Cutting onions can be the “saddest’ moment that you can experience. Your eyes produce endless tears and it’s hard for you to stop them from coming out. Have you ever wondered why cutting onions make our eyes tear?
For your information, when an onion is cut, certain compounds (lachrymator) are released, which irritate the nerves surrounding the eyes. These substances consist of the amino acid family members (methionine and cystine).
When an onion is cut or diced, these substances are released into the air by the onion’s cells. The enzyme works to convert the amino acids into lachrymator compounds when this occurs. This form of sulfuric acid stimulates the nerves surrounding the eyes, thus causing them to tear.
So, what can we do to prevent our eyes from tearing?
According to a tweet by Khairul Hafidz, there are 7 tips that we can use in order to stop our eyes from tearing while cutting onions.
7 tips to stop your eyes from tearing while cutting onions
- Use a sharp knife to cut the onion to reduce the amount of damage to the onion cells.
- Refrigerate onions to prevent the lachrymator from spreading in the air.
- Soak the onion in water to dissolve the amino acids. (extra tips: cutting the onions in half or quarters before soaking them is more effective)
- Cut the top of the onion first. This part has the most lachrymator compounds that irritate the eyes.
- Cut the onion near an open flame. It is said that flame can ‘burn’ lachrymator compounds when released into the air.
- Wear goggles when cutting the onion.
- Use a ventilator or fan to blow the compounds in different directions.
You can read the full tweet below:
Bagaimanakah kita boleh menghalang dari menangis sewaktu memotong bawang?
1. Gunakan pisau tajam untuk memotong bawang untuk mengurangkan jumlah kerosakan pada sel bawang.
2. Sejukkan bawang dalam peti sejuk untuk menyekat lachrymator bertebaran di udara.
— Khairul Hafidz (@khairul_hafidz) September 26, 2022
Sources: Khairul Hafidz, Customs
