h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Mum was just cutting up some chillies for a recipe, something caught in her eye and she brushed it away but some of the chilli got into her eye and had a pretty severe reaction as you might imagine.

What is the best way to calm down an eye irritated by chilli?

Milk.

The fat will dissolve the capsaicin and numb the pain.

B

Oh gosh, I've done that. My eye swelled up til it was like a pink hard boiled egg.

Or I had used the inside surface of a banana peel, on the advice of a green-grocer enzymes mate!

Well that would be all well and good if capsaicin was a protein, but it isn't, so I don't see why the protease enzymes in banana would make any difference.

B

Thanks MB. I've passed that on.

One day, I will get around to writing a guide entry about my favourite capsicum.

B

I like the little green ones, and the funny lantern shaped ones if I just cook them into something but don't split them or actually bite them, but I don't know if I should buy the amount I need, which comes to about a feeble three pence worth, from any of the decent places round here, or buy a massive sack of them and risk looking like a wally.

They freeze very well, or buy dried (which will keep indefinitely) and re-hydrate them in warm water.

http://www.scorchio.co.uk/
http://www.coolchile.co.uk/

Are both very good for dried chillies.

B

It never occured to me to freeze them.

Just had a thought; I suppose you could insert whole chillis into a roasting joint, mutton maybe, or something a bit scraggy but still roastable, as you would garlic and anchovies etc.

I wouldn't. They tend to go bitter if roasted without enough liquid.

If you're talking plain, red New Mexico chillies (the type you'd normally get from the supermarket), I put them into rice pilaf, de-seeded and shredded. They're really quite mild when cooked in that way.

B

Orange juice will counteract chillies in the mouth (which is why some Indian restaurants hand them out at the end of a meal instead of mints). Not sure if I would want to try it in the eye but if you've got any Satsumas around the house try crushing a segment on a soft cloth and dabbing around the edges of the eye.

not as bad as male chefs cutting up hot chilies then using the loo.

That is why they should wash their hands, before and after

Ooh, Scotch Bonnet in the eye and scrotum - been there done that

The eye is worse

Never try to neutralise acid/alkali in the eye by using the opposite - you may end up burning your eye twice.

I'd agree with using milk or cooled boiled water as an eyewash. If symptoms persevere, seek medical attention in case damage has been done.

I commonly have problems with potato or apple juice getting in my eyes - not nearly as bad as chili!

... and there was me thinking it were dem mech an iggle injuneers you could tell 'cos they washed their hands before...

Teasswill

If the event is that common I would suggest getting some safety glasses or goggles!

And I concur that chilli in the eye is worse than chilli in the *way hay arggg* area.