Burning and eye irritation when we cut onions and how to avoid them
It is very common. Every time we start to cut the onion to prepare a salad or any vegetable sautéing, our eyes start to get irritated considerably to later give way to a good amount of tears with which it seems that we have had a bad day.
But what is the reason why we started to "cry" every time we cut in small pieces this vegetable? Surely many will ask. It is not due to a sentimental reason or anything similar . Nor because we feel sorry for the onion to see how we are cutting it little by little into tiny pieces.
Onion plant cells react with water in the eye
Everything is due to a simple chemical reaction. As many of you will know, the Onion is a plant that is composed entirely of different layers of plant cells which are composed mostly ammonia.
From there, from the moment we take the knife and cut the layers of the onion, the substances present in this vegetable are "released" until they finally reach our eyes.
Next, the vegetal compounds react when they come into contact with the water that is right on the surface of our eyeballs, producing a new chemical reaction with which sulfuric acid is formed.
As a defense mechanism, the eyes automatically begin to secrete tears, in order to combat sulfuric acid and thus return to rehydrate the entire affected area. This process is basically a natural stimulus of our body before the "attack" of an aggressive stimulus that can be harmful to our eyes. No more no less.
How can we avoid the burning in the eyes when cutting the onion?
Once this is known, I am sure that many of you have the following question: "As we can stop crying when we cut an onion?” Well, through the last part of the article, we will give you a series of tips that are sure to be very useful from now on.
Protect yourself with glasses
It may sound a little obvious, but the truth is that it is one of the most used methods. When cutting an onion, always you can put on some sunglasses, sunglasses or diving.
In this way, we will achieve that the substance that segregates when chopping this vegetable does not come into direct contact with our eyes. Easy, simple and for the whole family.
Put the onion in the freezer
This method is increasingly widespread and it is also very useful since it is very simple to carry out.
You just have to put the onion in the freezer for a period not exceeding 60 minutes. When we take it out, surely when cutting it will secrete less amount of that substance which is so irritating to our eyes.
Cut the onion with a lit candle
A method somewhat unknown but at the same time is most effective. Before cutting the onion, you just have to light a small candle near, thus getting the humor and the heat that comes from it to absorb part of this substance from the onion, just before the eyes come into contact.
Use a sharp knife
Use a knife with a sharp bladea also we will be very useful when cutting the onion without this to experience experiencing a sea of tears. This is because these types of utensils perform a more clean and uniform cut in the layers of this vegetable. In this way, the release of this irritable substance is decreased.
