Food & Wine / Getty ImagesChopping onions can easily ruin your eye makeup. On a recent evening in my small Brooklyn kitchen, I found myself shedding tears as I sliced through several onions to prepare a simple pasta dish for date night. Despite being dressed up with mascara, my carefully applied makeup was soon running down my face. This familiar scenario of onion-induced tears led me to experiment with various methods to prevent the irritation, such as using a lit match or a damp paper towel near the cutting board. However, these tricks never seemed to work effectively. Thankfully, my quest for a tear-free solution led me to discover Smileys, a unique variety of onion that lives up to its name by not causing crying.
A series of experiments conducted over two weeks confirmed that Smileys do indeed prevent tears while chopping. Despite still experiencing the pungent odor associated with cutting onions, I did not cry or feel any discomfort in my eyes. Even after dicing multiple Smileys in succession, the tear-free experience remained consistent. Other individuals who tested these onions shared similar results, confirming their effectiveness in preventing onion-induced tears.
The reason behind Smileys’ tear-free quality lies in a complex chemical process triggered by cutting into raw onions. The release of sulfoxides and enzymes within the onion generates sulfenic acid, which further reacts to produce syn-propanethial-S-oxide gas. This gas is what typically causes eye irritation and tears when cutting onions. Smileys, unlike conventional onions, have been specially cultivated to remain mild and sweet over time, reducing their tear-inducing properties. These onions are not genetically modified and are carefully curated to ensure a tear-free cooking experience.
Over the course of several decades, Smileys onions were meticulously developed through intentional breeding efforts. A dedicated onion breeder spent 30 years creating this unique, non-GMO variety, which is a natural crossbreed of milder, sweet onions. This process of crossbreeding involves mating different plants to produce offspring with desired genetic traits, a method that requires a significant amount of time.
Smileys onions, unlike other sweet varieties, become less likely to cause tears as they age. These onions have a distinct sweet flavor profile, with a reduced amount of the compound that triggers tear production. Despite this alteration, Smileys onions still deliver a burst of aromatic flavor and are notably sweeter than traditional yellow onions commonly found in stores.
In addition to their sweetness, Smileys onions have a crisp texture reminiscent of apples, making them versatile in various cooking methods. They hold up well when cooked, have a longer shelf life due to lower moisture content, and are favored for their candy-like sweetness. The breeder mentions that Smileys onions are much sweeter than regular yellow onions, making them ideal for caramelizing, French onion soup bases, and sweet and savory dips for gatherings.
These sought-after onions are now more widely available in major grocery chains like Walmart, Publix, H-E-B, and Costco Canada. However, due to high demand, they may sell out quickly or be unavailable at certain locations, so it’s advisable to check availability with your preferred store before making a trip.
