Crying Over Chopped Onions

[Sparkles62]

Just chopped onions to go in tortillas, eyes burning and streaming, does anybody have any tips to prevent this....what do YOU do?

[gingejbee]

Get somebody else to do the chopping for me !

[237SJ]

Someone once told me that it only happens when you chop off the root end of the onion but I don`t know how true that is.

[Mamyalynne]

I buy frozen ready chopped.

[tiggerblue10]

You could get a chopper.

[China Doll]

Blub like a baby! I used to wear my sun glasses when I chopped onions which seemed to help a bit... sadly my sun glasses were last seen in Corfu.

[pretty_snowdrop]

After you have peeled the onion rince it under cold water before you start chopping.

[tiggerblue10]

http://www.procook.co.uk/product/procook-prep-tools-food-chopper?utm_source=GoogleShopping&utm_medium=Shopping&utm_campaign=MerchantFeed&gclid=CPSIsNCsmLUCFQzKtAodzmgAPg

[EcclesCake]

I don't do anything to prevent it as I don't believe the old wives tails of spoon in the mouth...etc. I just get on with it and accept that some onions are livelier than others.

The only exception is when I'm using a lot of shallots, I bung them in boiling water for a minute or two and they are easier to peel thus reducing the time you are exposed to them.

[excelsior-1]

do it immersed in a sink full of water

works for me all the time

[MadMen]

Swimming goggles! Saw it on an episode of Come Dine :-)

[Sparkles62]

Brilliant answer ginge.Love it. X
237, i tried that, It didn't work for me. Also tried chopping them in water, very messy and no better.

[woofgang]

I use red onions that seem to have less of the tear producing component.

[mrs.chappie]

Get the OH to do it. :o)

[excelsior-1]

as the pores in your cheeks take in the effect .. try a hankerchief or scarf

[Maydup]

I use red onions too and I peel them back to the root, but don't cut the root off. I cut the onion in half across the root and chop down and across and chuck the root away. Works for me.

[woofgang]

Apparently its only the stuff that gets in your eyes that makes you cry
http://chemistry.about.com/od/chemistryfaqs/f/onionscry.htm

[MadMen]

Which is why swimming goggles work so well!

[Sparkles62]

China, I wear glasses anyway but still cry like a baby.
Pretty I will have to give that a try, or just buy a chopper as China suggested.
Mammy, I'm surprised at you, thats cheating, lol

[Mamyalynne]

Cooking for one , it means I don't have the problem of onions going off in the veg rack and are available and handy for any recipe when needed. Why make life difficult :-)

[Mamyalynne]

If I need red or shallots then yes I buy them, but otherwise does me fine.