As onions are sliced, cells are broken, allowing enzymes called alliinases to break down amino acid sulphoxides and generate sulphenic acids. Sulphenic acids are unstable and spontaneously rearrange into a volatile gas called syn-propanethial-S-oxide. The gas diffuses through the air and eventually reaches the eye, where it binds to sensory neurons, creating a stinging sensation. Tear glands produce tears to dilute and flush out the irritant.
Here are some solutions to avoid shedding tears when cutting onions:
- Use a small table fan nearby when you cut onions.
- Keep your onions in the refrigerator.
- Chop the root end first, since it contains the highest amount of irritants, then you can proceed with the rest.
- Wear goggles like the swimmers do.
- Light a couple of candles near the cutting board it will draw the chemicals away.
- Chop the onions near the cooking flames.
- Slice through the end and remove the root before you start cutting the onions.
- Stick a matchstick in the mouth before cutting suggested from southern oldwives methods.
- Keep the onions cut sides down before cutting, so the juices won’t harm your eyes.
- Some suggest use white onions only don’t use yellow onions, which is not a practical solution.
- Put onions in a bowl of water and cut onions there.
- Use a good knife and well sharpened. Some suggest Japanese cooking knives.
- Put a spoon in your mouth before cutting onions.
For more tips on cutting onions without crying, check out Yahoo! Answers.
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First, don’t panic.
Immediately take out your phone battery and dry the phone with a towel. The reason why our phones stop working after its been in the water is because the battery shorts the phone when you try to turn it on again without letting it dry. The only way to save your wet cellphone is to put your phone in a bag of rice. It sounds absurd but the rice sucks up the moisture that’s in the phone. Be patient and leave it in there for 2 to 3 days without turning the phone on. After a few days, take it out of the bag of rice and leave it on something warm like the TV for a few minutes before turning it back on.
I have a few friends who said it worked for them so best of luck!
To read testimonials on this rice resurrection method, checkout Lifehacker.
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Happy Anniversary!
One of America’s favorite — if not entirely functional — families first appeared on its own half-hour television show on this day 20 years ago — “The Simpsons.” Cartoonist Matt Groening’s characters Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie soon had popularity unusual for an animated feature, and created a legion of loyal fans who wouldn’t miss one of the shows. Aside from the wide range of souvenir items generated by the program, some of the character’s sayings — especially Bart’s — have become part of the language, such as “Don’t have a cow.” When “The Simpsons” first went on the air, there were 193 million television sets in U.S. homes — today, the number is more than 300 million.
The Simpsons has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. Here are some gifs I’ve collected over the years, enjoy!
For the full scoop, check out TV By The Numbers.
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