Do professional chefs still cry when they chop onions, or do they get used to it?

Lots of people get stinging, watery eyes when they chop onions or shallots, me included - even though I probably chop onions for cooking at least three or four times a week, they still make me cry, sometimes really badly. I know not everyone has this problem, but quite a high proportion of people do, and I was wondering if this is a problem for professional chefs or whether their bodies somehow adjust to it from daily onion exposure.

2010-09-18T15:44:49Z

@ sweetroll - Just to clarify, when I said 'professional chefs' I didn't just mean head chefs - I meant the trainees and commis-chefs and preppers as well. Also, I've worked in plenty of bars and cafes as a student where the kitchen staff consisted of one chef, and they certainly chopped their own onions. :-)

Regarding refrigeration, I generally keep my onions in the fridge (not because I think they keep better there, purely because my kitchen lacks suitable cupboard space for vegetables) and they still make me cry in just the same way as a non-refrigerated onion, sadly. Maybe I'm just super-sensitive to onions for some reason.

The_Mandarin_Man2010-09-18T15:15:22Z

Favorite Answer

i use onions and shallots a lot in my job. onions i use about 100KG but only once a month, and shallots i use about 1kg every day. i don't seem to get any problems at all. one thing i know is that the stinging effect comes from only the root inside the onion and shallot, it does happen time to time but if that were to happen i peel all my onions and when they are all done, i cut each in half and wash it, this in my belief washes off the natural chemical on the root which makes you cry. but that's the only extreme case. any other time i don't feel a thing. it might also have something to do with ventilation but i don't know about that.

21

Anonymous2010-09-18T15:17:26Z

It helps if you cut the onion in half then hold it under cold water for a good 15 seconds..then cut as usual. chefs use super sharp knives..so they actually slice it without crushing the onion..so the juice doesn't run..so the chances of ur eyes watering are very slim

10

sweetroll2010-09-18T15:32:55Z

Professional chefs have prep cooks who get to do the crying.
Onions that have been put in the fridge for a couple of hours tend to release less sulfuric acid which is what causes the tears.

11

captain2010-09-18T15:15:20Z

There are large air-makeup units in pro kitchens so chefs don't usually have to deal with onion in their eyes any more than the diners have to smell grease and smoke.

11

Anonymous2010-09-18T16:35:59Z

Probably not as there are ways to avoid it and if you are immune.
a) Make sure you have a very sharp knife and slice, not chop. (a fault of yours)
b) Allow to chill for awhile before slicing.

03
Show more answers (1)

Related Questions

Why do TV chefs never cry when they are chopping onions?What REALLY works to stop you from crying when you chop an onion?why dont chefs cry when chopping onions on tv?Do you cry while chopping onions?Does anyone have tricks to avoid crying when chopping onions?

Trending Questions

i just ate unwashed organic carrrots. will i die?37 answersHas anybody eaten in restaurants since the pandemic and did you feel safe from covid with the procedures in place?19 answersHELP! Am I in the wrong for this?????6 answersWould you eat a can of soup that was purchased back on July 31, 1992?11 answersWhat are your favorite sandwiches?5 answers