Why do onions make you cry?

They may not hurt your feelings, but they sure do hurt your eyeballs.

According to Rowse, the short answer is simple: sulfuric acid.

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But how can an invisible gas seemingly cause so much destruction?

This is where things start to get sticky.

The sulfuric acid irritates your eyes, making them tear up, he says.

Broth in Bowl on gray background, healthy food, top view.

lead chef-instructor of culinary arts at theInstitute of Culinary Education

Its the bodys defense trying to flush out the irritant.Big freaking sigh.

Cold onions can slow down the onset of tears a little.

So, is any allium, like say garlic, bound to cause the same reaction?

Close-up of sliced purple cabbage,

And what about a red onion versus a sweet onion?

In my experience, I dont see much of a difference between yellow, white, or red.

But other less harsh-tasting alliumswillmake you cry less, Rowse says.

soba noodles

Choose wisely, fam.

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1.

Thats because the colder the onion, the less likely itll make you cry.

A hand is stirring a sourdough starter in a glass jar, on a kitchen countertop. The light casts a warm glow, highlighting the ingredients inside the jar.

lead chef-instructor of culinary arts at theInstitute of Culinary Education

A cold and humid environment can cause the onions to spoil faster.

But chilling them for just a few minutes wont do too much harm to your precious Vidalias.

But dont direct it at someone else, he cautions.

Frozen beef steaks on brownish packaging paper. Light effect.

Yep, even your worst enemydoesntdeserve to be subjected to the pain of tear-inducing onions.

Safety goggles will also suffice, FYI.

Theyrenotexactly a fashion statement, but it does technically work.

Woman shopping in a grocery store with a basket

Plus, they also make onion goggles, which follow the same concept.

Alliums on your mind?

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