Crying While Chopping Onions? These Simple Tricks Will Protect Your Eyes

Last Updated:September 30, 2025, 17:37 IST

By adopting these simple home remedies, cutting onions can become a tear-free task, making kitchen work easier and more comfortable

These methods help reduce sulfur compound release and irritation.

The familiar sting of onion-induced tears has long been a daily nuisance in kitchens across India, particularly for homemakers. Eye irritation and involuntary tearing while cutting onions are caused by sulfur compounds present in the vegetable. When these compounds are released into the air and come into contact with the moisture in our eyes, they form mild acids, triggering discomfort and tearing.

Experts suggest that a few simple methods can significantly reduce this irritation and make chopping onions a more comfortable experience.

1. Remove the top layer of peel: Peeling off the onion’s outermost layer reduces sulfur content, lowering the risk of eye irritation.
2. Soak in cold water: After peeling, soak the onion in cold water for 10 to 15 minutes to lessen the potency of the sulfur compounds.
3. Refrigerate before cutting: Covering and refrigerating onions for about 10 minutes can help prevent tears.
4. Place in water after cutting: Submerging chopped onions in water reduces their odour and the intensity of sulfur compounds.
5. Keep water in your mouth: A traditional practice in villages, holding a small amount of water in the mouth while cutting onions can minimise eye irritation.
6. Cut in front of a fan: Standing near a fan helps disperse sulfur compounds, keeping them away from the eyes.
7. Use a sharp knife: A sharp knife breaks fewer cells, releasing fewer sulfur compounds and reducing irritation.

In addition, rinsing your eyes with clean water if irritation occurs, and using fresh, high-quality onions, can further reduce discomfort.

By adopting these simple home remedies, cutting onions can become a tear-free task, making kitchen work easier and more comfortable while minimizing the pungent odor that often lingers in the eyes and nose.

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Author: News18