Onions Ahoy!
Mr. Onion is crying because of his stinky onion smell. But then, he couldn’t take it and had a tantrum. Art by Monica
Monica asks chefs Casey and Anita about onions
I don’t cry around onions. I don’t know why. Don’t ask me—talk to expert chefs who know about onions.
First I asked, “Why do onions make some people cry?” “They tend to make people cry not when they eat them, but when they cut them,” Anita said. “There is a chemical containing sulfur which reacts in the eyes that causes tears,” said Casey.
Then I asked, “What are onions made of?” And Anita said, “I guess the scientific answer is that they’re made out of cells, like every other organic thing is. When you cut an onion, you’re breaking open the cells and those cells contain a chemical called an enzyme. The enzymes are harsh smelling, and sensitive people can cry when they’re exposed. One solution is to use a very, very sharp knife when working with onions. That makes the break in the cell wall cleaner and less likely to release the enzymes. Other people have nutty ideas about having running water nearby, or chewing on a piece of bread while cutting, but I don’t believe any of that.” Then Casey said, “Just like any other vegetable, organic material.”
Next, I asked if onions were stinky. Anita said, “An old onion will have a worse smell than a fresh one. A cooked onion will have less smell than a raw one. But in my opinion, the worst smell of all is onions on somebody’s breath. Ew.” But then Casey said, “Onions should be sweet and earthy but still smell like an onion.”
I also asked, “Where do onions grow?” Anita answered, “One of the best, sweetest variety of onions is called the Vidalia onion, because it grows in Vidalia, GA.” Casey said, “The ground. Most any place with good soil can grow onions. They do like warmer places.”
I also wondered if onions are sour. Anita said, “Onions have a strong taste, but not a sour one. If it’s sour, it’s probably old and you should reconsider eating it.” Casey had a different answer. “No, they shouldn’t be sour,” he said.
Finally, I asked what their favorite recipe for onions is. Anita said, “I love french onion soup. It’s not very easy to make at home though. When I’m not in a restaurant kitchen with all the fancy equipment and expensive ingredients, I would probably just slice an onion very, very thin and cook it in a saute pan with a little olive oil for a very long time until it’s a deep mahogany brown, then serve it on top of a thick juicy steak.” Casey said he likes French onion soup.