I have to mince a bucket of onions!

[burythehatchet]

please tell me how not to cry.

:cry:

[radfringe]

1. put the onions in the freezer for about 1/2 hour

take a few out - mince them, repeat

cold onions don't "spurt" the juice which causes 'tearing'

for future reference - just keep the onions in the fridge

[burythehatchet]

2. GRACIAS!

[backscatter712]

3. A gas mask?

[AwakeAtLast]

4. I saw this on "Good Eats" w/ Alton Brown

High heat will attract the gases released when they are cut, so he suggests turning a burner on high and chopping or slicing near it (carefully, of course). Also, the blade you use should be razor sharp. Dull blades tear instead of slice, releasing more gases.

The best thing that works for me, however, is wearing my contact lenses. They block most of the gases, so if I'm wearing them, I rarely shed a tear when chopping onions.

[begin_within]

5. Chill the onions well - Wear goggles - Have a fan nearby - Do it outdoors

[applegrove]

6. It is the fumes. Close your mouth the whole time. Only breath through your nose.

[grasswire]

7. do NOT OPEN YOUR MOUTH

From start to finish. And if you do, go stick your head in the freezer for a moment.

Seriously.

[Patiod]

8. One of my least-favorite tasks

even shallots make me cry rivers

[Inchworm]

9. Keep a toothpick in your mouth

Really what it is doing is keepingg your mouth closed.

It works for me.

Don't cwy. .. :hug:

:hi:

[ForrestGump]

10. When I worked (summer job) in the restaurant of a coastal resort many years ago

I found that wearing my diving mask did the trick (it was handy because, when I wasn't working, I was usually snorkeling or sailing). It worked best with the snorkel in my mouth, though, 'cos otherwise all those nasty enzymes that those evil onions spray everywhere ends up in your mouth, which is almost as bad as being in your eyes. I got some funny looks, but it works.

[VenusRising]

11. I read that chewing gum while cutting also helps.

Good luck!

[pitohui]

12. well it depends on the situation

1)if it's work and the onions must be minced to a schedule, i would do the freezer thing

2)however, when i have a large buckets at my house, i usually just mince three a day and put the minced onion in freezer bags in the freezer as i get around to it, onions don't go bad for months, so i don't have to do so many at once

3)if i'm mincing more than 2 large onions at a time, at my house, then i might leave off any eye make-up and go ahead and have a good cry, supposedly it's good for your eyes :shrug:

i usually pick door #2 tho

[MissMillie]

13. goggles

right?

[machI]

14. Use a fan to blow the fumes away

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=95MgL2hcXpA