Onions

Yes putting them in the freezer for 10 mins or so worked for me - I just had to remember to do this or wait for them to cool down!

I bought some fresh chopped onions recently and put them a bolognese sauce they were dire, never again. All white and slushy, yuk.

The onions that we buy now DO seem much milder than in the past, but if I can remember to do it, I wear reading glasses too.

I don't chop onions either and just used ready prepared or frozen. It's good to know about the breathing through the mouth thing though and I will remember about the swimming goggles too.

Contact lenses worked for me, too. Unfortunately, I had to stop wearing them over 30 years ago, and glasses don't protect me at all.
If it was breathing the fumes that caused the problem, contact lenses wouldn't make any difference, would they?

I definitely agree with whoever it was that said that fresh onions from the garden are the strongest of all!

Oh, and I still have a holiday photo of one of DSs in his teens, chopping onions wearing both goggles and snorkel. Maybe I should try it, but it would be just my luck for someone to turn up unexpectedly and catch me looking an idiot

The teaspoon thing works for me, I always thought I was the only person who did this.....other than my mum who always did it too!

Tanith I tried the spoon thing ages ago for a laugh and to my amazement it worked! I think Solitaire is right and it forces you to breathe through your mouth.

You can buy them ready chopped and frozen in Morrisons.

Just peeled two now and in a bit of discomfort!!! Tea will be nice though

The simple answer is don't breathe through your NOSE, breathe through your MOUTH. It's the vapours travelling through your nose which makes eyes water. Probably the spoon in the mouth thing works in a similar way. If you need to, put a peg on your nose

Try only breathing through your mouth. It works for me.

I find that if the onions have been well-chilled in the fridge, then you don't get fumes. You do of course, get numb fingers from the cold.

I put my tongue out and that works, never do it in front of anyone though, but next time I will try the teaspoon.

Put the onions in the freezer for 15 mins then chop as normal - no more tears ?

I open the back door for ventilation. One tip I have for storing peeled onions in the fridge. Wrap in newspaper. It really works

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

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 ?

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.

I tried the teaspoon, but it makes me dribble!

I agree with Teetime it is so easy.

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

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

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?

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.

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!