Onions

One time I walked into my mom with tons of tears streaming down her face and I was like really concerned and was like "Mom, Mom what's wrong?" and she laughed and was like "I'm chopping onions!"

LOL My boy is used to it now but he did come and give me a cuddle a few times. Thankfully none of the neighbours have caught me hanging out the window for some fresh air to the eyes. Well maybe they have and I just couldn't see them through the tears.

Well I have my onions in the ice box now so we will try it later and see clearly. Hoping that happens.

Martha obviously doesn't have a box standard UK freezer. I just don't have room for ice-cube trays. I'm a sucker for the 2-for-1 deals on ice cream.

I forget where I saw this (some cookery program), but it really works.

If you put a stainless steel teaspoon in your mouth, and hold it in there while you chop--no tears!!

Martha obviously doesn't have a box standard UK freezer. I just don't have room for ice-cube trays.

Same here.  I was thinking that if I tried the ice cube trick I'd have to start "chopping onions" the day before...a few hours to find room for ice cube trays, a few hours for the water to freeze, then a few hours of onions soaking in the water.  Just seems like too much trouble to me.  I just sliced some onions the old-fashion way about 30 minutes ago...my eyes are still burning and watering.

If you put a stainless steel teaspoon in your mouth, and hold it in there while you chop--no tears!!

I've heard this works to but I've never tried it personally.  Another tip with stainless steel and onions...after chopping onions if you rub yours hands on stainless steel (cutlery or in the US they have these blocks of stainless steel that look like a soap bar and you "wash" your hands with it - not sure if they have those in the UK but I would imagine the do) it will take the smell away.  Works for garlic or other foul smelling stuff that "stains" your hands with smell also.   

Works for garlic or other foul smelling stuff that "stains" your hands with smell also.   

Garlic is not foul. It's the gift from the gods. The smell on the hands is a bonus.

If you put a stainless steel teaspoon in your mouth, and hold it in there while you chop--no tears!!

I've heard the spoon idea before, only it was a wooden spoon what I heard.  But the people I know who have tried this said while it might have subdued the tears a bit, you end up drooling all over the place instead - like into what you're trying to chop up.  So tears or drool - you decide! 

I forget where I saw this (some cookery program), but it really works.

If you put a stainless steel teaspoon in your mouth, and hold it in there while you chop--no tears!!

Seconded! It really works.

I forget where I saw this (some cookery program), but it really works.

If you put a stainless steel teaspoon in your mouth, and hold it in there while you chop--no tears!!

I can see it now. Me and my long grey unkempt Einstein hair do, frozen red fingers, googles, drip pan attached around neck, silver spoon hanging out of of mouth and tears still streaming down my face. And then the doorbell rings...

I've heard this works to but I've never tried it personally.  Another tip with stainless steel and onions...after chopping onions if you rub yours hands on stainless steel (cutlery or in the US they have these blocks of stainless steel that look like a soap bar and you "wash" your hands with it - not sure if they have those in the UK but I would imagine the do) it will take the smell away.  Works for garlic or other foul smelling stuff that "stains" your hands with smell also.   

You can get bars of stainless steel 'soap' for rubbing your hands on (Lakeland?). A lot of fishmongers use them. Onion, garlic smells are ok. Fish is not hours later.

Garlic is not foul. It's the gift from the gods. The smell on the hands is a bonus.

I agree. I am a garlic nut. It goes in just about every dish. And lots. My wee boy eats it raw!

I agree. I am a garlic nut. It goes in just about every dish. And lots. My wee boy eats it raw!

I love garlic too and I enjoy the smell of it cooking...not a big fan of smelling it on my fingers a few hours later while trying to eat Cadbury's Fingers though.

I love garlic too and I enjoy the smell of it cooking...not a big fan of smelling it on my fingers a few hours later while trying to eat Cadbury's Fingers though.

Doesn't have the same appeal as chocolate and ground legume. 
mmm I love my Reece's and found another supplier!

Doing the chopped onion experiment tomorrow night.

You can get bars of stainless steel 'soap' for rubbing your hands on (Lakeland?). A lot of fishmongers use them. Onion, garlic smells are ok. Fish is not hours later.

I have one and use it regularly! It works a treat!

Sounds as if I may have to invest in those goggles as they sound like they might do the trick. But I'll give the ice box a go first.

I am hyper-sensitive to onions.  I could be on the opposite side of the house from someone chopping away, and my eyes will start to burn!  I've tried every trick in the book - stainless steel, matches, water, cold, etc. - and the only one that has ever worked for me is goggles.  Unless you can find some super cheap, I'd skip the ones made specifically for onions and just go buy some basic (and cheap!) swim goggles.  I use my son's, and they do the trick.

Happy chopping.

and the only one that has ever worked for me is goggles.  Unless you can find some super cheap, I'd skip the ones made specifically for onions and just go buy some basic (and cheap!) swim goggles.  I use my son's, and they do the trick.

I'm pretty sensitve to them too, and the goggle idea is sounding better and better! I saw an ad for onion goggles in a magazine just today, and immediately thought of this thread!

I can see it now. Me and my long grey unkempt Einstein hair do, frozen red fingers, googles, drip pan attached around neck, silver spoon hanging out of of mouth and tears still streaming down my face. And then the doorbell rings...

Hahahahahahaha.  Sounds like a potential scene from a brilliant movie.


I also cry like a baby when chopping onions.  I may try the fridge technique, maybe just put a few in at a time to save space.   


And I have seen the onion goggles too!  Unfortunately the blinds in the kitchen are kind of see through- and I don't need to give the neighbors any more reasons to think I'm the crazy American that's just moved in next door!

Well I just chopped up some onions that had been stored in the ice box.

And NO TEARS!!!!! Unreal. I am impressed.

No silver spoons (doesn't suit my class  ), no goggles, no fancy practical choppers, just me, a chopping board and the onions. YEA!

YAY!  Did you just put the whole onion in the freezer without peeling it or did you peel it and split it first (I would think this would make the freezer stink of onions)?