Use these 5 simple ideas to avoid the tears and learn how to cut onions without crying!
I love cooking with onions. I think they make almost any savory dish taste better. What I do NOT love is having my eyes water, or worse, heading into full blown crying when I cut up a juicy onion!
That’s why it’s a must to use these simple tips for how to cut onions without crying.
It seems like the fresher the onion, the more likely it is to make me cry. But of course the fresh onions are the ones that taste the best!
Follow these helpful ideas to avoid the tears and continue enjoying tasty onions in your cooking!
Before you get started with chopping, you may also want to choose a cutting board that won’t pick up the onion odors. I have had a Prepworks Cutting Board for over 8 years and it has held up this whole time without stains and without odors!
It’s made of white polyethylene that washes up easily and is even dishwasher safe. I have gotten some cut marks in it over the years, but it still works perfectly!
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Cut Under Running Water
Probably the most popular and easiest option is to slice your onions under running water. The running water redirects the onion vapors away from your eyes, leaving you tear-free.
Of course, once you get to the dicing portion you’ll need to transfer to a cutting board.
Cut Under a Vent
If you don’t want to keep the water running and your kitchen has a good stovetop vent or overhead fan, you can easily keep tears away.
Just turn it on to high speed and chop your onions underneath it. The fan redirects the fumes, pulling them up and away from your eyes.
Freeze Them
For another easy option, just toss your onion in the freezer for 15-20 minutes before you cut it. The cold keeps the onion from releasing the chemicals that cause your eyes to sting.
Soaking
Although this method will make the taste of your onions slightly milder, it works well in many dishes. Just soak your onion in a bowl of water for about 15-20 minutes before chopping.
The water will absorb the onion’s sulfuric compounds, making the taste more mild and taking away the eye irritating chemicals.
Chop Faster
NO, I don’t want you to move that knife faster and run the risk of hurting cutting yourself. What you CAN do is use a utensil that makes chopping go much more quickly.
A tool like the Vidalia Chop Wizard lets you chop your onions in half the time. You just place your onion on top of the stainless steel blade grate and with one swift motion, push the top lid down. Easy peasy.
Wear Goggles
If none of the first four methods work for you or you just have a zero tolerance for the onion’s eye irritating effects, try a pair of goggles.
While there are goggles made specifically for cutting onions, if you have a pair of swim goggles you can try those as well. This option keeps the fumes completely out of your eyes.
Favorite Onion Recipes
Now that you’re ready to chop onions, try them in one of our delicious onion recipes:
Do you have any other ideas for how to chop onions without crying?
Andrew says
Impossible!! Okay, your tips probably work so I’m going to try them — but I do think I need a pair of those goggles. One trick I learned was to save the onions to cut very last. That way I won’t be blindly hacking away at the rest of the veggies 🙂 haha
Scott says
I’ve never had a problem with onions. I guess because we eat them so often I have just gotten used to cutting them.
Audrey McClelland says
You’re my hero! I love cooking with onions, but I stopped doing it because I got tired of watery eyes and a runny nose.
Becky says
I like your tips. I’ve tried them all. What works best for me is keeping my onions in the fridge, and when I pull them out to chop, I cut along the lines of the onions. I find the faster I chop, the less likely I am to start tearing up.
Chrysa says
That’s a great tip!!
Jennifer says
This is so great! I love onions, but I never cook with them because of the tearing. Thank you!
Rosie says
I think I’ll try the freezing option – I have some onions to chop in the next couple of days, I’m psyched to try this!
shelly peterson says
Oh how I dislike cutting onions. Mainly because I cry every time. I will have to try freezing them. Thanks for the tips.