10:58 AM EDT on Monday, October 18, 2004

Mr. Food

Onion Cutting Tips

If you normally head to the kitchen with a box of tissues and a pair of goggles just to chop an onion, get ready -- help is here!

Onions bring us to tears because the chemical reaction in the gases trapped inside travel upward and react with the water in our eyes, forming acidy vapors and causing us to feel burning and our eyes to start tearing. Rather than give up onions, or gear up with silly equipment, here are a few ideas. See which works best for you:

· Even though uncut onions shouldn't be stored in the fridge, a cold onion is less likely to make you cry than one at room temperature, so keep a couple in the fridge ready for cutting.

· Peel onions under cold running water

· Cut off the root end of the onion last

· Use a food processor or blender

· Turn on the kitchen exhaust fan, or use a fan to blow the onion vapors away from you

Onion cutting doesn't have to bring us to tears -- only smiles.