Who does cutting onions make us cry?!
Who does cutting onions make us cry?
Answers:
As onions are sliced, cells are broken, allowing enzymes called alliinases to break down sulfides and generate sulfenic acids (amino acid sulfoxides). Sulphenic acids are unstable and decompose into a volatile gas called syn-propanethial-S-oxide. The gas dissipates through the air and eventually reaches the eye, where it reacts with the water to form a dilute solution of sulfuric acid. This acid irritates the nerve endings in the eye, making them sting. Tear glands produce tears to dilute and flush out the irritant.
Supplying ample water to the reaction prevents the gas from reaching the eyes. Eye irritation can, therefore, be avoided by cutting onions under running water or submerged in a basin of water. Rinsing the onion and leaving it wet while chopping may also be effective. Chilling or freezing onions prevents the enzymes from activating, limiting the amount of gas generated. Using a sharp blade to chop onions will limit the cell damage and the release of enzymes that drive the irritation response.
The volume of sulphenic acids released, and the irritation effect, differs among Allium species.
A firm in Toronto, Canada, attempted to utilize this property of onions in the manufacture of a form of tear gas for civilian use. It was marketed in 1991 but was unsuccessful as it had an effective shelf life of only three months.
The characteristic odour of onions can be removed with lemon.
Source(s):
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/onions...
it's the pungent smell of the onion that irritates the nose. the irritation is so intense it triggers hyperactivity in the lacrimal gland and produces tears in your eyes.
my suggestion, avoid being downwind when cutting onions and try not to get any juice in your eye. Also, DO NOT rub your eyes with your hands as your hands are already coated with the irritant. Doing so will only make your eyes cry more.
Here is the cure, before cutting an onion put it in the freezer for 5 - 10 minutes, it will not freeze it but will not freeze it competly but wil make the juice in the onion almost freeze and will not burn you eyes as bad..........Really, just try it, I hate raw onions and do this all the time because almost every recipe I have I use onions in. Just try it, okay!
I DON'T KNOW WHY IT IRRITATES THE EYES SO MUCH. TRY HAVING A LIT CANDLE NEAR YOU AS YOU'RE CUTTING. HAVE THE SINK RUNNING SO YOU CAN LOOK AT THE WATER WHEN YOUR EYES START TO BURN. OR PUT A BOWL OF WATER NEXT TO YOU.