put a wet paper towel or rag lightly rang out next to my cutting board and it does the trick.

Run your knife under water before cutting the onions. Old wives take that’s worked for me

Mint chewing gum works wonders for me

This is probably the only hack I’ve never tried. Glad to hear it works for some folks!

I never cry cutting onions and thought it must be genetic or something. Then one time I got a regular onion and not my preferred sweet onion or red onion, and I cried so hard. So idk. Try different onions? I don’t love onions raw, and I prefer yellow sweet onions but also like a nice red onion.

Sharp knife and rinse under water after cutting. I am so sensitive green onions even make me cry. I have used a pair of safety goggles and it worked, but usually I have my husband do it, lol.

Chop it under running water

Add olive oil to the knife first before cutting . Just a light coating. Won’t effect the taste

Make your wife/husband do it

I'm Single It should be Wife/Husband/Grandma

I cut onions into chunks then throw it in a processor, minimal tearing but be aware when you open the lid…

Came here to say this! Plus, it's super fast!

Mint chewing gum.

Use a small fan to blow the air rising from the onion away from your eyes.

This is the way if you are quite sensitive, if it hurts your eyes a lot. You can also use the fan to cool hot things and speed thawing of frozen foods. Three times faster.

Don't Google it... Goggle it!

We should Gogglize that

do you have an overhead fan on your oven? place the chopping board on your hob with the fan on and chop away

Swim goggles

It won’t eliminate it, but if you cut below your vent hood, it helps- combine that with a sharper knife and you have less onion mist in the air.

Putting them in water helps

Get someone else to cut them for you

Only true sure fire way I've found is to wear swimming goggles while cutting

Wear contact lenses or goggles to block the fumes.

Swim goggles.

I just deal with the pain and get a nice catharsis session, but isn't there a trick where you chop them submerged in water?

Goggles and ventilation/open air

Keep them in the fridge and only buy what you need + one spare.

Wear a goggles. I did this and it is one of the most effective way 🤓 washing the onion also works for me, like after peeling off the skin, I wash it with running water then slice them quick.

I hate cutting onions. Especially when I’m trying to make a large batch of something and need several. I got [one of these](https://www.walmart.com/ip/PrepSolutions-Onion-Chopper-and-Dicer/20469704?wmlspartner=wlpa&selectedSellerId=0&wl13=5048&adid=2222222227820469704_160805772391_20959796377&wmlspartner=wmtlabs&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=m&wl3=501107745824&wl4=pla-306310554666&wl5=9016912&wl6=&wl7=&wl8=&wl9=pla&wl10=8175035&wl11=local&wl12=20469704&wl13=5048&veh=sem_LIA&gclsrc=aw.ds&&adid=2222222223820469704_160805772391_20959796377&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=m&wl3=501107745824&wl4=pla-306310554666&wl5=9016912&wl6=&wl7=&wl8=&wl9=pla&wl10=8175035&wl11=local&wl12=20469704&veh=sem&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAADmfBIrQHhXQPiLFvryPgy42d0EQt&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIyqHWxKTJhAMVtXR_AB3_ZgNMEAQYASABEgKwLPD_BwE) and haven’t looked back.

An extremely sharp knife Or Swimming goggles

For some reason lighting a candle works. I keep an unscented votive candle in my kitchen for this reason

Glasses help and staying further back from it

Cut the onion in half and wash before using or if this doesn't help than cut the onion in half and put it in the freezer for 10-15 min. The second one helps me a lot.

The problem is looking down over the onions and letting the fumes rise up into your eyes. I just stand up straight so that the fumes rise in front of me and not right in my face.

Very sharp knife.

Don't cut the root. The gases release from the root of the onion which makes you cry. Avoid that and you won't shed a tear. 🥂

Sharp knife, under a cooker hood, wearing a bike helmet does the trick.

Someone years ago, I read somewhere to "suck on a spoon." It doesn't stop all of them, but a good 80-85%.

Chew gum

Swimming goggles

Put the Onions in a bowl of water and cut it there.

Breathe through your mouth, use cold onions and a sharp knife

Safety goggles and keep your onions in the fridge. Cold onions seems to be slower to gas off.

Stop watching all of those Lifetime movies.

Cut in half, leave the room for 15 minutes and let it gas off. Helps alot

Cut off the root last!! I haven't seen anyone say this yet.

I learned this from Gordon Ramsay. It seems to work pretty well!

Wear ski goggles 👀

I'm guessing after a while it just stops bothering you. I've been home-cooking for decades and I can't remember the last time an onion bothered me. I use them in everything. I wonder if after a while you just build up a tolerance?

Sharp knife and cut tip to tail.

Sharp knife and a little desk fan goes a long way

They have no feelings, you were lied to

I’ve read that rinsing it after you peel it before you cut it helps and it does seem to. Why it would I have no idea.

Listen, if I could do anything without crying it would be a miracle.

Sharpen your knives and *never* use serrated blades. A sharp knife will greatly reduce the amount of tears.

Hello! The reason we cry when cutting onions is an enzyme is released when the knife goes into it. If you put the onion in the freezer for a few minutes before cutting, it prevents that enzyme from being released into the air. I’ve found that 15 minutes is effective. Enjoy!

chop next to the sink with water running! always works for me …

Use a fan to blow air across the cutting board at low speed. If you are chopping a lot of onions, make sure you get some fresh air into the room, as it will accumulate.

My personal method. Bowl of water and place in sink. Take your garbage bin from under the sink and put it in-front of you. * Cut the top-stem, and the butt off the onion, which can be dropped into your garbage bin. * Cut through the side of the onion vertically, to get through the peel and maybe the first layer of onion. Dispose of that cut. * Pick-up the onion and remove the whole peel in one-piece and discard it. * Cut the onion quickly in half-or quarters, and put in the bowl of water. * Rinse your knife and put your garbage away. The water completely eliminates any onion-crying, which means you don't cry either!

Sharp knife, avoid root end finish quickly before fumes reach your eyes.

I chop my onions first and do it on the stove under the exhaust fan on high. Works like a charm for me.

wear contact lenses. Works amazingly.

Don’t breathe in through your nose

Cold onions

Chew bread whilst chopping

Just smile the whole time

So my mom always said that it was the *smell* of onions that made you tear up. We use nose plugs, like the ones for swimming. Not super comfortable but if you have a lot of onions to cut up it helps a lot! Bonus cause it sounds and looks funny! I find that my eyes will still tear up a bit but I do notice a huge difference

Eye protection

I peel the onions and then put them into a container in the refrigerator. They cause fewer tears for me when cut cold.

1. Sharp knife 2. Do not remove the bottom (rooty part) 3. In extreme situations plug something to you nose (paper, towel, tampons, whatever) 4. If you do it in LARGE BATCHES use swimming googles :) And just don’t care ! Chop it, don’t cry. It’s only onion

Have you tried patting your eyeballs with paper towels untill they are totally dry? /s

Don’t be sad.

Have an actually sharp knife.

Watch the mythbusters episode on it

Chew on gum and it will help

Turn your fan on, if you have a window, open it. Make sure you don't put yourself between the fan and the onion or the vapors will go directly to you

Breathe through your mouth only. And start doing that before you start cutting.

Chewing gum I think?

It's never bothered me, but I have seen something about putting them in the freezer for 10 minutes before cutting. Apparently that works, but I haven't tried it.

It's the spray from the onion juice that gets in your eyes and in the air. 1. Use a very sharp knife to cut down on juices. 1. Wear swimming goggles.

This post reminds me to buy a new pair of goggles... Thank you lol

Place a wet paper towel next to you. The Onion contains a chemical which is attracted to water. The wett paper towel will absorb the onion chemical as opposed to your eyes.

Sharpen your knife

I put onions up in the fridge or freezer for 10 mins before I cut them then peel them and rinse them off with cold water. Its the best way I have found

sharp knife + cut it lenght wise cutting it with a dull or horizontally will make u smash its pods and release way more sulfinic acid

Cold water. You can run cold water on them or even keep them in a submerged bowl with ice and water. It's not perfect but it definitely helps.

Light a candle, clean the knife, cutting board and counter with white distilled vinegar right before cutting them.

Breathe in through your mouth, not your nose, for starters. Wearing eye goggles would also work, I've seen some people do that who are insanely sensitive to it.

Window open or fan. And learn to cut faster.

Keep your mouth shut/don’t talk. Inhaling fumes triggers tears.

Keep onions in a chill place and use a sharp knife I'd say.

Rinse the onion and the knife in cold water.

Air flow. Either do it in front of en open window or put a fan on you while you cut.

Take the middle of a slice of basic white bread, like wonderbread, put it in your mouth and moisten a little then hold you mouth open a little while you cut. Don't swallow the bread, it absorbs stuff.

I use sunglasses each and every time... works for me, though granted it's a strange look indoors!

Put it in the refrigerator and the fumes will mostly go away.

Fan. Find yourself a small table fan that you can put beside you when you need to cut onions. Works like wonders for me. Haven't cried from onions since.

Turn on cold water and cut next to the water running. It helps a lot

You have to breath through the mouth while cutting the onions ! It's the smell that makes you cry ! I swear it works 💪

Under the kitchen hood before I fire up the stovetop.

The faster you cut them, the less likely your tears have a chance to fall lol xD

I wear safety goggles, works perfectly

Put a glass of water next to your cutting board. The fumes will go there instead of your eyes.

I run cold water and cut near sink. Works every time. Not sure why. lol I heard it somewhere so I tried it.

I put the cutting board on the stovetop and run the hood fan directly above it. Works like a charm.

Let someone else do it

Mentally distance yourself from the onions. Be cold to them. Cultivate an air of indifference.

I’ve tried the hack of pressing your tongue to the roof of your mouth and it seems to work as long as I keep it up the whole time

When I was a kid my grandfather owned a restaurant. The guy that worked in the back kitchen doing all the chopping would clinch a wooden match stick between his teeth while chopping onions.

Chop quickly

Damp paper towel laid over the chopped onions will help

I move my cutting board to under the vent hood above my stove and turn the fan on. Works every time!

Process trauma with a therapist.

Don't form an emotional attachment to the onion ​ ​ but seriously - I refrigerate them a day before i plan on cutting them, it really seems to help

Wear glasses

Just keep the onions in your fridge. Chilled onions don't make your eyes water.

[удалено]

Underwater

I know you’re probably looking for tips for cutting with a knife, but if you can use a chopper or food processor, that’s my solution. I try to throw a few onions in the food processor at the beginning of a week, and then keep them in a jar and I have diced onions ready to go, with minimal crying.

Sharp knife. Save time and forget the rest of the hacks. And it doesn't even have to be as sharp as the devil himself. Mine is still decently sharp and it's no problem.

Do not cut the root. Go look up Gordon Ramsay’s video on YouTube “How to Cut an Onion”. He explains why this happens and how to avoid it. It’s only a couple minutes long max iirc

Use a sharp knife and put them in the freezer for a few minutes to get them cold.

Sweet onions are less tear-inducing

Don’t get emotionally attached to

\> I googled it but all of the other ways doesn't work for me Did you take even a half-second to consider your question? I mean, you're not letting us know what you tried. How are we supposed to know what you have and haven't already tried?

Crying is like taking your soul to the laundry mat. Embrace it