How to Cut Broccoli
Everything you need to know about chopping broccoli or cutting it into florets or stalks. Get your broccoli ready for cooking in any recipe!
Yield: 4 People
Cost: 5
Equipment
Materials
- Fresh broccoli
Instructions
To cut broccoli crowns:
- To cut broccoli crowns into wedges, place each crown upside down onto a cutting board. With a sharp chef’s knife, cut the crown in half through the center of the broccoli. Place each half cut-side down. Cut each half into 2 to 3 equal-sized wedges, depending on size.
To cut broccoli with stems:
- Cut off the woody, dried bottom of the stalk. Remove any wilted leaves from the stem. Use a paring knife or vegetable peeler to cut down the length of the stalk from top to bottom, removing strips of the outer peel about 1/8-inch thick. Rotate the stalk until you have removed the outer tough skin from all of the sides.
- Cut the broccoli in half right down the middle using a sharp chef’s knife. Place each half cut-side down. Cut each half into several equal-sized wedges, depending on the size of the broccoli. Angle your knife and cut through the stem and top of the broccoli, creating longer wedges that include a portion of the stem.
To peel broccoli stems:
- Cut off the woody, dried bottom of the stalk and remove any wilted leaves.
- Use a sharp chef’s knife to cut down the length of the stalk from top to bottom, removing strips of the outer peel about 1/8-inch thick. Rotate the stalk until you have removed the outer tough skin from all sides. You can also use a paring knife or a peel to remove the skin.
To chop broccoli:
- First, cut the broccoli into florets or wedges (see above). Then, start chopping the broccoli using a sharp chef’s knife on a cutting board. Let your non-dominant hand rest on the top of the knife blade as you chop for added leverage.
- Continue chopping until the pieces are as small as you like. Don’t worry about them all being the exact same size, but try to make the average size fairly consistent.
Notes
You can chop broccoli that is cooked or raw. It's better to cut broccoli into wedges or florets before cooking, as the pieces will keep their shape better.