We all know that onions often make you cry when cutting them.  Cut onions release a chemical that irritates the eye causing discomfort or burning and triggering the eye to release tears. There are a couple of things you can do to reduce this effect. First, chill your onions for 30 minutes or soak them in cold water for 10 minutes before cutting them. Next, use sweet onions in your recipe as these often cause less irritation. Last, where glasses or goggles to protect your eyes from the compounds released when onions are cut.