Why do my eyes burn when I roast garlic? Is this harmful? How can I prevent it?
by 
trish sierer
ANSWERS: 3
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I don't know about you, but garlic to me smell's revolting, tastes foul and hate it through and through. It is in the same family as onions which I love. So I suppose my onion smell and crying, is great for me, Garlic, sucks and stinks. You could easily prevent it, by not using that ghastly Garlic in the first place. Garlic breath on any of my clients and they do not get the contract, sorry.
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When garlic is cut or cooked, it's cell walls break down and release a chemical called allicin. As the allicin breaks down it produces a number of chemical compounds, including propenyl disulfide - which gives onions their smell, and propenyl sulphenic acid - which is the substance in onions that causes tears to flow when you slice or peel them. So these chemicals are probably what is causing your eyes to burn. It's not harmfull in the long term, although it can be quite uncomforatable. As for how to prevent it - the only way is to prevent the air containing these chemicals from reaching your eyes. I know someone who wears swimming goggles while chopping onions or garlic so they don't get the burning sensation. It's not very fashionable, but it works!
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The same reason onions make your eyes burn. They're in the same family. As for preventing it, use a vegetable slicer so you're not in direct contact with the air containing the chemicals which cause the eyes to burn. As for the person who says they don't give a contract to someone just because of garlic breath, heed this warning. YOU CANNOT DISCRIMINATE AGAINST SOMEONE JUST BECAUSE THEY LIKE SOMETHING YOU DON'T. YOU CAN BE SUED AND THEY WILL WIN.
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