How to chop onions without tears

Chopping onions without crying!
Why do onions make you cry and how can you prevent it from happening?
Onions are made up of of outer leaves (the brown layer), scales (the white firm juicy edible part), and the basal plate (often called the "hairy part" or the "root"). Onions make you cry because:1. When you cut the basal plate or shoot, they release an enzyme.2. That enzyme reacts in the rest of the onion to release a gas.3. When that gas combines with water, it creates an acid.4. If that water is in your eye, you have acid in your eye. That makes you cry.So, if you still want to cut some onions, there are some simple steps that keep you tear-free!

1 Use a Sharp Knife
The enzymes are released when cells are broken or crushed; using a sharp knife slices through the onion rather than crushing and thus, fewer enzymes are released.

2 Chill the Onions in the Freezer
This reduces the amount of the acid enzyme released into the air.

3 Breathe Through Your Mouth Only
The Olfactory nerves which are closely located to the tear duct nerves will be by bypassed, and there will be no tears generated. This is easily confirmed when you forget and breathe through your nose. Instant tears.


4 The Candle Method
Light a candle and set it near the cutting board before cutting the onion. The gas released by the onion is drawn into the flame of a candle.

5 Chew Bread or Gum
Many people report that chewing, especially gum, helps avoid tears when cutting onions.