I don’t really cry that much when slicing onions, but occasionally I’ll get a super potent onion and these tips have really seemed to help lesson the tears.
How to Avoid Crying When Slicing and Onion
1. Use a very sharp knife. The sharper your knife, the less you will have to hack away at the onion and break down more of the cells.
2. Chew extra Minty Gum.
3. A sweet friend, Lisa Anderson, recently told me that she places a whole piece of bread in her mouth so that none of the onion hits her nose. I’d heard this one before, but never knew if it actually worked.
Other Great Tips
How to remove the smell of Garlic from your Hands
How to perfectly cook a chicken breast without cutting into it to check it.
I'm Carrian, and my family and I love to cook, bake, and enjoy time together. We believe that with a little help and a point in the right direction everyone can be successful in the kitchen. At our house everyone is family, and we hope you'll join ours. Click 
Slice off the top of the onion and then peel it under running water. It’s not only easier to peel, it washes away some of the onion juices rendering the fumes less toxic.
[Reply]
If you need chopped chopped onions and the size of dice doesn’t matter then cut the onion into quarters and put it in a blender, put in just enough water to cover and blend to desired size. Pour into strainer to drain and you’ll have chopped onions with no tears.
[Reply]
Sweet Basil Reply:
February 4th, 2013 at 3:04 pm
Sue, that’s such a great idea!!
[Reply]
If the size of the dice isn’t important and you just need chopped onions…cut the onion in quarters and put it in a blender, add just enough water to cover and blend to desired size. Pour into strainer to drain water and you’ll have chopped onions in a matter of seconds. Try it you’ll never have tears again.
[Reply]
I cry like a baby when I cut onions, but find that when I cut a refrigerated onion, I don’t. Of course, I always forget to put my onions in the fridge unless it’s one I’ve already sliced into!
[Reply]
Thanks for sharing your tips!
A chef instructor of mine once told me that you should stick a big chunk of carrot between your teeth, forcing you to breathe through your mouth because inhaling the fumes through your nose is what makes you cry. Not sure about that one. It doesn’t work a lick for me, but I think I’m especially sensitive. It’s the worst!
I have tried onion goggles, but unfortunately for me, there are gaping holes between the frames/foam “sealer” and my face (I’m asian). They have a sporty wraparound sunglasses shape to them.
I suppose trying the bread couldn’t hurt. I’m just imagining the soggy bread ball that results, and how that might be fun to get out of your mouth. I can see my husband laughing at me
. It’d be nice to keep in my back pocket if it works, though!
[Reply]
I’ve heard the chewing gum thing but never the bread-in-mouth thing or the onion goggles! And yet no matter what, I never do any of it when I actually go to chop onions and I cry like crazy. Some of us never learn, I guess.
[Reply]
Sweet Basil Reply:
January 10th, 2013 at 2:27 pm
Oh, we have to get us some onion goggles!
[Reply]
I tend to run the onion under some really hot water and then slice my little heart out – it works wonders
[Reply]
Sweet Basil Reply:
January 10th, 2013 at 2:27 pm
I’ve never heard of that one! What a great trick
[Reply]
My mom and great aunt showed me a super trick, cut the onion in half, then let it sit in a cup of water for a few minutes. the water takes the sharp smell and eye-irritation out of onions! just dump the water, and chop away!
[Reply]
Sweet Basil Reply:
January 10th, 2013 at 2:28 pm
Great trick! I’ll have to try that!
[Reply]
I always do the bread thing and it totally works!
[Reply]
Sweet Basil Reply:
January 10th, 2013 at 2:28 pm
I can just picture you with the bread now…;)
[Reply]
I’ve threatened to buy myself some onion goggles, but I’m up against some big resistance from the rest of the family. They can’t realized how much it hurts!!
[Reply]
Sweet Basil Reply:
January 10th, 2013 at 2:29 pm
Do it! I want some too. My kids are young enough that they would think I’m awesome.
[Reply]
I never had trouble with peeling onions for years because I wore contacts. Then I had eye surgery so I didn’t need the contacts, and the onions would KILL my eyes. ONION GOGGLES are fantastic. I have used them ever since.
[Reply]
Sweet Basil Reply:
January 10th, 2013 at 2:29 pm
Kalyn, I think we need to see a picture of you wearing said onion goggles
[Reply]
Oh I cry like a baby! I throw on a pair of sunglasses, but I better get some onion goggles because they just aren’t cutting it! Love this post!
[Reply]
I light a small candle nearby. No idea why it works but it does {for me at least}. Definitely going to try the gum trick…it sounds like a much simpler solution.
[Reply]
Sweet Basil Reply:
January 10th, 2013 at 2:30 pm
Duh! I never thought of lighting a candle. Good idea!
[Reply]
Chewing gum sounds like a plan!
[Reply]
love this post– going to chew gum next time
[Reply]
hah this is great..I was just crying over an extremely potent onion last night! I’ll have to give these a try, thanks!
[Reply]
I’m going to have to try your chewing gum trick!
[Reply]
I wear my kids swim goggles if I am going to be cutting for a while!!! Works like a charm!
[Reply]