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Onion is a very important part of Indian kitchen. Be it spicy vegetables with gravy, dal tadka or Kancha salad with food – the taste of Indian dishes seems incomplete without onion. Apart from enhancing the taste, onion is also very beneficial for our health. Vitamin C, Vitamin B6, folate, potassium and powerful antioxidants are found in abundance in it. This is why doctors recommend including it in a balanced diet. But, cutting this beneficial onion is no less than a struggle, because as soon as the knife moves, a flood of tears starts flowing from the eyes. Let us know why tears come while cutting onions and what are the easy ways to avoid it.

After all, why do eyes cry while cutting onions? know science

There is a completely scientific process behind the burning sensation and tears in the eyes when cutting onions. Actually, when we cut onion with a knife, the microscopic cells present inside it get broken. The breakdown of cells leads to a chemical reaction and Syn-Propanethyl-S-Oxide A special sulfur gas named ($Syn-propanethial-E-oxide$) is released into the air.

When this gas reaches our eyes, it forms a slight acid (sulfuric acid) as soon as it comes in contact with the natural moisture (water) present on the surface of the eyes. Due to this acid, there is severe itching and burning sensation in the eyes. To protect ourselves from this irritation and wash away the acid, our nervous system becomes active and orders the lacrimal glands to produce water rapidly. This is the reason why tears start coming out of our eyes quickly.

5 easy and home remedies to avoid tears while cutting onions

If you have more tears than your eyes while cutting onions, then by adopting these easy kitchen hacks suggested by chefs and scientists, you can eliminate this problem forever:

• Keep onions in the refrigerator (chilling effect): Keep the onions in the refrigerator or in cold water for at least 15 to 20 minutes before cutting them. Due to low temperature, the chemical process happening inside the onion slows down, due to which very less amount of gas is released.

• Always use a sharp knife: When cut with a dull or blunt knife, onion cells are brutally crushed, due to which a large amount of gas spreads into the air. In contrast, a knife with a very sharp edge makes for smoother cutting and prevents gas release.

• Cut in a well-ventilated area or near an exhaust fan: Always cut onions in an open and well-ventilated area. If you want, you can turn on the kitchen chimney or exhaust fan, due to which the gas released will be pulled out before it reaches the eyes.

• Cut the root part last: The lowest part of onion i.e. the root part has the highest amount of sulfur and gas producing enzymes. Therefore, start cutting the onion from the top and separate the root part at the end.

• Use of protective glasses: If your eyes are very sensitive, you can wear simple transparent glasses or kitchen goggles while cutting onions. These glasses act as a wall to prevent the gas from coming in direct contact with the eyes.

Don’t make these mistakes even by mistake; Problems may increase

It is very important to avoid some common mistakes while cutting onions, otherwise it may cause harm to the eyes. Never cut a lot of onions at once in a closed or unventilated room. Most importantly, when there is a burning sensation in the eyes while cutting onions, do not make the mistake of repeatedly rubbing the eyes with your hands; Because there is pungent onion juice on your hands and nails, which can increase the burning sensation manifold. Wash hands thoroughly with soap before touching eyes. If severe pain, constant watering or redness in the eyes persists even after cutting onions, do not consider it normal and immediately contact an eye specialist (doctor).