Do you cry when you cut onions? Do you cry when you cut scallions and shallots?

In our daily life, onion is an indispensable dish in our life. It can be used as seasoning or as a side dish. But when cutting onions, the smell of onions always makes us cry. In fact, it's not just onions. When we cut green onions and shallots, we sometimes cry.

The reason why we shed tears for cutting onions is that onions contain a volatile oil, the main component of which is a hormone usually wrapped in onion skin. After we peel off the surface of the onion and chop up the fiber in the onion, the hormone will change from liquid to gas, flow out of the onion and spread around. And it will immediately enter your nasal cavity with the air. Eyes and nose will be stimulated by allicin, which will irritate eyes. The brain will send a signal to the lacrimal glands, ordering them to produce more fluid and expel sulfuric acid, thus forming tears. That's why we cry.

In fact, onions are not only that, as long as they are vegetables like onions, they will make us burst into tears. Allium plants have a unique smell, which comes from volatile oil, which will be oxidized when it comes into contact with air. Therefore, it will produce a pungent smell. The pungent smell produced by oxidation plays a role in making our eyes cry. Because one function of eyes is to protect eyes from physical and chemical stimuli. Therefore, when there is an irritating smell, the eyes will immediately protect us.

When we need to cut onions when cooking, if we don't want to shed tears, just a few methods are enough. Before cutting onions, soak the kitchen knife in hot water for a while, so that when cutting onions again, your eyes will not be stimulated by volatiles and shed tears. Secondly, cut the onion in half, then put it in cold water, soak it first, then cut it, and don't cry. Finally, gently take a bite in the microwave oven, peel off the skin, and then cut it without tears.