Last Updated on August 1, 2022 by Share My Kitchen
Are you a newbie to cooking but want to learn how to chop veggies and use knives properly? Don’t worry, you are not alone! Many people have the same concerns about learning how to slice basic foods. You may have tried to cut fruits and vegetables in the past, but it turned out horrible because you don’t know how to hold the knife right or clean them properly. However, there is an easier way with these tips on properly slicing different foods.
Onions
Onions are considered the most rewarding veggie to learn how to chop correctly since if you cut these right away, there won’t be much “oniony” vapor. This is the thing that makes you tear up. The first thing you need to do is cut the onion from the north and south poles through the tip and root. Then, remove the pointy tip, but the root end must remain intact. Remove the paper skin away.
Place the flat side of the onion on a cutting board, and keep the root end away from you. Create slices into the onion, following the lines from the stem to the root. However, don’t cut through the root end. This will help hold the onion together while you dice it. If you prefer large dice, space the slices accordingly. On the other hand, if you want small dice, place the slices closer together.
Next, cut horizontally through the onion, starting at the stem to the root. You may only need to make two or three cuts unless the onion is a bit large.
Hold the onion in your left hand, like a claw, then slice it thinly from the tip to the root. Et voila. Diced onion!
Trim the tip and root ends, and follow the lines from root to top as you dice to slice the onion. That’s it! You make more cuts to make thin slices or make fewer cuts to get thick slices.
Carrots
To dice a carrot, cut it into 4-inch sections. Insert the knife into the round carrot to cut it in half lengthwise. Then, push the knife through the carrot with your other hand on top of the knife. Lay the flat side of the carrot, and cut the lengthwise slices into strips. Then, cut them again into sticks, either thick or thin, depending on the slice you prefer. Turn the carrot sticks sideways, and cut them into your preferred dice.
Garlic
First, smash the garlic with the side of your knife to release the clove from the paper to start mincing garlic. Throw away the paper, then smash the garlic with the side of your knife again. This will make it flat and easier to cut.
Then, slice the flattened garlic thinly. Turn it sideways and cut again.
Herbs
When chopping herbs like basil, stack the leaves, roll them into cigar shapes, and then slice thinly. After that, cut the pile crosswise a few times more. This prevents basil from becoming mushy and bruised, and crushed.
For herbs like parsley, oregano, cilantro, and thyme, remove the tough stems, bunch them up in a pile, and cut them thinly. Then, slice the herbs again crosswise in the other direction. Do this with your other hand on top of the knife.
That’s it! Now, go out and buy some vegetables. Practice cutting them up and roasting them in the oven or make soup. These knife exercises will quickly improve your speed and dexterity. Even if you do not plan to heed the advice in this article and become a caterer for a week, you can still learn how to cut like one with just a little practice. Chop, chop!
