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Food

Onions

(40 Posts)
NanKate Wed 28-Oct-15 20:15:33

I hate chopping onions for obvious reasons. Do any of you use onion chopping devices other than a knife ?

Ana Wed 28-Oct-15 20:17:24

No, strangely enough slicing/chopping onions doesn't affect my eyes in any way!

NanKate Wed 28-Oct-15 20:21:00

Do you wear contact lenses Ana as my DinL puts hers in when she chops onions ?

Ana Wed 28-Oct-15 20:23:02

No - I don't wear glasses either (except for driving).

loopylou Wed 28-Oct-15 20:23:10

I put a couple of pounds of onions through the food processor slicing thingy, then open freeze, bag them up and use straight from the freezer.
I hate slicing them!

Bellanonna Wed 28-Oct-15 20:26:49

I put my reading glasses on, which also helps me to see better what I'm doing, but best of all is to get DH to do it, as he is very good with boring helpful little jobs

chelseababy Wed 28-Oct-15 20:52:57

I have a handy device, a bit like a comb, for holding the onion while slicing. Doesn't help with watering eyes though....

rosequartz Wed 28-Oct-15 21:13:29

I have got a little chopping machine, I think it is Kenwood.

jogginggirl Wed 28-Oct-15 21:19:16

Maybe try these NanKate ... grin

www.amazon.co.uk/RSVP-International-Onion-Goggles-Pink/dp/B000NQ63V6/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1446067055&sr=8-3&keywords=onion+goggles

tanith Wed 28-Oct-15 21:21:12

Doesn't anyone else use a teaspoon held in the mouth to stop the eyewatering effect of onion chopping?

Nelliemoser Wed 28-Oct-15 23:24:48

I can chop onions quickly enough with just a sharp knife. The chopping machines pulverise the onions which causes more juices to escape and a knife is much quicker to wash than a machine. I don't know if the varieties of onions have changed or it's because I use them so often but I don't seem to get sore eyes now.
I do think unfrozen onions seem to cook better than frozen ones.

rubysong Wed 28-Oct-15 23:43:20

I also have the comb thing and wear my reading glasses so it's not too bad.

whitewave Thu 29-Oct-15 09:40:22

How about swimming goggles?grin

Lona Thu 29-Oct-15 09:44:31

I sometimes buy the packs of pre chopped and freeze them, but if I slice fresh onions I always wear glasses. I used to wear sun glasses as they are bigger, but now my ordinary specs are big enough.

loopylou Thu 29-Oct-15 09:50:44

Apparently if you avoid chopping or cutting through the very bottom end of the onion, it won't make your eyes water.
I keep meaning to try this!

Greyduster Thu 29-Oct-15 12:42:27

Whitewave I actually fell back on swimming goggles a couple of weeks ago when I had to cut up a kilo of onions to make onion soup! They did keep the onion fumes at bay but they kept steaming up!
loopylou it doesn't work!
Someone once told me to keep a slice of bread in my mouth when you cut onions up, but that doesn't work either and you look bloody silly!

stillhere Thu 29-Oct-15 12:51:01

I hum with my mouth open a bit, to blow across the onion droplets. I have lost my swimming goggles, I always used to wear them! In the summer, I chop outside in the garden. For large quantities, making onion jam etc., I use the food processor.

New onions fresh from the garden are just awful, older ones are far milder.

Daddima Tue 17-Nov-15 13:19:26

I find that onions nowadays don't irritate my eyes nearly as much as they used to. Are they perhaps milder varieties, or is it an age thing?

Teetime Tue 17-Nov-15 14:18:22

You could use ready chopped frozen ones - I keep a bag or these and chopped peppers so I can throw a quick casserole together.

tanith Tue 17-Nov-15 14:31:05

Just hold a teaspoon in your mouth while you chop and no tears. I can't believe no one else posted this one.. everyone in my family uses a teaspoon

Charleygirl Tue 17-Nov-15 14:38:23

I agree with Teetime it is so easy.

shysal Tue 17-Nov-15 15:25:11

I tried the teaspoon, but it makes me dribble!

Maggiemaybe Wed 18-Nov-15 15:41:22

Yes, the contact lenses work for me, NanKate. Without them though I'm a blubbering, red-eyed wreck as DH grows our onions and they're very, very strong.

NanKate Wed 18-Nov-15 21:21:26

Years ago I had a great onion chopping device, but sadly it has gone to that great utensil repository in the sky.

Can I borrow your contacts Maggie ?

Maggiemaybe Wed 18-Nov-15 21:55:18

I'll send you some over, NanKate. But unless you're blind as a bat like me, you'll probably not be able to see a thing with them in. At least you won't be crying though grin