Onions, don't make me cry!
Every time I pop myself out for a cooking session, Mr Onion never fails to make my life miserable. I’m super terrified with the irritation caused by onions and I believe people out there are too. Discovering more about onions, the strong smell of fresh onions comes from the sulphur-rich oil they contain.
Cutting or peeling an onion releases these oil, which readily evaporates and soon reached the eyes. This sulphurous and acidic oil irritates nerve endings in the conjunctiva, the transparent tissue that covers the eye and underside the eyelids. It stimulates the eyes’ lachrymal glands so they release tears. Tears then wash over the eye to flush out the chemical irritant.
Our eyes are always being watered by up to a quarter of a teaspoon a day of secretions to keep our eyes moist and to wash away foreign particles and bacteria. In normal circumstances all the fluid is drained away by the tear ducts.
When tears are secreted faster than they can be drained, the excess tears flow out of the eye and run down the face. Use a mirror to see the tear duct in each eye. You will see what looks like a tiny hole or depression on the side that rests against the eye.
If you want to peel onions without tears, keep the onions under water as you cut them. The water will capture most of the juices of the oil and you’ll finish the job without shedding tears.
