Do your eyes burn when you cut onions? Martha Stewart, the world-renowned culinary master, swears by a simple but extremely effective trick.
When you cut onions, you often shed tears and you feel an unpleasant burning sensation in your eyes? Have you tried different methods, such as cooling onions, using water, or even wearing protective glasses, but nothing really works?
Cutting onions often represents unpleasant taskWe notice the irritating fumes released during cutting the moment they reach our eyes, causing us to blink and tear up.
Martha Stewart, a well-known culinary expert, swears by a simple trick that she has been using for many years and which has proven to be extremely effective.
Her methods are used not only in the home kitchen, but also in professional culinary environments, where cutting large quantities of onions is a daily practice.
Martha Stewart's trick
In her opinion, it is crucial that Cut the onion next to a heat source., such as a lit gas stove or a lit candle. When we cut an onion, it releases sulfide vapors, which, when in contact with the eyes, form a mild acid, which causes a burning sensation and tears.
These fumes usually rise towards the face, where they come into contact with the mucous membranes of the eyes. However, if the onion is cut near a heat source, the fumes are redistributed and dispersed in other directions before reaching the eyes. The heat neutralizes them and redirects them away, making them less noticeable.
Why a sharp knife is key when cutting onions
It is extremely important to use a well-sharpened knife when cutting onions. When cutting onions with with a blunt knife, its cells are not cut precisely, but torn. This causes a greater release of irritating substances, which then reach the eyes more quickly and cause a burning sensation.
Martha Stewart recommends that Sharpen the knife regularly and maintain its sharpness, as this has a significant impact not only on ease of cutting, but also on the taste and texture of the food. With onions, clean cuts retain more juice inside, which contributes to better flavor in dishes. In addition, a sharp knife reduces the risk of injury, as less pressure is required to cut, allowing for more controlled and safe food preparation
How lemon further reduces tearing when cutting onions
Another trick Martha Stewart uses is rubbing a knife blade with a freshly cut lemon. The acid in the lemon helps neutralize some of the enzymes in the onion, which results in fewer irritating fumes. Plus, the lemon adds a nice, refreshing scent that helps to neutralize the strong onion smell in the room.
This method is particularly effective if we combine by cutting near a heat source and using a sharp knife. If you simply rub the blade on the inside of a lemon slice before starting to cut, the effect will be immediate.
Her tricks are not just theory, but proven methods, which has been used for many years and which has been tested by many professional chefs.
