Why do Onions make you cry/teary eyed?!
Answers:
When you slice through an onion, you break open a number of onion cells!. Some of these cells have enzymes inside of them, and when they are sliced open, the enzymes escape!. The enzymes then decompose some of the other substances that have escaped from sliced cells!. Some of these substances, amino acid sulfoxides, form sulfenic acids, which then quickly rearrange themselves into a volatile gas!.
The gas reaches your eyes and reacts with the water that keeps them moist!. This changes the chemical's form again, producing, among other things, a mild sulfuric acid, which irritates the eyes!. The nerve endings in your eyes are very sensitive and so they pick up on this irritation (this is why our eyes sting when we slice onions)!. The brain reacts by telling your tear ducts to produce more water, to dilute the irritating acid so the eyes are protected!. Your other reaction is probably to rub your eyes, but this will actually make the irritation a lot worse, of course, if you have onion juices all over your hands!. Www@FoodAQ@Com
The gas reaches your eyes and reacts with the water that keeps them moist!. This changes the chemical's form again, producing, among other things, a mild sulfuric acid, which irritates the eyes!. The nerve endings in your eyes are very sensitive and so they pick up on this irritation (this is why our eyes sting when we slice onions)!. The brain reacts by telling your tear ducts to produce more water, to dilute the irritating acid so the eyes are protected!. Your other reaction is probably to rub your eyes, but this will actually make the irritation a lot worse, of course, if you have onion juices all over your hands!. Www@FoodAQ@Com
They emit fumes similiar to sulphuric acid when cut; and those fumes attach to the closest water source (usually your eyes)!. If you refrigerate the onions first, your eyes won't water as badly!. also, I slice them on a board next to the kitchen sink, with the faucet running, so that water is the closest source - and my eyes never tear!.!.!.!.!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
There is a mild form of hydrochloric acid in them that is released when you cut them!.
Chill them in the fridge for 30 minutes!.
I have found I have less of a problem if I slice them, rather than chopping!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
Chill them in the fridge for 30 minutes!.
I have found I have less of a problem if I slice them, rather than chopping!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
They contain irritant compounds emitted as gases when the onion is cut!. It irritates the eyes and sinuses!. Www@FoodAQ@Com
http://www!.metacafe!.com/watch/1053255/on!.!.!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
chemicalsWww@FoodAQ@Com