TIP: Get friendly with onions

Did you know that not all onions make you cry when you cut them! This is because they contain varying amounts of the crying substance in them. The crying sbstance is Sulphur based.


What happens when we cut an onion is that Sulphur dioxide (SO₂) is released which reaches our eyes. This causes irritation and the eye reacts by producing tears. Tears (H₂O) combine with SO₂ to produce Sulphurous Acid (H₂SO₃) which is still irritating.

If one wishes to avoid the irritaton one can wash away this with some cold water. This is the quickest way to avoid the burning.

To avoid crying altogether you have to think of a topping SO₂ reaching your eyes. Think of anything to achieve this:

• Wear goggles
• Keep your eyes away from the onion
• Have something like bread in your mouth that can absorb the SO₂
• Cut the onion under running water
• Chill or partially cook the onion before cutting
• etc.

I would recommend to cry and quickly wash away the Sulphurous Acid. Its good for your eyes anyway. Onions that make you cry are BTW more tastier!

This SO₂ and other sulphur based compounds are also responsible for the strong smell of onion.