I store potatoes and onions at room temperature, because in the refrigerator, the starches are converted to sugar. When this happens to onions, they tend to become soggy, causing them to spoil faster. I have not cried for years when chopping onions. I slice my onion in half, and at the bottom where the roots once grew, is a hardened spot. I cut a small V here in each half and remove it before chopping the onion. This arrest the gas that causes tears. I learned this tip from a chef.