Food Fights: The Biggest Culinary Scandals Of 2011
Famous Death Row Last Meals
I posted a couple weeks back about an scientist who is working on genetically modifying onions so that they don't make your tear ducts go crazy. I believe I said in the post I hate that part about onions. Well that's true, but it has been a long time since an onion has made me cry. Here's my secret.Someone told me a few years ago to breath through my mouth when cutting onions. They said it was because the irritant in onions actually affects the nasal passage, and that results in tears.
The trick totally works. If I remember to breath through my mouth (which is the hard part, but it gets easier to remember), then I don't cry. I'm starting to doubt the reason I was told though. I just read a great explanation over at How Stuff Works. The article confirmed my trick, but not the reason why. I'll let you read for yourself, as the explanation is kind of long. Just try it: pretty soon you'll be whizzing your way through a sack of onions with absolutely no tears.
Jennifer Aniston's Effortlessly Sexy Style
Whitney Houston Dead: Singer Dies at 48, Body Found in Beverly Hilton Hotel
Sheryl Crow Loves To Flaunt Toned Physique
Whitney Houston Dead: Stars React to Legend's Sudden Death
Can You Guess This Famous Face?
Comforter Soaked In Blood Found In Josh Powell's Storage Unit
Tips for flying cheaper in 2012
It's Pink!
LINSANITY CONTINUES
Savings Experiment: Snow Removal
Alleged Squatters Found With Drugs, Handgun, Grenades, Pig
14 Years Of Christina Ricci's Beauty Looks
There's only one thing to do when the Nürburgring is covered in snow...
Tax Reform in This Election Year: It's Not Likely
PHOTOS: Remembering Whitney Houston's Glittering Style
The Money Man Behind Rick Santorum: Who Is Foster S. Friess?
Nic Cage Addresses Vampire Rumors On 'Late Show'
The Happiest People In The World...
Front Row Celebrities At New York Fashion Week
White House Bending On Birth Control Rule
Chloë Moretz Is All Grown Up
TV's Best Music Moments
Hulk Hogan: 'I'd Celebrate It' If I Was Gay
PHOTOS: Makeup Malfunction!
PHOTOS: Saturn Does Cosmic Dance With Its Moons
Dougherty Sibling Pleads Guilty, Gets Deal
Couple Dies 88 Minutes Apart After 65 Years Of Marriage
Utah Man Chooses Execution By Firing Squad
New Rankings Finds D.C. Is A Great Place For Single Men
PHOTOS: Who WIll Be This Year's Cover Girl?
15 Obnoxious Notes From Roommates
Nevada Police Beating Of Man In Diabetic Shock Produces $300,000 Settlement
3-04-2008 @6:32PM Beth said... I find that putting onions in the freezer for about 10 minutes before chopping really helps as well.
Reply
3-04-2008 @6:34PM TC said... There's an easier trick I learned sometime ago, and i too have not had tears in ages. The tip is to not cut the root part. If you make the Cut into the Top Part of the Onion(what puts out the 'stalk') you won't have problems either.
Reply
3-04-2008 @6:53PM Faith said... That's funny! We just posted another set of five tips on keeping yourself from crying while chopping onions at The Kitchn:
http://www.thekitchn.com/thekitchn/tips-techniques/five-tips-on-how-to-cut-onions-without-tears-044486
Old wives' tales debunked!
Reply
3-04-2008 @7:07PM Laura said... The absolute best way I've found to avoid crying when cutting onions is to wear contact lenses. Of course, that only works if you need contacts lenses, but still...
And jeeze--genetically modifying food to avoid a minor inconvenience? What's wrong with our society?
Reply
3-04-2008 @8:06PM Karen said... I second the contacts comment. I got contacts long before I ever cut my first onion, and I never once cried. It wasn't until one day many years later when I happened to have my glasses on while cooking that I started weeping over an onion.
Reply
3-04-2008 @8:53PM jackie gaston said... I have tried holding 2 or 3 matches in my mouth while cutting onions and it usually works. Teh sulphur in the matches neutralizes the onions somehow.
Reply
3-05-2008 @3:16PM charcuterista said... As someone who peels quite a few shallots at work on a regular basis (and cries and cries...), I can't wait to try this tip out! I'll let you know how it works for me...
Reply
3-04-2008 @9:37PM missjoanne said... The best thing is a sharp knife. A sharp knife doesn't damage the cells of the onion so the chemical doesn't float to your eyes and nose. The freezer or fridge for a few minutes method also works because the onion chemical is water soluable.
Reply
3-05-2008 @1:25AM Arbert said... just cut next to an open flame, like a candle or a gas stove and the fire burns away all of the teary gas. simple
Reply
3-05-2008 @2:31AM butterbites said... Cutting onions has been the most difficult part for me just because of the tears. these three tips have worked the best for me:
- cutting the onion under water
- freezing the onion just before cutting
- not cutting the roots
I found this great video on http://www.ifood.tv, which tells you about how to best chop an onion with the root attached so that you wont have tears in your eyes. http://www.ifood.tv/video/chopping_onions_from_lauren_grovemans_kitchen
Reply
3-06-2008 @9:50AM Numb said... Easiest way to not cry? Avoid onions altogether. Bleh, I hate the nasty things - for their horrid taste as much as the fact that they're the bad-cook's go-to item for covering up poor cooking.
Reply