Why Onions Make Us Cry — The Emotional Vegetable

Life, like this onion, is layered.

BY STAFF @the Brimly Test Kitchen

December 24, 2023

Image Source/Editors @ Brimly

5 minute Read

Casual Tone

FEATURE ARTICLE

OBJECTIVE VIEW

Rarely, if ever. It's a thankless job, being an onion.

In the vast universe of our kitchens, where sizzling pans and the aroma of spices rule, there lies a humble yet enigmatic character: the onion. This bulbous plant, often overlooked, holds within its layers a tale that resonates with our very human experience. Let's peel back these layers, both literally and metaphorically, to understand why onions make us cry and, in doing so, reveal something profound about our own nature.

Our story begins in a small, sunlit kitchen where an elderly woman, Mrs. Langley, teaches her granddaughter, Emma, the art of cooking. As Emma reaches for an onion, Mrs. Langley says, "Be prepared, dear. That onion will bring tears to your eyes, but not for the reasons you might think." Intrigued, Emma looks up, her hands poised over the onion.

Here, we encounter our first layer of understanding. On a scientific level, onions are a marvel of nature's ingenuity. They contain a unique compound – a mix of enzymes and sulfenic acids – that, when cut, undergoes a chemical reaction to form syn-propanethial-S-oxide. This volatile compound wafts upwards meets our eyes, and, in a chemical embrace, turns into a mild sulfuric acid. The result? Our eyes sting and water in a natural response to flush out the irritant. It's a remarkable defense mechanism, evolved over millennia, to deter animals from eating the onion plant.

But as Mrs. Langley slices through the onion, a teardrop rolls down her cheek, and she smiles gently. "You see, Emma, onions make us cry not just because of their chemistry but because they remind us of life's complexities. Each layer of an onion can represent a layer of our lives."

Curious, Emma watches as her grandmother deftly moves the knife through the onion, each slice in a steady, rhythmic motion. Mrs. Langley continues, "Life, like this onion, is layered. We experience joy, sadness, triumphs, and setbacks. Each layer we peel back in our lives exposes us to new experiences, new emotions."

As Emma listens, she begins to understand that the onion is more than just a vegetable; it's a metaphor for the human condition. In its layered structure, it embodies the multifaceted aspects of our existence. We, too, are complex beings, often shielding our vulnerabilities, much like the outer layers of an onion. And just as cutting an onion exposes its inner layers and brings tears, so too does delving into our innermost selves reveal emotions that are often kept hidden.

Mrs. Langley recounts a story from her youth of a time when her own mother taught her to cook. "Your great-grandmother used to say that cooking is like painting a picture. Each ingredient tells a story, and onions, well, they are like the strokes of a brush that bring depth and emotion to the canvas."

The story resonates with Emma. She realizes that onions, in their simplicity, carry the weight of generations, of shared experiences around kitchen tables, of lessons learned and stories told. They are a bridge connecting generations, a silent witness to the tears, laughter, and conversations that happen in the heart of every home.

As the cooking lesson concludes, Emma understands why onions make us cry. It's not just the chemistry but the emotional journey they represent. They symbolize life's inherent complexity and beauty, of the necessity to experience a full range of emotions, even those that bring tears.

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So, the next time you find yourself tearing up while chopping an onion, remember it's not just a culinary reaction. It's an impactful reminder of life's richness and the layers within each of us waiting to be explored and understood. In the humble onion, we find a reflection of our own emotional depths, a testament to the tears that, in their own way, enrich the tapestry of our human experience.