Kitchen Garden Forum

My wife complains that my onions are always much stronger than those she ever bought from the supermarkets. In fact, they always make her cry, whereas shop bought ones never did. Anybody have any thoughts on what supermarkets might do to reduce the impact of onions on the eyes?

Could it be because yours are so much fresher?

Hi,
yes indeed the fresh one has more ammount of the ammonia which is responsible for the weeping .So next time when you buy the onion just try to buy old one. and enjoy her smile and not tears ...hahaha

Tim wears my safety goggles (used for strimming usually) when cutting up my onions

I have heard that peeling them underwater helps, but I'm not sure how you could cut them up like this.

I do know, however, that if you leave the root on until the last minute then it's not nearly so bad as that's where most of the milky juice comes from.

re peeling onions under water, surely the criteria is how long you can hold your breath ? shallotman

Also whether you have aswimming pool or not.

Could it be that shop bought onions are kept in cold storage?

I find if I keep a couple of onions unpeeled in the fridge till I need them it is less weeping.

Beryl.

I once complained to a flatmate about the effects of peeling onions. This chap was from Nigeria and proceeded to tell me how useful weepy onions were for getting rid of eye parasites......

Colin

Don't know about that Colin but a cut onion on a bee or wasp sting will relieve the pain.

Beryl.