This is light hearted, but also a serious quest for ideas. Since my trigger on cooking fumes have become such a major trigger I struggle to work out new cooking methods. Normally I like caramelising an onion, but for now that is more or less ruled out. And how can you cook a meal without an onion? (I know it can be done, but not easily for me). So, quite genuinely , if anyone else struggles with this how have you solved it?
How to cook an onion?: This is light... - Asthma Community ...
How to cook an onion?
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Wheezycat
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You can get onion salt (in the herbs and spices bit) which might be worth a go - but I've never used it so I don't know if it tastes like onion or not....or smells when cooked.
Now, that is not something I would ever have thought of!! But I will add it to my list of considerations. Just now I mostly serially cook our meal in the microwave, and it is okey-ish, but goes against the grain. I have looked at lots of cooking ideas on YouTube, but caramelising an onion in the microwave doesn’t get a mention, or in a steamer or a slow cooker.
It is mostly the oil/fat which gets me. That is hard to get away from when cooking. The natural smells are fine as far as I have discovered so far.
I use the onion salt twinkly mentioned. I also use frozen onions when using sauces which works fine. I also fry them without oil or when I’m making meaty stuff I fry them in the natural liquid that comes out of the meat.
You can also cook them in the oven etc.
Hope some of these ideas help
I only have a facetious answer I'm afraid. My partner now does all the cooking with the extraction fan on max and the windows open. I stay well away. It's a good job he's good at it 🤣
Facetious replies for this one are welcomed. Unfortunately my other half isn’t the greatest of cooks. (That is a bit of an understatement. He once made black pudding vindaloo. His reputation from that occasion lingers......)
I gave my other half some goggles but I realise you mean the breathing it in problem : )I also cooked chips outside by our shed , using the shed power supply. That was because of a mildew problem we had in a mobile home.
It's going to have to be a good extract fan or the other half's duty ; )
Wheezycat in reply to
I have an extractor, ducted to outside, but maybe not good enough. I have very recently had a go at cleaning it thoroughly. By necessity it involved a degree of acrobatics, so I wasn’t as successful as I would like to have been. I have also ordered new filters, but not yet put them in as it is a faff. But it will happen.
Apologies if this is a really stupid suggestion but I’m wondering if a mask would help, such as the blue ones so many are wearing.
I have considered that as I have a good, proper one, not for Covid, but for these kind of things. I do need to try it. Thanks for reminding me.
Thinking of that, when I left my lab job I was allowed to take my abek respirator home, we were painting the hall at the time and it was fantastic. Maybe if I wear that I can cook after all? There might be a Darth Vader joke in there somewhere.
When I'm stir frying, I pour 1/2 inch of water over everything then put a lid over the wok so it steams.I once had a flatmate who loved frying extra hot chillis in extra hot oil- I had to fit draft excluder foam around my bedroom door!
Yeah, that has sort of been what I have done, but now further steps are needed - or more care taken.
I use Marigold Boullion powders plus Lea & Perrin Worcester Sauce to add flavours, especially in one pot cooking.
I use just asic stock cubes, occasionally stock pots. I use various sauces, spices and herbs, depending on what I am doing. I haven’t specifically used those you suggest. Last night I discovered there is a thing called onion powder, dehydrated onion, which you can buy or make yourself. I had never heard of either that or onion salt. So those are very much a couple of good ideas for me.
I am triggered by hot fat amongst other things. So a roast cooking in the house is a major problem. I'm not sure if saying the name of the mask I use is allowed but I'll post it just in case it is ok. I invested in a Cambridge mask, it has enabled me to be in the kitchen when a roast is cooking or things are being fried, it's been a game changer. They aren't cheap but I don't regret getting it at all. Before I tried it I'd end up having to escape to the bedroom with my inhaler until the cooking pollution had cleared.
Yes, I have one of those, and yes they help with those smells! I have used it when I roast our Christmas dinner. I don’t otherwise roast much stuff, but I normally would make veggie things that involve baking or roasting in the oven with olive oil or some cheese, and the fat in those can get me. I must try cooking with my Cambridge mask even though it feels clumsy. Maybe I need two - a kitchen one, and one in my bag for those times when I encounter wood burners etc. Mind you, I have even reacted when someone baked a cake and I was some distance away from the kitchen. And I have reacted on toast.
I have two, so that when one is washed and drying I still have one to use.
I also use it when hoovering which is so glamerous. It does feel clumsy but it's made a huge difference.
I have drawn the line and just vacate the kitchen when my husband adds Tabasco sauce to his food, he very obligingly waits until I've left the room. 🤣
I doubt Tabasco sauce would be an issue, but, yes, those are the kind of steps we have to take!
I'm glad it's not an issue for you.
For me it is about burning/smoke generally, and fats. We don’t use Tabasco sauce, haven’t for years. But also, it is about discovering what are issues, and also recognising they change - or increase. So, who knows for the future. By the way winter for me is not great, nor sundry perfumed/smelly chemicals, but I find them easier to avoid while we are in lockdown.
Fats and chillies are a problem for me. As are perfumes which I can like you avoid as I'm shielding so that's a positive. Cold air is also a trigger in the winter and hot humid air in the summer is even worse. I'm worse in the summer due to hayfever. I did have a few years when my symptoms weren't so bad. Asthma definitely varies over the years.
Try cutting the onion 4 or 5 times almost to the bottom. Put a couple slices of butter in between, couple dashes of Worcestershire sauce and wrap in aluminum foil. You can cook it in the oven, but my preference is on the bbq grill.
You can buy frozen diced onion but I don't know if that would help you at all if it's the fumes from cooking that are the problem for you 🍳
Quite. I am not sure either. I don’t mind natural onion smells in the slightest, it is the cooking, using any kind of fat, including fat, that is the issue.
I use copperstone pans so I don't have to use fats to fry. Obviously, any meat product will emit fat fumes but it definitely reduces the need for added fat for frying.
I will look at that. I have an innate resistance against anything nonstick, but obviously it depends on the materials used.
There's a range of Earthpan Eco frying pans and saucepans that I haven't tried myself but are supposedly non stick and eco-friendly. I don't know if we're allowed to name names so I won't, but they come from a shop that starts with L and ends in akeland 😁
I must look at that. There is also a saucepan in another place that looks good. Something with a good base so things don’t easily burn is the thing. The one I have seen is expensive enough to be an investment for me.
Morning, thank you for your post 😊 I thought I was going mad often having asthma attacks after cooking a roast or a stir fry so its really useful to see that other people trigger on this and the onions of course! I am thinking of trying a mask to counteract the effects - oh the glamour!!
Quite! The glamour indeed! Yeah, having reacted to these things for a while, disliked it, but it was getawayable from. I got too laid back about it on Christmas Day, and had an attack from cooking fumes and candles. I did not enjoy the experience. I, too, have a mask, but I have never used it to cook, but I will try. Will the mask then stink of smells? My mask comes with me whenever I go out for when I encounter bbq’s, woodburners etc, so perhaps I need a second one.......
I think it would smell and therefore still be an issue! Def need two masks 😷 And I will be trying Logo132 onion cooking options - tnx
Me, too! And freeze some so I can use as I go along.
Peel and roast whole in the oven till soft
But that could be a problem - unless done without any fat at all. Those are the kind of things, or close enough, that I am used to doing that is now getting more difficult.
There have been quite a few ideas above. I now wonder whether to collate and send them to Asthma U.K.............for practical ideas how to manage when certain things get a little trickier. You are all such a creative lot!
Please note, this is an idea, and there is a good chance I won’t get round to doing anything.
I use onion salt. I also buy those big bags of crispy fried onions. Just chuck a handful in instead of cooking onions from scratch
I didn’t even know there were bags of crispy fried onions. That could indeed help!
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