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How does chewing gum while peeling onions keep you from crying?
Chewing gum while cutting onions prevents tears by forcing you to breathe through your mouth. This disperses the irritant so that a significantly smaller amount reaches the lachrymal glands, preventing them from being irritated enough to release tears.
How do chefs cut onions without crying?
Using a sharp knife is the best way to do the least amount of damage to an onion. A sharp knife easily slices through the onion, rather than a dull knife, which basically crushes the flesh and causes the tear-jerking gas to spread in the air.
Why do onions make us cry?
Onions produce the chemical irritant known as syn-Propanethial-S-oxide. It stimulates the eyes’ lachrymal glands so they release tears. Lachrymatory-factor synthase is released into the air when we cut an onion.
Will a wet paper towel stop an onion from making you cry?
“If you get a damp cloth like this and put it on the chopping board, it will stop your eyes from crying when you’re chopping them. “Apparently the acid in the onions is attracted to water which is usually in your tear ducts, putting a wet towel on the board makes it go to that instead.”
Will a wet paper towel stop you crying when cutting onions?
“If you place a wet paper towel next to your onion while cutting, the wet paper towel will absorb the chemical instead of your eyes.
Can onion damage eyes?
However, onions pose no serious threat to your visual health. “Chopping onions can cause some burning and irritation and tears. Other than that, it’s pretty safe on your eyes. It’s a temporary sensation with no known long-term effects, nor will it worsen any other conditions, like pink eye,” Rosa said.
How do you make onions not sting?
Freeze the onion. Make sure you don’t leave the onion in the freezer to long or it will be difficult to cut. Another trick for stopping the stinging is to peel the onion and soak it in a bowl for 10-15 minutes to, theoretically, pull the chemicals into the water.