How to Chop Onions Without Tears

Onions enhance the flavor of casseroles, salads and soups. They also offer medicinal purposes when cooked, because they fight against cholesterol. The only real problem with onions is that we often cry when we chop them. Learn how to keep them from bringing on the tears.

Things You'll Need

• Onion
• Cutting board
• Sharp knife
• Stove burner
• Fan
• Small food chopper

Instructions

1. Remove the root area and peel the onion underneath a stream of running water, using a very sharp knife. This will help wash off some of the gases that burn your eyes.

2. Put your cutting board near your gas cook stove flame before beginning to chop the onions. The gas stove pulls the gases from the onion toward the flame. This burns them up without causing you to tear.

3. Place a fan so that it blows the gases away from you before they can get in your eyes.

4. Cut the onion in half and lay the cut side down on the cutting board.

5. Use a small food chopper if you can't get the knife to work right for you. The covered area will keep the gas from getting into your eyes and creating tears as you chop.

Tips & Warnings

• If you use an electric stove as opposed to gas, try lighting a few candles to serve the same purpose as a gas flame.

• Keeping the onion cold before chopping, wearing goggles and breathing through your mouth throughout the chopping process does not alleviate the tearing.