Stop crying: 4 simple ways to slice onions tear-free

You might avoid slicing onions, but there are dishes where finely chopped onions are essential. And you have to admit that onions chopped with a knife taste much better than those minced in a standard food processor or blender. So, here's how to slice onions without shedding tears.

Until recently, it was believed that the smell irritates the tear ducts. There's some truth to that. The smell comes from molecules released when fibers are cut. In the case of onions, it's allicin, a chemical compound with a distinctive irritating smell and antibacterial properties. This also explains why some people claim that crying while cutting onions can be healthy.

One method for painless onion slicing is to chill it first in the refrigerator or freezer. Peel the onion and place it in the fridge for about 30 minutes. The colder the onion, the less irritating gas it releases. However, be cautious with the freezer; an overly frozen onion may lose its texture.

The second suggestion is to immerse the onion in icy water. Prepare a bowl with cold water and add a few ice cubes. A short soak is enough to neutralize the substances that irritate your eyes. It's helpful to keep a bowl of icy water nearby so that during slicing you can immerse the onion again if needed.

This isn't about any magic. Lighting a candle near the cutting board can cause the irritating substances to rise higher in the air. There is a good chance that most will bypass your eyes, allowing you to shed far fewer tears.

As a last resort, you can use a practical kitchen gadget, like a food processor or a blender with special blades for chopping vegetables. The advantage of such a device is its airtight container, which prevents irritating substances from reaching your eyes.

The downside is achieving the appropriate size of onion pieces. The blades may not chop evenly and can quickly turn the onion into mush. So before seeking help from this kitchen gadget, try the three suggestions above.