Onions -- Why They Make Us Cry
Just about anyone who has ever cooked a hot dinner has experienced this particular food side effect -- onion tears. They're so upsetting! But what actually causes them? Turns out that when you cut into an onion a volatile sulfur compound called Propanethiol-S-oxide is released. This gas reacts with water in your eyes -- and forms Sulfuric Acid. Ouch! The burn causes your eyes to produce more tears to wash the acid away. But there are a few things you can try to prevent this problem:
- Wear goggles
- Chop near a fan or oven vent
- Refrigerate the onion prior to chopping
- Chop under running water
No comments:
Post a Comment