Discover this Simple Trick to Cut Onions Without Crying
Onions are never missing from our kitchens. They give a special flavor to many sautéed, baked, steamed, and even cold dishes. However, it’s true that when you start to cut them, all sorts of problems occur! So, how can you cut onions without crying?
Watery eyes, blurred vision, stinging… ring a bell? Cutting onions can be a traumatic experience! But a leading chef found a solution to avoid these discomforts. In this article, we’re going to share how to cut onions without crying? Intrigued? Read on!
You may be interested in: Black Onion: Nutritional and Health Benefits
Why do we cry when cutting onions?
When an onion starts to be cut, its cells are broken. Because of this, a gas begins to come out that forms a substance known as sulfenic acid. After that, this acid combines with a large number of enzymes and gives way to the presence of another gas, called thiopropanal sulfoxide.
This is the one that reaches our eyes, mixes with the water that’s present there, and produces sulfuric acid. This substance is what causes people to begin to feel an uncomfortable itching and tearing. When more water is present, the effect is intensified, and the visual irritation is prolonged.
When cooking begins, each of the enzymes is deactivated. Consequently, the presence of gases is controlled.
The solution recommended by a chef
Jack Scalfani, the famous cook, has stated that he has the ideal trick to cut onions without crying. According to him, the first thing to do is to insert the knife into one of the sides of the onion and plunge it all the way in.
Then, start moving it in a circular motion all around the edge. The intention here is to extract the central part that formed the root, which is the part that causes the tears.
Finally, cut the rest of the onion as you wish. Once the aforementioned piece has been removed, there’ll no longer be any risk of irritating the eyes.
Watch this video for the exact explanation on how to cut onions without crying.
Other popular tricks
Several people have found that when onions are very cold, gases are neutralized. Because of it, they suggest putting them in the freezer 1 hour before they are going to be cut.
Another option is to cut it in a container with water. In this way, fewer gases will be released and with less intensity.
Other people swear by lighting a candle in the area where you’re going to cut the onion. They have found that this element helps to absorb the gases generated.
Find out more: How to Prepare Onion Rings in an Air Fryer
The benefits of onions
Onions are a very important source of vitamins, because they contains B, A, C and E vitamins. They also have multiple minerals, such as sodium, iron, calcium, magnesium, potassium, zinc, and phosphorus.
A study published in Semantic Scholar found that onions act against bacteria. It would be an adjuvant for colds.
As an additional factor, they contain allicin and alliin, two components that prevent blood clots from forming. This is why they’re recommended in diets for cardiovascular diseases.
Finally, we should also mention that they contain a powerful antioxidant, quercetin. This strengthens the immune system and protects against osteoporosis.
All cited sources were thoroughly reviewed by our team to ensure their quality, reliability, currency, and validity. The bibliography of this article was considered reliable and of academic or scientific accuracy.
- Kabrah, Ahmed, Dr. Hani S. Faidah, Dr. Ahmad M Ashshi and Mrs. Safaa A. Turkistani. “Antibacterial Effect of Onion Mr.” (2016).