If you've ever chopped an onion, you're no stranger to the burning sensation and inevitable tears that follow.
It’s an age-old kitchen dilemma, and for some, the answer appears to be onion goggles.
They claim to protect your eyes from the notorious fumes that onions release.
But here’s the real question: Do onion goggles work?
Spoiler alert: They don’t.
Before we get into the details of why onion goggles fail to deliver, let’s start by understanding the science behind why onions make you cry.
Why Do Onions Make You Cry?
Chopping an onion releases a chemical known as syn-Propanethial-S-oxide.
This irritant gas is responsible for triggering your tear glands.
When you slice through an onion, you break open its cells, which releases enzymes that turn sulfenic acids into this tear-inducing compound.
It’s a classic case of cause and effect: you chop the onion, the onion releases gas, your eyes suffer.
But does wearing onion goggles really stop this process?
Let’s explore.
The Problem with Onion Goggles:
1. No Airtight Seal
The biggest flaw with onion goggles is that they don't form an airtight seal around your eyes.
When you wear onion goggles, there’s usually a small gap between the goggles and your skin. This is due to cheap rigid plastic material and our faces all being different sized and shapes.
That tiny opening is all it takes for onion fumes to sneak in and hit your eyes.
Even a slight breeze can carry the onion gas through that gap, leaving you vulnerable to the stinging sensation you're trying to avoid. the onion gas is less dense than air so it rises and disperses into the air towards your face at a rapid pace.
And it gets worse if you wear glasses or have a face shape that doesn't perfectly align with the goggles—more gaps, more tears.
2. Fogging Up
So, you find a pair of onion goggles with an airtight seal.
Great, right?
Not really.
What happens next is another common problem: fogging.
As soon as you start chopping, the heat from your face combined with the moisture in the air causes the lenses to fog up.
You can barely see what you're doing.
This fogging issue isn’t just annoying—it’s unsafe.
You don’t want to be blindly chopping with a sharp knife in your hand, all because your onion goggles decided to mist up.
Lets not forget about those of us who wear eye glasses, that will never work.
3. The Nasolacrimal Duct:
This is perhaps the most overlooked reason why onion goggles simply don't work: the nasolacrimal duct.
This is the small duct that connects your tear ducts to your nasal passages.
It’s a direct gateway for onion fumes to reach your mucous membranes and wreak havoc.
No matter how tight the goggles fit around your eyes, they can't block off your nose from these volatile chemicals.
The onion gas easily makes its way through your nasal passage, bypassing the goggles entirely.
So, while your eyes are technically "protected" by the goggles, the gas still finds its way to your tear ducts via your nasal cavity.
And guess what? You still end up crying.
Do Onion Goggles Work? Not for Most People
Let’s take a closer look at why onion goggles don’t work in real-life kitchen scenarios.
1. Comfort Issues
For starters, onion goggles aren't exactly known for their comfort.
Many people find them uncomfortable to wear even for a short period of time.
They can be tight, the padding can irritate your skin, and some goggles might even leave marks around your eyes after wearing them.
And if you’re someone who wears prescription glasses, it gets even trickier.
Not all onion goggles are designed to fit over glasses, meaning you might be forced to choose between seeing your onions clearly or "protecting" your eyes from the fumes—neither of which is an ideal option.
2. Limited Effectiveness
You’ll also find that onion goggles are limited in how well they actually stop the crying.
Even with a tight fit, the onion fumes can still leak through or find their way around the goggles.
That’s because the fumes spread in the air, and unless you have a completely sealed environment (which no kitchen does), those fumes are getting to your eyes one way or another.
3. False Sense of Security
Wearing onion goggles might make you feel like you’ve found a solution, but in reality, you’re still vulnerable to those sneaky onion vapors.
This false sense of security can lead to frustration when you realize the goggles aren’t as effective as you hoped.
After all, you bought them to stop crying over onions, not to look fashionable while doing it.
What Really Happens When You Use Onion Goggles?
Let’s paint a picture.
You’re getting ready to make your famous guacamole, and chopping onions is the first step.
You grab your onion goggles, put them on, and start slicing.
At first, everything seems fine.
You feel a bit ridiculous, but hey, no tears, right?
Suddenly, the lenses start fogging up.
You adjust the goggles and wipe them down, but the more you chop, the worse the fogging gets.
Now you can’t see the onions properly, and you’re starting to feel the onion fumes seep in through the small gap between your cheek and the goggles.
Before you know it, you’re blinking back tears, just like always.
Sound familiar?
That’s because onion goggles don’t offer a real solution to the problem.
Alternatives to Onion Goggles: What Actually Works?
So if onion goggles don’t work, what does?
Fortunately, there are a few better ways to minimize the crying.
1. Use a Sharp Knife
One of the most effective ways to reduce onion tears is to use a sharp knife.
A sharp blade will cut through the onion cells more cleanly, releasing less of the irritant gas that causes your eyes to water.
In contrast, a dull knife crushes the onion as you chop, which releases more gas and increases your chances of crying.
2. Refrigerate the Onion - This is more of a myth than reality.
Chilling your onion for 30 minutes before cutting is what some people have recommended. This however has never led to any significant improvment in my own onion cutting experience.
Cold temperatures slow down the chemical reaction that produces syn-Propanethial-S-oxide, the compound responsible for the tears.
By cooling the onion, you reduce the amount of gas released when you cut it.
3. Cut the Onion Under Running Water - Another Impractical Myth
Another classic method is to chop the onion under running water.
The water dilutes the irritant gas, while the fan disperses it, keeping it from hitting your eyes. The water also disperses your chopped onions down the drain.
4. The Happy Onion: A True Solution
If you’re tired of gimmicks like onion goggles, there’s a more innovative solution on the horizon: The Happy Onion.
Unlike goggles, The Happy Onion is designed to filter and eliminate the fumes before they reach your eyes, offering real relief from onion-induced tears.
With replaceable filters and a comfortable design, it addresses all the issues that onion goggles fail to solve.
Final Verdict: Do Onion Goggles Work?
In short, no, onion goggles don’t work.
While they might block some of the gas from directly reaching your eyes, they don’t stop the fumes from entering your nose and triggering tears through your tear ducts.
Even if you find a pair of goggles with an airtight seal, you’ll likely encounter issues like fogging, discomfort, or ineffective protection.
So, while onion goggles might seem like a clever kitchen hack, the reality is they’re not a reliable solution for most people.
For a more effective way to chop onions tear-free, you’re better off using practical methods like a sharp knife, cold onions, or investing in a product designed to truly solve the problem, like The Happy Onion.
Stop wasting time on onion goggles that don’t work, and find a method that truly keeps the tears at bay.