Kitchen life hacks·4 questions

QUESTION: Kitchen life hacks: how to peel garlic and onions without tears and hand odors?

Answer

Peeling garlic and bulb onions is often accompanied by unpleasant tears and a persistent aroma that eats into the skin of the hands for a long time. To avoid tearing when slicing onions, you can use simple physical methods that block the release of volatile sulfur compounds. For example, before starting work, the onion can be placed in the freezer for half an hour or kept under a stream of ice water, and the knife itself can be regularly moistened with cold water during the slicing process.

For quick peeling of garlic without using a knife and long picking with nails, there are effective culinary tricks. The cloves can be placed in a deep bowl, covered with a second identical bowl on top, and shaken vigorously for a few seconds, after which the husk will fly off by itself.

Here are effective ways to get rid of the pungent garlic and onion smell on your hands:

Wash your hands thoroughly in cold, rather than hot, water, as hot water opens the skin pores, and the smell penetrates even deeper.
Rub your palms with a pinch of regular table salt or damp coffee grounds after washing with soap, as they act as mild absorbents.
Wipe your fingers with a slice of fresh lemon or drop a few drops of undiluted table vinegar onto the skin, which will neutralize organic sulfur compounds.

Using these proven folk methods allows you to forget about kitchen inconveniences forever and enjoy cooking any dishes without worrying about the appearance and smell of the skin after the process is completed.

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