Comments on: Unitasker Wednesday: Onion goggles

By: KP

KP — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 16:48:40 +0000

You hold UNLIT matches in your mouth people! I’m laughing at the thought of someone holding two – or even a whole book – of matches in their mouth trying to chop onions!

By: Amy

Amy — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 22:05:18 +0000

Wow! Do the Unitasker staff ever have a bet on which items will have a reader backlash?

By: Chelsea

Chelsea — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 19:24:42 +0000

This is what chemistry goggles were made for, keeping chemicals out of your eyes! Also they’re cheaper and they can fit over your glasses. After I’m done with all my chem classes, I’ll still keep them. I’ve already used them more for things outside of class than I have in class.

By: Ken

Ken — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 16:38:45 +0000

I just saw these on Castle (tv show) and thought it was the most ridiculous thing ever. Glasses just to cut unions? Our hunter-gatherer ancestors are rolling over in their graves.

By: Crystal

Crystal — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 07:30:03 +0000

I always had a horrible time when chopping onions until I read that you should rinse the onion in cold water (after peeling, before chopping). I tried it and it worked perfectly. I’ve passed the tip along to other friends and everyone has said it works for them as well.

By: mur

mur — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 04:14:25 +0000

Earlier today I cut onions and thought my eyes were burning out of my sockets! Cutting onions over the stove vent is a great idea – will try that next time. The candle thing never worked for me.

For some people, using a sweet onion (Vidalia, 1015, Maui, etc.) will ease some of the reaction.

By: Piper

Piper — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 02:54:28 +0000

I use an old pair of safety goggles that I had to buy for my Chemistry class. They keep me from crying, and they’re useful for other projects I do.

By: threehams

threehams — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 02:15:57 +0000

Any goggles will work, of course – I have a pair of $10 army surplus WWII goggles that were bought for a completely different purpose (good old subculture fashion), but work just the same.

Any other remedies are either ineffective or more work than they’re worth. Putting on a random pair of goggles takes five seconds; moving a cutting board to the sink for running water, or taking the time to light a candle every time you cut an onion is kind of ridiculous in comparison.

$20 for neon color ONION GOGGLES is pretty funny, though.

By: Carolyn

Carolyn — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 21:11:40 +0000

I too have this problem, to the point that even when DH chops onions I have to leave the room. Never had it until I quit wearing contacts after daily use for 20 years. My eyes must just be really sensitive after being shielded all this time.

Seems that the suggestions for regular goggles are a more economical solution than these might be, though.

By: Pati

Pati — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 16:54:53 +0000

Along with SueZ I also have severe dry eye syndrome and Onion goggles help me get through the day. I wear them while driving or commuting on the train as well as at work. These goggles serve as a moisture chamber and make my day a little more bearable.

So, while the goggles can be unitaskers for some, for others they are an essential part of everyday life.

By: SueZ

SueZ — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 13:24:57 +0000

Onion goggles are also very useful for certain people who have dry eye syndrome due to reduced or faulty tear production . The goggles help hold humidity around the eye so the tear film does not evaporate as quickly. The goggles may look a little strange, but the increased comfort is well worth it.

By: Ellis Godard

Ellis Godard — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 23:33:29 +0000

I second Lynn’s suggestion, but use a whole matchbook, not just one match.

By: Jane

Jane — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 13:02:26 +0000

If you have an exhaust fan over your stove, turn the fan on, place your chopping board on top of your stove (stove off) and chop away. No fumes!

By: Andamom

Andamom — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 03:47:19 +0000

I’ve always been told that a piece of rye bread between the teeth helps out. Personally, I love onions though and used to lovingly bite into them like apples — although I prefer chunks with cheese now.

As for the glasses, I think that safety goggles are a good thing to have around the house… and swimming goggles are good protection too. So, I won’t be buying these… but I can see buying other goggles… and who knows maybe swimming goggles can have multiple uses.

By: Elizabeth

Elizabeth — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 01:59:27 +0000

Cut onions sting because the fumes react with the eyes’ moisture. (Timgray has explained this much better above.) Try this: after chopping off the ends of the onions, cut them in half. Before further chopping, rinse the knife, the onion halves and your hands in cold water. Don’t dry. In theory, the fumes will then react with the moisture on the knife etc before they can reach your eyes. In practice, it works – no gadgets required! (For really pungent onions however I also have to splash my eyes with cold water after I’ve cut the onions in half – maybe people have different levels of sensitivity and onions different levels of fumes?)

By: Krakerz

Krakerz — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 21:54:28 +0000

Another option

Hold 2 matches with your mouth while cutting the onions. The sulfur neutralizes the effect. I was skeptical before trying it but since its really easy to test, it was worth a shot. Very effective although probably not the most convenient (holding the matches in your mouth all the time)

By: John of Indiana

John of Indiana — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 15:49:13 +0000

I read that if you slice the ends off the onion and then smack one of the cut ends with the flat of your knife, that this takes away the “tears”. From what I read here, it would seem that the smacking of the cut end is not needed. I’ll have to try not smacking it…
But since I’m a single guy, I usually just reconstitute dried onions when I’m making Tuna salad.

By: Cynthia Friedlob, The Thoughtful Consumer

Cynthia Friedlob, The Thoughtful Consumer — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 07:40:28 +0000

Has anyone ever successfully diced onions under water? Please accept my applause if you have! I’ve tried every other trick mentioned, too, and not one of them works for me — except having someone else chop the onions or buying the frozen ones.

I am a devoted unclutterer, but if these fit over eye glasses, I’d buy ‘em in pink in a minute! Instead, I’ll rely on the much clunkier ski goggles.

By: Rosie Redfield

Rosie Redfield — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 05:43:45 +0000

Just store the onions in the fridge. That way they’re cold when you slice them, which slows down the irritant-generating biochemical reactions.

By: Eats Asia - Asian Food Blog

Eats Asia - Asian Food Blog — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 05:02:11 +0000

You dont need Onion Goggles, cutting onions in your sink filled with water does the trick.