Slicing Onions Without Crying: This Pro Tip Works for All Alliums! by Chef Gigi

I know you might never have to slice a 50-pound bag of yellow onions, but learning how to slice an onion without your eyes watering can come in pretty handy. Especially for those who wear mascara!

• Prepare an ice bath with plenty of cool water and slice your onions directly over the bowl when using a handheld mandolin slicer. If not using a mandolin, simply place them in the water bath. 

• Use a sharp knife – it will puncture less cell structures therefore less gases will be released. Cut your onion slices and plunge them into the cool water bath. Quickly rinse or turn over your cutting board to prevent the remaining gases contained inside the cell walls from wafting into your eyes.

• Allow the onion slices to soak a maximum of five minutes to draw out all the aggressive liquid and keep yourself from crying.

• Dry the onion slices with a damp paper towel before using.

Not to mention, this pro technique will also remove any bitter onion flavor. Great if you are making additions to raw salads. Enjoy your onions the way they were meant to be loved – sweet and savory, not bitter and angry!