Many tears were shed making pickled onions. Any tips that actually work to not cry your soul out

by __wisdom__1

39 Comments

  1. No_Taste1698

    Open window, good ventilation and don’t wear a hat with a brim.
    Signed, an experienced kitchen worker.
    Edit: if you have a workplace with a dress code that includes a brim hat, turn it backwards when you’re in the back.

  2. I take a sip of water and keep it in my mouth while peeling and cutting. Works great for me.

  3. Massive-Warning9773

    Open window with a strong fan. Only thing that has legitimately helped me.

  4. MoreThanWYSIWYG

    The only thing that works is eye protection or strong enough ventilation that prevents the particulates from getting in your eyes.

  5. Skow1179

    You could have super good ventilation with a few fans going for airflow. It’s the gasses that cause crying

  6. persnickety69

    Probably placebo but chewing mint gum helps me

  7. DDESTRUCTOTRON

    Squirt onions into both your eyes and build a tolerance

  8. slapstik007

    Refrigerating the onions and cutting cold, makes for a much better time.

  9. Shmiggams22

    I wear my snow board goggles. Always gets a giggle from the wife, but it works!

  10. retailguy_again

    I guess I’ve built up a tolerance. They don’t bother me as long as I don’t rub my eyes.

  11. TempehTantrums

    I found that using an anaerobic chamber works best. A little pricey, but it looks cool as hell!

  12. MalignantLugnut

    Refrigerate the onions. VERY Sharp knife.

  13. ElvisKnucklehead

    Cutting board on a counter next the a widow with a fan blowing out.

  14. therekamniar4891

    Keep biting a toothpick and you won’t cry.

  15. Just breath through your mouth, not your nose. Scents travel up through your nose and irritates your tearducts

  16. truthysweettoothy

    Ice mist machine blowing in your face, ventilation, googles…

    Freezing onions or putting them cold will only make the soggy but if you are pickling them…

    Put them in the freezer a bit …

  17. cheese-glitter-treea

    Wear ski/snowboard/swim goggles

  18. MisterBelial

    An old woodshop foreman of mine used to tell a participatory joke that I’ve always enjoyed, which is tangentially relevant to this question. It first came up after I told him that the night before, I had chopped an onion that made my eyes water.

    It went like this:

    Alvin: “Did you know that if you cut onions under water, they won’t make you cry?”

    Mr Belial: “I’ve never heard that, Al, is it true?”

    Alvin: “Yes, but you have to be careful that you don’t drown.”

  19. nonconsenual_tickler

    Keep them in the fridge prior to cutting

  20. axethebarbarian

    I find a sharp af knife is enough to keep it from hurting my eyes.

  21. Metavari

    I used to think I was immune from onion tears. Turns out I was always wearing my contacts and I’m pretty near sighted at -9.0 script. Cut onions with glasses on for the first time in 15 years of being immune and had to tap out.

  22. Super-File-8918

    Does chewing gum work or is that an old wives tale?

  23. Oil-of-Vitriol

    It’s been so many years since this has bothered me, chopping onions and hot peppers doesn’t do anything to me anymore. Thanks for the reminder.

  24. smegma_stan

    Thia is gonna sound stupid, but grab a spray bottle with water and give them a spritz before you cut them, also spritz ymthe too of your hands. Idk why, it seems to attract the gas (?) That the onions emit and yeah thats basically it. You can also put a bowl of water near your cutting board if you dont have a spray bottle

  25. Jerrysmiddlefinger99

    A piece of cut onion in your mouth helps.

  26. spicy-acorn

    Chewing minty gum or altoids. I have also kept a candle near my and that seemed to help a bit

  27. Captain-Who

    Mmm, cutted red onions to make special tomato.