Onions Want to Kill My Eyes

maryd523

I can barely see this screen....tears are running down my cheeks, nose is running....such pain! And this is despite wearing ski googles during the chopping process.

Does anyone have any suggestions of how to stop the horrible reaction (or help relieve it once it's started)? I've looked it up and found things like "chop onion while in water" and other obscure ideas.

Everyone says it gets better, but after several years of cooking regularly with onions, there is NO improvement. And my eyes hurt for hours afterwards.

Please help. *sniffle*

AnnaPixie

Dont cut the root end off till last. So, cut onion in half from top to bottom, peel skin back, slice from top to bottom, leaving the root till last.

Hope that makes sense.......:bigsmile:

Also, I keep my onions in the fridge! Not sure if that bears any relevance, but I never cry chopping them since i've been doing that and leaving the roots on,

Good luck :flowerforyou:

tross0924

Once they start burning a little you can stick your head in the freezer for a minute. The cold helps calm em down a bit, but as soon as you pull your head out and head back over to the cutting board they start right up where they left off.

JennLifts

hold an unlit match between your teeth.

atd81

Lemon juice on the cutting board!! Doesn't take away the sting completely but definitely lessens it.

unsuspectingfish

Breathe through your nose as little as possible. It helps some.

PegasusDeb

Wear contacts! I never have a problem when my contacts are in!

MarieNevada

buy onions prechopped at safeway. that's what i do wheni have to use a lot of onions. lol

bhagavatilad1

Soaking them in water certainly helps sounds like you may have an allergy. I do mine in a food processor you can do a rough chop quickly if you have a large quantity. Good Luck

pnieuw

My wife wears contacts. She does the onion chopping, with no ill effects.

brittanyjeanxo

I hate onions so I don't use them, but I'm really sensitive to them, so every time my mom would chop onions she'd warn me, and I'd chew on a couple pieces of really strong mint gum. Eclipse wintermint seems to do the trick.

I_GoT_ThIs

I have always heard to light a candle when your cutting an onion. I always do, it seems to work.. or it just doesn't bother me, but it's worth a shot!!!

fiberartist219

Breathe through your nose as little as possible. It helps some.

I was actually going to suggest just the opposite. I find that if I talk or open my mouth, my eyes water more.

I think maybe the trick is to take very small, shallow breaths until your cutting board is cleaned.

8rules

buy onions prechopped at safeway. that's what i do wheni have to use a lot of onions. lol

Exactly. If you are sensitive, why put yourself through it? Get someone to chop a bunch for you and keep it in the fridge.

Contrarian

Do a cartwheel and chop them with one ear plugged.

pcteck2

Open your mouth and breath through your mouth. Makes a big difference. When we were kids my dad always held a cube of bread between his teeth when he chopped onion. I later learned you don't need the bread. Hope this helps.

PlunderBunneh

I've been wearing contacts for years, I couldn't believe how much it hurt the first time I cut onions with my glasses on instead.
Hubby says that chewing gum really helps him. Worth a try.

emilynicole02

putting your onions in the freezer for about 5-10 minutes before cutting helps A LOT! (just make sure you don't forget about it so it doesn't freeze on you lol)

cutting onions are the WORST, and this by far helps me stay tear free!

if I don't have time to put it in the freezer before cutting guess who cuts them? my boyfriend! haha i wont do it lol!

lukimakamai

Here is a good link. Not sure if you have read this one yet
http://www.recipetips.com/kitchen-tips/t--1391/onion-and-tearing-tips.asp

cedarhurst2006

When I cut vidalia sweet onions I don't cry!

maryd523

Thank you, thank you, thank you!

I don't have contacts, too bad. I am going to try sticking them in the freezer beforehand (I already store them in the fridge and that doesn't help me), lemon juice on the board, lighting a candle, and oh....buying them prechopped. My best friend offered to chop a bunch for me that I could then freeze, but I never did it.

I really appreciate everyone's help!

Rae6503

buy prechopped onions. Most grocery stores sell them. LOVE them.

kunibob

Make sure your knife is SHARP! Blunt knives crush the onion instead of slicing it, which makes it worse. Also, try not to breath in through your nose at all.

Everything else I was going to say has been mentioned! Onions obliterate me, so I feel your pain. :[

Scott613

I know exactly how to get rid of the problem............. dont eat or chop onions.

iamahealthychick

Make sure your knife is REALLY sharp! Keep your onions cold. I have bought (for me and a friend of mine) 'onion goggles'. They are glasses you wear while you cut. My friend had a heck of a time, like you and he LOVES his. You could also use swimming goggles.

http://www.bedbathandbeyond.ca/product.asp?sku=112667&

http://www.thinkgeek.com/interests/moms/ae2d/

They are also on Amazon.

maritza327

If you don't wear contacts, instead of sticking your head in the freezer, stick the onion in the freezer for 10-15. When you the onion is cold, it will not make your eyes burn and tear up.