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No More Tears! How to Avoid Crying While You Chop Onions

Say Goodbye to Crying When Chopping Onions

By Saad Fayed, About.com

Onions add such flavor to foods, but chopping them will bring you to tears, literally. Chopping onions release a chemical irritant that affects a gland in our eyes, causing them to tear up.

Before you throw in the towel and start buying expensive pre-chopped onions from the market try these tips to keep you tear free:

  • Refrigerate the onion 30 minutes prior to chopping.
  • When chopping, don't cut the root off. The root contains the most of the chemical that causes eye irritation.
  • Wear protective eye gear.
  • Chew on a piece on white bread while chopping.
  • Use food processor to chop your onions.
  • Do not use a blunt knife to chop onions.
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