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Why Do Onions Make You Cry?

Gardening Guide: The Outstanding Onion Gardening Guide: All You Need to Know About Growing, Harvesting, Cooking, and Eating Delicious Onions

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Why Do Onions Make You Cry?

By Norann Oleson

Woman crying while cutting onion

Woman crying while cutting onion

Some of us dread having to chop onions; the vapors coming off the onions can make our eyes water like crazy. But why?

As members of the Allium family, onions absorb sulfur from the ground; this helps the plants form molecules called amino acid sulfoxides. When you cut into an onion, the plant releases a compound called propanethiol S-oxide. This sulfur compound is very volatile, releasing a gas that irritates your eyes. Your eyes watering is just your body’s way of relieving the irritation.

Luckily, if you can get past the chopping/slicing/crying stage, onions don’t make you cry when you cook them—heat neutralizes the sulfoxide.

But can you do anything to stop the release of that irritating compound before blade touches bulb? You’ve probably tried a few techniques—running the onion under cold water; cutting the onion under water (awkward!); burning a candle nearby to burn off the sulfoxide; running your stove vent; chewing gum while you’re cutting; wearing swim goggles (awkward, but effective).

So what’s a cook to do? The secret lies in knowing one end of the onion from another. The cone shape at one end is the top of the onion; the button-like shape at the other end is the root end. It’s the root end that’s the root cause of your crying, so you need to remove it if you really would rather not have your eyes water while you’re cutting onions.

You need a sharp paring knife. Cut around the outside edge of the root end (about a half inch) at an angle to cut out a cone-shaped piece of the onion. Cut about one-third of the way up/into the onion, cutting all the way around until you can remove the cone. You should see a couple spikes making up the end of the cone—that’s the part of the onion that makes you cry. Toss that part into your compost bin or into the trash—but never into the garbage disposal! You could also decide to save the irritating part of the onion for last when you’re cutting.

With practice, you’ll get better at cutting out the bulb section. This may seem wasteful to some people; it depends on your tolerance to the sulfoxide. If it really bothers you to compost or throw out the bulb, you can put it into some potting soil. At the very least, you’ll get some onion greens from it; it could even form a new bulb! Experiment and see what works for you.

Did you already know the scientific reasons for what makes you cry when cutting onions? What methods do you use to stop onions from making you cry? Please share your experiences in the comments below.

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compost bin, onions

Comments
  • Bets29 October 20, 2021

    I cry like a baby when I cut onion – some are worse than others. I just read above that it had a sulfur compound – So that may be why I cry so much — Sulfur cremes cause me to break out and prescriptions with sulfur turn my face beet red. —– Onion don’t make me read – just makes me cry, cry, cry! – As for cutting off the botoom – still does not help – I cry cry cry!

    Reply
    • Norann O. October 26, 2021

      It sounds like you are extra sensitive to sulfur – time to invest in a pair of goggles for onion prep. Perhaps you could try ski goggles with clear lenses; they’re snug-fitting but still quite comfortable, with good visibility. Good luck!

      Reply

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

  • Curator’s Corner
  • Introduction
  • Feature Articles

  • Types of Onion Plants
  • Choosing to Grow Onions from Seeds, Transplants, or Sets
  • Growing Onions in Open Land, in Raised Beds, or in Containers
  • Starting with the Right Soil for Your Onion Plants
  • Companion Planting with Your Onion Crop: What to Plant Nearby—and What to Keep at a Distance
  • The Right Sunlight for Your Onion Plants
  • Should You Fertilize Your Onion Plants?
  • How—and When—to Water Your Onion Plants
  • How to Spot, Treat, and Prevent Onion Diseases
  • Bulb Rot in Onion Plants: How to Identify, Treat, and Prevent Different Types of Bulb Rot
  • What to Do About Pests that Can Harm Your Onion Plants
  • The Right Way to Weed Your Onion Patch
  • Why Do Onions Make You Cry?
  • Onion Harvesting, Curing, and Storage Tips
  • Essential Tools and Equipment for Growing and Enjoying Onions
  • Plant Profiles

  • Dutch Yellow Shallots
  • French Red Shallots
  • Patterson Onions
  • Walla Walla Onions
  • Southport Red Globe Onions
  • White Sweet Spanish Onions
  • Utah Yellow Sweet Spanish Onions
  • Candy Onions
  • Red Burgundy Onions
  • Yellow Granex Onions
  • Early White Grano Onions
  • Recipes

  • Easy Onion Dinner Rolls
  • Onions in a Pickle
  • French Onion Soup
  • Scalloped Onions
  • Onion-Topped Focaccia Bread
  • Caramelized Onions
  • No-Guilt Onion Bloom
  • Additional Articles

  • Nutrition Facts about Onions
  • Home Remedies & Health Benefits of Onions
  • Resources about Onions
  • Onion Glossary
  • Related Articles

  • The Best Vegetables to Plant Together for an Unbelievable Harvest
  • 10 Deer-Resistant Vegetables and Herbs
  • Are You Storing Onions the Wrong Way? Learn How to Store Every Variety
  • 5 Tips for Growing a Healthy Harvest of Onions This Year

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