Great tip for chopping onions
Posted by hopfrog on Jul 26, 2008 · Member since Sep 2004 · 905 posts
So, I read about this on the internet four or five months ago (can't remember where). I'm the type that can't chop 1/2 onion without having to stop because of the tears and pain, and I've tried many "solutions." But this works! I have not had a single onion tear in many months and can chop as many onions as I like at one time.
Get a small desk fan. I bought mine at a garage sale for $3. I keep it in one of my cupboards just for this purpose. Aim the fan at your onion while chopping and away from your face, blowing all the fumes away.
Sorry if you have heard of this before, when I read it, it was new to me!
I should try this. I usually don't cry until the second onion though
in my lazy blurred reading of the subject title i thought it said "Great tips for chopping omnis"
That's a great idea. Makes sense. I usually don't get tears, but when I do feel em coming I turn my head away...of course, its probably not the best idea to cut while you're not looking...but, I still have all my fingers. ;)b
they make goggles now, for chopping onions. lol, i just registered for some pink ones!! woohoo!! no more tears!
I only ever cry if I've got my contacts out. And then it's really terrible. Good tip!
I just put them in the chopper box of my immersion blender. Zip-zip-zip, done.
A friend of my from Colombia never cries when she chops onions. She says it's because they eat so much onion in their food her system is anesthetised. ;)
I just put them in the chopper box of my immersion blender. Zip-zip-zip, done.
A friend of my from Colombia never cries when she chops onions. She says it's because they eat so much onion in their food her system is anesthetised. ;)
Geez....I cry like a baby. Onions, leeks, green onions...I'm like a faucet.
I have that problem too! And I haven't tried that, so I will.
It also helps me if they're straight out of the refrigerator.
frig helps with most, but I've also found if I turn on the exhaust fan over the stove it takes the fumes away and I don't cry!
And remember to cut the root off first, before peeling or cutting. That releases the "surface tension" so to speak, of the onion, and they spatter less.
I don`t have this problem. Maybe because I 6'1" I`m far enough from the counter. Wow, I just found 1 good reason for being so tall. thanks VW , now when I hate being so tall I`ll just have to chop some onions. ;)
i usually don't cry, but i think it depends on the type of onion i'm chopping, because one day (when i had a friend over to teach her to cook something vegan) i chopped one up and cried like there was no tomorrow. it was kinda embarassing, since i had company. i kept saying 'this never happens, i swear!'
but really... people think i cry over the onions, when really..i'm just reacting...to the plight of the onion.
thankyoumitchhedberg.
Can you chop onions in a food processor? Might be a dumb question. Just curious...
I should think you could, New Shoes. If it's only one onion, it might not be worth the hassle of cleaning the darn thing, though. That's why I use my chopper box.
PM, I think you're right, it depends on the onion. White onions or purple ones don't seem to make me cry as much as Spanish onions do. And green onions (scallions) that are small don't bother me, but the fat ones are murder!
Another important point: How much you cry is directly related to how sharp your knife is. I just bought some VERY good knives, sharp as scalpels, and enjoyed slicing an onion without shedding a tear.
my knives must be crap...good to know.
Fan is the only thing that works for me.
I have relatively new Shun knives (these are razor sharp)...still cry. Doesn't matter which type of onion: red, white, yellow, green....still cry. Tried changing the way I slice them....still cry. Try my food processor....cry. I usually store my onions in the refrigerator, so they are cold....cry. Cutting them underwater works, but that is not an easy task.
So, I'll stick with the fan. Simple, cheap, quick, and works better than any other tip I have tried.
Can you chop onions in a food processor? Might be a dumb question. Just curious...
I've chopped onions a few times before using my food processor but usually only when I was chopping other veggies with it for a recipe. I also have one of those Pampered Chef hand chopper things. It works ok but is a pain to clean. Predominantly I just use a knife.
It is hit or miss with me. Sometimes chopping an onion does nothing for me...other times my eyes burn like there is no tomorrow, and I have to stop and get my bearings. I have heard putting them in the fridge for a bit beforehand helps though.
It is hit or miss with me. Sometimes chopping an onion does nothing for me...other times my eyes burn like there is no tomorrow, and I have to stop and get my bearings. I have heard putting them in the fridge for a bit beforehand helps though.
hehehe
i thought you meant put your eyes in the fridge...
ohh sleep deprivation..look what youre doing to me ::)
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