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Why does cutting onions make people cry? |
by Mya Kagan (whyzz writer) >> more about the author
Don’t worry if your mom or dad tears up while making dinner: “Crying” because of cutting onions is different than crying for being hurt, happy, or sad!
When onions are cut open, they release natural chemicals into the air. Have you ever heard of sulfur? It’s found naturally in lots of things, and is known for being kind of smelly. Sulfur is what onions release, and because its bothersome to your nose and your eyes, it causes you to tear up!
The reason your nose and eyes tear is pretty clever – they’re trying to wash away the sulfur that is bothering them! This “tearing” is what people sometimes refer to as “crying,” since it looks very similar. But really, nobody is crying when they cut an onion, their noses and eyes are just trying to get themselves clean and wash away all that sulfur!
Onion Options
Different people react differently to the sulfur in onions -- some are bothered by it more than others.
Lots of people have tricks that help them feel the effects of the sulfur in the onions even less. For example, some people believe that if you put the onion in the refrigerator or freezer first, you will be less bothered by it. And safety goggles (like you wear in a science lab!) have also been known to help!
Does your family have any onion-cutting tips??
When onions are cut open, they release natural chemicals into the air. Have you ever heard of sulfur? It’s found naturally in lots of things, and is known for being kind of smelly. Sulfur is what onions release, and because its bothersome to your nose and your eyes, it causes you to tear up!
The reason your nose and eyes tear is pretty clever – they’re trying to wash away the sulfur that is bothering them! This “tearing” is what people sometimes refer to as “crying,” since it looks very similar. But really, nobody is crying when they cut an onion, their noses and eyes are just trying to get themselves clean and wash away all that sulfur!
Onion Options
Different people react differently to the sulfur in onions -- some are bothered by it more than others.
Lots of people have tricks that help them feel the effects of the sulfur in the onions even less. For example, some people believe that if you put the onion in the refrigerator or freezer first, you will be less bothered by it. And safety goggles (like you wear in a science lab!) have also been known to help!
Does your family have any onion-cutting tips??
- “Why do onions make you cry?” Ask a Scientist. NEWTON – Argonne National Library. 14 Nov. 2010
- Haas MD, Elson M. “Sulfur.” HealthWorld Online. 15 Nov. 2010
- Foley, Michele. “Why Do Onions Make You Cry?” Nagging Question. 27 Jun. 2008. CHOW. 14 Nov. 2010
About the onion cut tips,there is another way that can make us less bothered when making dinner.Putting the onions in the water for a while,then it will be better.