Why Do Onions Make You Cry? The onions from my CSA are particularly brutal, leaving me totally blind for a few minutes as tears stream down my face. I thought dull knives could be exacerbating the situation, but even after J. sharpened them all I don’t see an improvement. I wore a pair of the kids’ goggles once, but they just fogged over so I couldn’t see anyway. Next time I’ll try freezing them for 20 minutes or so before I chop them.
Our preferred method of cooking corn on the cob is out on the grill, but when I cook it indoors I’ve always boiled it. It takes forever for a huge pot of water to come up to temperature, though, and since you only need to cook corn for a few minutes it seems like a waste of time, energy, and water. Didn’t I feel silly when Lauren recently showed me how she steams hers instead — just a bit of water in the bottom of the pot, stand the cobs on end, and steam for 10 minutes or so. She credits her mother-in-law Susan for teaching her this method. I’ll never boil corn again.
One little-reported benefit of veggies from a CSA or farmer’s market: no produce stickers to remove.
I’m no chef…but I always cut my onions in water…no sore eyes that way!;o) (I fill the sink with a bit of water, chop them up, drain and done)
Maybe I don’t keep my sink as clean as you (I would not be surprised!), but that kind of grosses me out! — Dara
2.
Sarah | September 9, 2008 at 7:23 pm
Cutting onions has not bothered me in some time, but when it used to I found that if I chewed a piece of gum it alleviated if not avoided the tears altogether.
I’ve tried that, and also holding a piece of bread in my mouth, but neither of those tricks worked for me. I just read that lighting a candle nearby helps, too. — Dara
3.
Sarah | September 9, 2008 at 7:24 pm
I meant if I chewed a piece of gum while chopping/cutting them.
4.
Bard | September 9, 2008 at 8:47 pm
Heh. Rhys and I had non-CSA kiwis, and Vicki a CSA peach, after diner. Rhys and I wore our stickers ’til bedtime…
My stickers never come off in one piece (probably because I usually forget to remove them until I’ve already started washing the produce, and then the stickers become cemented on). — Dara
5.
Grammy | September 9, 2008 at 9:04 pm
Corn on the cob… in the microwave. I cut off both ends, husk some layers, leaving a few on. Sit in an inch or 2 of cold water for 10 minutes and rotate once. Microwave 2 ears 5-8 minutes. The rest husks cleanly. If the grill is going, throw them on for some crisping.
That’s good to keep in mind for a really hot day when you don’t want to heat up the kitchen, or if your stove top is already full with other pots. Thanks! — Dara
[...] didn’t remember to put my onion in the freezer 20 minutes before it was needed, so I decided to try out the candle idea to keep me tear-free as I [...]
I'm Dara, the Chick in the Kitchen. Living in the suburbs of Manhattan with my two school-aged boys and husband. Feeding my family something more diverse than a different shape of pasta each night. Read more about me and CITK, and keep in touch:
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I'm Dara, the Chick in the Kitchen. Living in the suburbs of Manhattan with my two school-aged boys and husband. Feeding my family something more diverse than a different shape of pasta each night. Read more 
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11 Comments
1.
Jodi | September 9, 2008 at 6:58 pm
I’m no chef…but I always cut my onions in water…no sore eyes that way!;o) (I fill the sink with a bit of water, chop them up, drain and done)
Maybe I don’t keep my sink as clean as you (I would not be surprised!), but that kind of grosses me out! — Dara
2.
Sarah | September 9, 2008 at 7:23 pm
Cutting onions has not bothered me in some time, but when it used to I found that if I chewed a piece of gum it alleviated if not avoided the tears altogether.
I’ve tried that, and also holding a piece of bread in my mouth, but neither of those tricks worked for me. I just read that lighting a candle nearby helps, too. — Dara
3.
Sarah | September 9, 2008 at 7:24 pm
I meant if I chewed a piece of gum while chopping/cutting them.
4.
Bard | September 9, 2008 at 8:47 pm
Heh. Rhys and I had non-CSA kiwis, and Vicki a CSA peach, after diner. Rhys and I wore our stickers ’til bedtime…
My stickers never come off in one piece (probably because I usually forget to remove them until I’ve already started washing the produce, and then the stickers become cemented on). — Dara
5.
Grammy | September 9, 2008 at 9:04 pm
Corn on the cob… in the microwave. I cut off both ends, husk some layers, leaving a few on. Sit in an inch or 2 of cold water for 10 minutes and rotate once. Microwave 2 ears 5-8 minutes. The rest husks cleanly. If the grill is going, throw them on for some crisping.
That’s good to keep in mind for a really hot day when you don’t want to heat up the kitchen, or if your stove top is already full with other pots. Thanks! — Dara
6.
magpie | September 9, 2008 at 9:46 pm
Contact lenses. When I wear my contacts, I don’t cry. When I wear glasses, I do. It’s a hidden benefit.
7.
Jodi | September 9, 2008 at 10:13 pm
I use a cutting board in the sink!
I have also put on sunglasses before…that helped!
8.
Beth | September 9, 2008 at 10:28 pm
Steaming the corn is a great idea- I will have to try that.
9.
[eatingclub] vancouver || js | September 9, 2008 at 10:50 pm
Thanks for the tip about the steaming. Will have to try that, as boiling always heats up the house unnecessarily.
10.
Carol | September 10, 2008 at 11:04 am
I find that when I burn a candle close to the onion I am cutting, it helps a lot!
11. chickinthekitchen.com &ra&hellip | September 16, 2008 at 9:40 pm
[...] didn’t remember to put my onion in the freezer 20 minutes before it was needed, so I decided to try out the candle idea to keep me tear-free as I [...]
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