Tip of the week: How to cut an onion without crying
Wear goggles; Chop near an open flame; Use cold water
Wear goggles. You might look silly, but wearing airtight eyewear is 100 percent effective in preventing tears. The gas that irritates your eyes is released by a chemical reaction that occurs when the cells of the onion are broken. Several companies make special “onion goggles,” but any eyepieces that keep air out will work. “For some steampunk flair, try antique motorcycle goggles.”
Chop near an open flame. “If you’ve got a gas stove, fire up one of the burners.” When you do your chopping nearby, the flame will suck in the troublesome gas. A high flame works “shockingly well”; using a low flame “left us misty-eyed.”
Use cold water. You can also try slicing an onion while it’s immersed in cold water or chopping it while cold water runs over your hands. Either technique “will send all those tear-jerking chemicals down the drain.”
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Source: Mental Floss
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Can US tourism survive Trump's policies?
Today's Big Question The tourist economy is 'heading in the wrong direction'
-
September's books tell of friendship in middle age, teachers versus fascists, and Covid psychosis
the week recommends September books include Angela Flournoy's 'The Wilderness,' Randi Weingarten's 'Why Fascists Fear Teachers' and Patricia Lockwood's 'Will There Ever Be Another You'
-
'Total rat eradication in New York has been deemed impossible'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day