Squeeze a little lemon juice on the onion and you will not have tears.

David, London, UK

This works like magic -- light a match and blow it out. Hold the match stick from the unburnt side in your mouth with the burnt portion (might xtill be slightly smoking) of the matchstick in front of you -- then chop. no tears.

sue, london,

Try leaning back or standing up straight instead of leaning over the work table. It's not necessary to have your face that close to the chopping! The further your face the less likely you are to spray your eyes. It works.

Barbara, Winchester UK,

Just put your onion in the fridge 'till cold no tears honest Just discovered and really really works. Holding your breath works but like under water technique not too practical and freezing can break down the walls of the onion.

nick victor, london, london

James Hazan, please pay me. Don;t know why my previous comment was not accepted, but here goes again:
Put the onions you wish to chop/slice in the freezer for about 15 minutes or so before doing so, and voila! no more tears

Alice, Hove,

Contact lenses work really well...

Lindsay, Sydney, Australia

trust an american,chop it underwater/or in a jar chopper.... did nt see that at the french laundry..........michelin yes,new york times no chop fast & clean ask any commis chef,we all spent months doing just onions......jar chopper,yeh,right!!!!!

adam west, pattaya, thailand

Can Mr Gooch confirm whether it is the onion or the individual that has to be underwater?

Richard, Leeds, UK

I can't resist repeating some advice I saw in a letter to the Times years ago:

Wear swimming goggles when chopping onions, but do remember to take them off if you answer the door.

Paul Samson, ST GENIS-POUILLY, France

Amateurs: there are two methods of cutting an onion and preventing eye irritation. One is to cut it under water. Two, is to chop it in a jar chopper.

larry gooch, baton rouge, USA, Louisiana

Rafael Chavez hit the nail on the head, I use an 8" chef's knife and cannot remember the last time I shed a tear when slicing onions. The weight of the knife helps with the slicing as you do not have to exert so much pressure.

Douglas Westgate, New Orleans, LA USA

I have a suggestion to avoid watering eyes while chopping onions: just rub the knife with a slice of lime before starting to chop. That makes a big difference for me.

Maria. Mexico City.

Maria, Mexico City, Mexico

Simple.

You have to SLICE the onion, do not CHOP.
The difference is that when you chop you put more pressure and squeeze the onion cells, which then spray the irritating fluid in front of your eyes..
Use a larger sharp knife and slide it through, making the same cuts if you wish, but without pressing.

My fees, as agreed!

Rafael Chavez
Surgeon

Rafael Chavez, Cardiff,

What about looking at what you are doing?I can never see the onion ,due to the profusion of tears.Yes,I'll pay £275,if anyone can show me how to chop an onion without tears.I have tried everything,Goggles,gas mask etc

james hazan, huddersfield, U.K