it’s your contacts. When I used to be able to wear them, my eyes never watered either. Now that I can’t wear them – I am a tear machine…

I had never cried when cutting an onion either, then one day I cut one just wearing my glasses, not my contacts. My eyes FREAKED OUT! Seriously, watering uncontrollably. It was ridiculous. Contacts are my bff’s when it comes to cutting onions now.

My cat always like to hide under the blankets on our bed or behind the curtains in our bedroom, while it hard to find her at first, we’ve finally caught on!

My car battery was dead this morning too! Not fun when it’s 15 degrees outside…

I agree with the contacts – when I am wearing my contacts I NEVER cry, but when I am only wearing my glasses, it’s like a sob fest.

Well cutting the onion breaks up cells allowing them to interact- it doesn’t really release an enzyme into the air so much as the enzyme catalyzes rxns in the now broken up cells, which creates a sulfur compound that reacts with the water in your eyes. You tear up in response to the irritation. Do you tear up when you get stuff in your eyes or it’s windy? That’s the same type of response (reflexive tears.)

Interestingly, they are now making “tear-free” onions by growing them in soil with a low Sulfur-content.

It is your contacts. I wore them for years and onions never bothered me. I got lasik about a year ago and now I cry every time.

That said I’ll deal with the crying for being able to see. No contacts or glasses is pretty awesome.

I giggled when you said you got the car “sorted out.” My girlfriend, also married to a Brit and who lives in London always says that things are “sorted” or “sorted out.” I think it’s a thing, maybe. Also, onions have never made me cry either! But I like your joke 🙂

Most recently my battery died while I was in the Trader Joe’s parking lot. At least I had snacks 🙂

As others said, it’s definitely the contacts! I am the “onion chopper” in our family because I wear contacts and hubby does not. However, I just got LASIK and now I’m in the same boat. Tear city! I did get “onion goggles” for my husband awhile ago which block your eyes from the onion and wear those now myself!

I hear if your knife is sharp, you won’t cry. A dull knife, you will.

I love Pippa’s expression. Any progress with Pippa’s peeing? My cat had another peeing incident this morning as I was leaving for work. I understand how hard it is to deal with those situations!

Haha you must be a super hero because it definitely makes me cry!

i WISH i didn’t cry when chopping onions! i have tears just streaming down my face the second i cut into one! and i even have one of those pampered chef things that are like the slap-chop…it’s the only way i can get through making anything with onions in it.

I never cry either! Contacts or no contacts. We’re superheroines!

I vote onion superhero. Definitely.

LOL. Love the look Pippa is giving you. Chloe gives that to me as well. If I can’t find her, for whatever reason, I check the bed and she’s usually there, smack dab in the middle. Miss Princess on her throne.

I wear contacts and my husband says I must be dead inside because I don’t cry when I chop onions:-)

Contacts. If you don’t have fancy onion goggles, swimming goggles work just as well! They get a bit steamy after a while though…

I wish my eyes didn’t water when I chopped onions! It always burns, too 🙁

My car hasn’t started the last couple of days. I need to find someone to jump it tonight. I definitely need it Thursday night and Friday, but my mom told me not to wait until Thursday. Hopefully it just needs a jump and not a completely new battery…

I don’t have much of a problem cutting onions because I’m almost never the one cutting them. Hah. But just thinking about it is making my eyes feel funny. Weird! Haha.

There’s nothing quite as scary as thinking you’ve lost a pet (though I imagine thinking you’ve lost a child is worse but probably happens less frequently).

I also don’t have problems with onions; however, there was one onion–the one and only time–that really got me. I literally had to leave the room and go outside. It was really painful! On the other hand, I have a friend who looks like she has ben crying for days when she cuts an onion. I’m so glad it doesn’t happen to me all the time!

Randomly I just ate a date right before reading your blog. They are the best ugly food there is!

I’ve worn contacts (gas permiable and soft ) and glasses for years and never had crying problems with onions until just a few years ago (while still wearing contacts.) I had always prided myself that it never bothered me and then, all of a sudden it does!! So who knows why??? I think it is still a mystery. Annoying, but a mystery.

Although this tip doesn’t benefit you, sticking out your tongue while cutting onions does a pretty darn good job at preventing those tears. And if they start, stick your head in the freezer and it stops the burning.

I heard that if you breathe through your nose while cutting onions then you will cry, but not your mouth? I always cry no matter what though, so I’m not sure if it’s true.

I think a million people have already said it but YEP it’s the contacts! Onions always killed me UNTIL I switched from glasses to contacts. 🙂

i’ve read somewhere that lighting an unscented candle near you while you chop completely prevents the teariness. i have yet to try it… but i really must! i usually work up quite the waterworks

Ugh, I can’t even cut green onions without the waterworks starting up. I’ve heard that if you hold a piece of bread in your mouth it will prevent the tears, but I’ve never tried it.

Love the idea of PB stuffed dates – I’ve got a whole tub of dates I’m starting to get bored with.

Cut a red onion and if you still don’t cry, you’re the luckiest person alive!