Which onions make you cry

I think that sweet onions cause the least crying, at least in my experience. Also, green onions or scallions have never made me cry. I know that onion cells, when broken give off sulfur compounds which rapidly change into other chemicals on contact with air which then become vapors that irritate the eye.

Have heard of a number of ways to reduce the crying effect. I have tried different crying reducing techniques, used refrigerated onions occasionally, have never done any 'science' on this topic. I do know, however, that sweet onions don't make me cry.

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Submit it here , and we may answer your question in a future column! By subscribing you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Health Topics. Health Tools. Onions are part of the allium family, which includes garlic , leeks , shallots, and scallions, all of which can absorb sulfur from the soil they grow in. Sulfur can be combined with amino acids to form amino acid sulfoxides, which are stored in plant tissues. It floats into the air and reacts with the surface on your eyes, so your eyes tear up to flush it out," says Dr.

This enzyme is not found in leeks and garlic, which is why you don't cry when you work with them in the kitchen. This means that older onions are more likely to make you cry when chopped. So, how do you tell the difference between new and old onions? When shopping for onions in the grocery store , look for peels that are still intact versus those that look like they're dried and flaking off. Now that you understand the science behind why onions make you cry, you might be wondering if there's anything you can do to avoid the water works?

This is the part that contains the highest concentration of sulfuric compounds that can make you cry. Using a sharp knife may also help. The sharper the knife, the less damage is done to the onion, and fewer irritations are released into the air as a result. To reduce or eliminate onion tears, you may have the best luck if you diminish the sulfuric acid compounds in the onion itself.

To do this, try chilling your onion in a bowl of ice water for 30 minutes before cutting. Some people also prefer to cut their onions while submerged in cold water. Try running a fan to circulate the air or wearing eye protection, such as goggles, while you prepare onions. One old tale says to keep a piece of white bread in your mouth while cutting, based on the theory that the bread will absorb onion vapor.

The distinctive taste of fresh onion can be hard to replicate. But you may want to substitute onions in your cooking if they frequently cause uncomfortable, disruptive eye symptoms.

Preparing onions often causes a chemical reaction that results in tears for most people. Some people are more sensitive to onions than others. White, yellow, or red onions are also more likely to make you cry than green ones. Sweeter onions are gentler on the eyes than those with a more pungent taste. Onions are a kitchen staple, and people often wonder about the best way to store them. This article tells you all you need to know about the best way…. Having a true onion allergy is rare.

A food sensitivity to onions is more common.