While I enjoy a nice, cathartic cry every now and then, onion tears are not that; they're painful. They sting and burn, and to make matters worse, you're holding a sharp knife, so don't you dare rub your eyes. It doesn't matter if you're slicing, dicing, or mincing, it all hurts. When fresh onions are cut, they release a sulfuric gas that causes tears to stream down your face; the older the onion is, the stronger the gas is and therefore, the more heartbreak you'll experience. There are numerous old wives tales about how to stop yourself from crying while cutting onions and only some of them work.
No one wants to drag out time when chopping onions, which is why it pains me to tell you that you need to chop the whole dang onion. Seriously. Chopping and freezing whole onions will extend the life of fresh onions, rather than only cutting and using what you need. Plus, you'll get a head start on meal prep and will ultimately save yourself time and money (eliminating food waste is always a win).
