Onion is one of those vegetables that can not be missing in any kitchen. But what to do about those eternal watery eyes when you're cutting onions again?
What causes your eyes to water when slicing onions?
Sometimes you just have that net of onions that is so sharp that your eyes start tearing even as soon as you cut the onion in half. That's because sulfur is released as soon as you cut up an onion. The trick is to get as little sulfur to your eyes as possible. The more you start rubbing, the more you will feel like you are momentarily blinded. Fortunately, there are several handy tricks you can employ to prevent crying (as best you can).
Remove the core of the onion
One of the most useful tricks is to first remove the core of the onion: as it is the culprit. You remove the core by cutting a slice from the bottom of the onion. With the knife, you can then take out the core (that harder part of the root). And if the middle part is large, you can also cut it out. Discard the core, et voilà.
Wear "onion goggles"
If you don't want to remove the core, you can also wear onion goggles. It's not very charming, but hey: it's handy if you don't want a teardrop on your cutting board. These glasses protect your eyes from sulfur gas, but can also be used when barbecuing, for example. That way you have less trouble with the smoke!
Chill the onions
By putting the onions in the refrigerator for thirty minutes to two hours beforehand, you reduce the chance of teary eyes. This is because when an onion is at room temperature, that nasty gas is released faster.
Ventilate
Open the window or, even better, turn the hood to turbo. Anything to get the sulfur away from your eyes. By circulating the air, you are less likely to suffer from teary eyes.