Densky Lifestyle Cooks

Cooking up some shawarma rice as a plate flip prior to group webinar

"Onions and the cry cry"

2 methods was discussed to me by my mentor

Towel method and the citrus method

Placing a wet towel near your cutting board while slicing onions is a popular kitchen trick. The idea is that the wet towel helps absorb or trap some of the onion's volatile sulfur compounds before they reach your eyes.

When an onion is cut, it releases a gas called syn-propanethial-S-oxide, which reacts with the moisture in your eyes and causes tearing. A damp towel may attract some of these compounds because they are water-soluble, but its effect is usually modest.

Dabbing kalamansi juice on the chopping board is another commonly suggested home remedy, but there is little scientific evidence that it significantly reduces onion-induced tearing.

The acidic juice may:

Slightly alter or react with some sulfur compounds on the board's surface.

Add a pleasant citrus aroma that can mask onion odors.

Help reduce lingering onion smell on the board and hands.

While there are
Methods that tend to work better include:

Chilling the onions in the refrigerator for 30 minutes before cutting.

Using a very sharp knife to minimize cell damage.

Cutting under a kitchen exhaust fan or near good ventilation.

Wearing protective glasses or goggles for highly sensitive individuals.

Leaving the root end intact until the very end, since it contains a higher concentration of the compounds that cause tearing.

Food, Mood, and Mental Health: The Culinary Medicine Approach

Date: June 14, 2026
Time: 9:00AM to 1:00 PM
Venue: 37 Don A. Roces, Paligsahan, Quezon City

Also available:
Online Attendance via Zoom + Online Module

Learn:
● How the gut-brain axis affects your mood every day
● Mood-boosting meals you can cook at home
● A culinary medicine approach to supporting mental health

This workshop covers the science and practical meal planning to support mental health

Limited slots available. Register here: https://culinarymd.org/workshops or through the form https://forms.gle/Uqe5MucmzjUtrcNP9

Message us through [email protected] for more details.