"Stu" <>
> Before you cut them try putting them in the freezer for 10-15 mins.

How does that help? Easier to slice? Less tears? I could do that. Polly

"Polly Esther" > wrote in message
...
>
> "Stu" <>
>> Before you cut them try putting them in the freezer for 10-15 mins.
>
> How does that help? Easier to slice? Less tears? I could do that.
> Polly

Less tears.

On 7/29/2011 12:57 AM, Julie Bove wrote:

> "Polly > wrote in message
> news:
...
>>
>> "Stu"<>
>>> Before you cut them try putting them in the freezer for 10-15 mins.
>>
>> How does that help? Easier to slice? Less tears? I could do that.
>> Polly
>
> Less tears.
>
>
I rarely ever have tears anymore when slicing onions. I'm not sure what
the change was because it used to only take the first slice to start the
burn.

--
Cheryl
Come carpe diem baby

OK, kiddies, it's time for my periodic reminder about how I slice (or
chop) onions without tears. I sing. With gusto. I have no idea why it
works, but for me it always does.

Just choose a song with a number of verses sufficient to see you
through however many onions you have to deal with. "Ninety-nine
Bottles of Beer on the Wall" is good.

Felice

On 7/28/2011 6:00 PM, Polly Esther wrote:
>
> "Stu" <>
>> Before you cut them try putting them in the freezer for 10-15 mins.
>
> How does that help? Easier to slice? Less tears? I could do that. Polly

Cutting into many plants will release complex compounds that have
evolved over millions of years as self-defense mechanisms. In this case,
an onion will produce gas that creates sulfuric acid in your eyes.
Keeping your onions cold suppresses this release. I keep my onions in
the refrigerator anyway.

On Jul 29, 2:15*am, dsi1 > wrote:
> On 7/28/2011 6:00 PM, Polly Esther wrote:
>
>
>
> > "Stu" <>
> >> Before you cut them try putting them in the freezer for 10-15 mins.
>
> > How does that help? Easier to slice? Less tears? I could do that. Polly
>
> Cutting into many plants will release complex compounds that have
> evolved over millions of years as self-defense mechanisms. In this case,
> an onion will produce gas that creates sulfuric acid in your eyes.
> Keeping your onions cold suppresses this release. I keep my onions in
> the refrigerator anyway.

The release happens when cells are crushed. A very sharp knife
eliminates tears. When cutting an onion affects my eyes. I know that
sharpening is overdue. (A very thick blade does some crushing with its
side. I can slice tomatoes with my hatchet, but not onions dry-eyed.)
I'll try the fridge next time my knife is a bit dull.

Jerry
--
Engineering is the art of making what you want from things you can get.

"Jerry Avins" > wrote in message
...
> On Jul 29, 2:15 am, dsi1 > wrote:
>> On 7/28/2011 6:00 PM, Polly Esther wrote:
>>
>>
>>
>> > "Stu" <>
>> >> Before you cut them try putting them in the freezer for 10-15 mins.
>>
>> > How does that help? Easier to slice? Less tears? I could do that. Polly
>>
>> Cutting into many plants will release complex compounds that have
>> evolved over millions of years as self-defense mechanisms. In this case,
>> an onion will produce gas that creates sulfuric acid in your eyes.
>> Keeping your onions cold suppresses this release. I keep my onions in
>> the refrigerator anyway.
>
> The release happens when cells are crushed. A very sharp knife
> eliminates tears. When cutting an onion affects my eyes. I know that
> sharpening is overdue. (A very thick blade does some crushing with its
> side. I can slice tomatoes with my hatchet, but not onions dry-eyed.)
> I'll try the fridge next time my knife is a bit dull.

Ahaaaaaaaaa! Could it be that my lovely husband keeps my knives very
sharp???

"Polly Esther" > wrote in message
...
>
> "Stu" <>
>> Before you cut them try putting them in the freezer for 10-15 mins.
>
> How does that help? Easier to slice? Less tears? I could do that.
> Polly

I can't remember the last time an onion made my eyes water. Do get that
often?

On Fri, 29 Jul 2011 14:47:29 +0100, "Ophelia" >
wrote:

>
>
> "Polly Esther" > wrote in message
> ...
> >
> > "Stu" <>
> >> Before you cut them try putting them in the freezer for 10-15 mins.
> >
> > How does that help? Easier to slice? Less tears? I could do that.
> > Polly
>
> I can't remember the last time an onion made my eyes water. Do get that
> often?

Onions don't normally make my eyes water either, but occasionally I
can feel the fumes.

--

Today's mighty oak is just yesterday's nut that held its ground.

"sf" > wrote in message
...
> On Fri, 29 Jul 2011 14:47:29 +0100, "Ophelia" >
> wrote:
>
>>
>>
>> "Polly Esther" > wrote in message
>> ...
>> >
>> > "Stu" <>
>> >> Before you cut them try putting them in the freezer for 10-15 mins.
>> >
>> > How does that help? Easier to slice? Less tears? I could do that.
>> > Polly
>>
>> I can't remember the last time an onion made my eyes water. Do get that
>> often?
>
> Onions don't normally make my eyes water either, but occasionally I
> can feel the fumes.

I don't seem to get that much either any more. Type of onions perhaps?

Ophelia wrote:
>>>
>>> I can't remember the last time an onion made my eyes water. Do
>>> get
>>> that often?
>>
>> Onions don't normally make my eyes water either, but occasionally I
>> can feel the fumes.
>
> I don't seem to get that much either any more. Type of onions
> perhaps?

Ophelia, are you using Spanish onions, by any chance?

Dora

"Dora" > wrote in message
...
> Ophelia wrote:
>>>>
>>>> I can't remember the last time an onion made my eyes water. Do get
>>>> that often?
>>>
>>> Onions don't normally make my eyes water either, but occasionally I
>>> can feel the fumes.
>>
>> I don't seem to get that much either any more. Type of onions
>> perhaps?
>
> Ophelia, are you using Spanish onions, by any chance?

All kinds, Dora. I use those big Spanish onions and the smaller brown ones
which are much stronger.

On Jul 29, 6:47*am, "Ophelia" > wrote:
> "Polly Esther" > wrote in message
>
> ...
>
>
>
> > "Stu" <>
> >> Before you cut them try putting them in the freezer for 10-15 mins.
>
> > How does that help? *Easier to slice? Less tears? *I could do that.
> > Polly
>
> I can't remember the last time an onion made my eyes water. *Do get that
> often?

You must not be sensitive to it. I either keep my onions in the
refrigerator (usually the unused half) or
I cut off the ends, peel and put them in a bowl of water while I'm
prepping other stuff. Sitting in the cold
water for a few minutes lets them leach out that cloudy white milk
that holds the dreaded eye sting.

"ImStillMags" > wrote in message
...
> On Jul 29, 6:47 am, "Ophelia" > wrote:
>> "Polly Esther" > wrote in message
>>
>> ...
>>
>>
>>
>> > "Stu" <>
>> >> Before you cut them try putting them in the freezer for 10-15 mins.
>>
>> > How does that help? Easier to slice? Less tears? I could do that.
>> > Polly
>>
>> I can't remember the last time an onion made my eyes water. Do get that
>> often?
>
> You must not be sensitive to it. I either keep my onions in the
> refrigerator (usually the unused half) or
> I cut off the ends, peel and put them in a bowl of water while I'm
> prepping other stuff. Sitting in the cold
> water for a few minutes lets them leach out that cloudy white milk
> that holds the dreaded eye sting.

I did used to get that horrible eye sting too, but not for ages. I was
wondering if they onions are different these days.
>
>

In article >,
"Ophelia" > wrote:

> I did used to get that horrible eye sting too, but not for ages. I was
> wondering if they onions are different these days.
> >
Since I started wearing contact lenses 20+ years ago, I have very little
tearing unless I'm chopping up a lot of onions. On the other hand, my
eyes will tear up if I cut up several shallots at a time.

Cook's Illustrated did a comparison of onion-chopping methods years ago
and found that wearing contact lenses was the best to avoid tearing.

Cindy

--
C.J. Fuller

Delete the obvious to email me

On Fri, 29 Jul 2011 14:21:04 -0700, Cindy Fuller
> wrote:

> In article >,
> "Ophelia" > wrote:
>
> > I did used to get that horrible eye sting too, but not for ages. I was
> > wondering if they onions are different these days.
> > >
> Since I started wearing contact lenses 20+ years ago, I have very little
> tearing unless I'm chopping up a lot of onions. On the other hand, my
> eyes will tear up if I cut up several shallots at a time.
>
> Cook's Illustrated did a comparison of onion-chopping methods years ago
> and found that wearing contact lenses was the best to avoid tearing.
>
I would have said regular glasses were better protection. Shows how
much I know!


--

Today's mighty oak is just yesterday's nut that held its ground.

"Cindy Fuller" > wrote in message
...
> In article >,
> "Ophelia" > wrote:
>
>> I did used to get that horrible eye sting too, but not for ages. I was
>> wondering if they onions are different these days.
>> >
> Since I started wearing contact lenses 20+ years ago, I have very little
> tearing unless I'm chopping up a lot of onions. On the other hand, my
> eyes will tear up if I cut up several shallots at a time.
>
> Cook's Illustrated did a comparison of onion-chopping methods years ago
> and found that wearing contact lenses was the best to avoid tearing.

DUH.. Why didn't I think of that. Not contact lenses but implants after
cataracts! Could that be the reason? And of course I wear glasses too..
soooo...