Keep them in the refrigerators would minimize tearing eyes when cutting. Also, I don't cut off the roots end of the onion. It helps to keep it together when slicing, and I read somewhere that it keeps the vapor intact which minimize burning/tearing eyes.

Use a very sharp knife....and wear goggles....but you can't cut an onion without some tears. B ut the tears should stop in about 1 minute, as soon as the onion is cut.
You will be amazed at how much better your dish is using fresh onions.
Remember....a sharp knife makes for less tears.
Linda C

What LindaC said.

Reason for a very sharp knife is because you will be crushing fewer onion cells while cutting and less irritating chemical will be released.

Have a small fan blowing helps also.

Better yet, next time buy Vidalias, Walla Walla or SuperSweets.

dcarch

Combine the fridge technique with a sharp knife. And try to avoid cutting through the "root."

It also helps to hold the onion in shape as you slice it. Hmm...how do I explain that? Lay half an onion, cut side down on the cutting board. As you slice, don't allow the slices to fall away, use your hand to hold them upright, against the rest of the onion. Then if chopping, continue to hold the slices together as you cut across them. Makes it easier to get a nice dice too.

The less cut surfaces are exposed to air, the less onion vapor rises to get into your eyes.

A really sharp knife and a very cold onion are very helpful, as the others have said.

keep wetting the knife with cold water while cutting.

Several people swear by onion goggles.... Fortunately, I wear contact lenses so onions never bother me. I had no idea why I was "immune" to onion vapors until I was watching Tyler Florence a few years ago and he said contact wearers rarely (if ever) have trouble since the lens covers the sensitive part of the eye. Makes sense to me!

Anyway, here is a link to some that were very popular here a few years back.

A

Here is a link that might be useful: Red Onion Goggles

I can attest to the fact that contacts are the best solution. Haven't cried over onions in years!

Those suggestions are good, but also remember to breathe through your mouth instead of through your nose, as your nasal passages are more closely connected to your eyes than your mouth is. Or wear a snorkel and diving mask.

Lars

I wear the gas permeable contact lenses and I don't find that they make any difference, except that I can see when I cut onions, LOL. Maybe the soft contact lenses cover more of the eye? Or maybe not, beats me, but my contact lenses do not help at all.

I've used a wet knife, refrigerated the onion, never cut through the root. I peel under running water and I still cry, although the cold onion and a sharp knife reduces the tears the most.

Woodie got me a pair of those red onion goggles and they work pretty well, which is why Ashley has confiscated them, but even with those I cry a little bit.

I still use mostly fresh onions. I froze onions and even double bagged they made my whole freezer smell like onions. Now I dehydrate them, which works relatively well except that I still have to chop them all to dehydrate them!

Annie

The best thing I've found is to put your cutting board on the stove and crank up the overhead fan. Pulls the fumes right out! Also, if you aren't particular on perfectly diced (soups, etc.), use the FP instead of chopping by hand. I always do this when I have lots to do like making salsa. Hot peppers too!

Deanna

This is awesome.. I learned a lot!

Here is a link that might be useful: Panasonic SD-YD250