Do I cut broccoli before cooking?

Broccoli is one of those vegetables that can be used in so many dishes; fresh or cooked. It is great in salads, soups, incorporated in dishes, and even by itself as a side dish.

Not only is it delicious but also packed with lots of nutrients, vitamins, and a great source of fiber. We call them “little trees” aka florets in our house to get the kids to eat them.

When you are buying broccoli at the store you want to look at the stem and the heads. You are looking for a nice bright green “trunk” that isn’t dried out and, the florets should be dark green in color. These are good signs of a healthy head of broccoli.

Make sure there isn’t any mold on the florets or yellowing on the heads. Mold on broccoli will show up with white fuzzy spots. If there are one or two small spots, that is ok. You can cut those off and discard them.

If you are here, you must be wondering, how the heck do I cut this thing? It’s really easy and I am going to show you how to cut broccoli in a few steps below. Let’ jump into it.

Ingredients

• 1 lb broccoli

Equipment

• chef knife
• pairing knife
• cutting board

How to cut broccoli 3 Simple Steps

Broccoli florets are great on a vegetable platter with a little dipping sauce ( I love to use ranch) and add a nice color to the platter as well. Follow these simple steps to clean and cut broccoli.

You can choose to leave the stems a little longer or cut them short. Whichever is your preference?

Cooked broccoli is great on its own and also as a side dish.

The doctors always say to “make sure you eat your greens”. Well, broccoli is a great option to get those greens in.

Throw it in your chicken dish, add it to your beef and rice or add a little butter, garlic, and salt and serve it as a side dish to your main course.

It is such a versatile vegetable to have on hand and great to eat in so many different ways.

Ok, so let’s get into how to cut up this tree-looking veggie. If you are just learning to cut vegetables check out how to cut bell peppers.

1. Wash

You want to make sure to always wash your broccoli before you use it. Run it under cold water and make sure to rinse it upside down as well to rinse the florets also.

Give it a couple of good shakes over the sink to get some of the water out that might be trapped.

You want to get the water ad deep as you can through the florets down to the stem.

2. Cut into florets

Make sure the broccoli has not gone bad before you start cutting. Follow this step to cut broccoli florets.

Start by cutting all of the florets off by laying the broccoli head on your cutting board and simply cutting at the base of each floret where it is attached to the trunk.

The larger florets can be cut in half and if you want you can go ahead and cut the stems off if you want them shorter.

There are a lot of vitamins and minerals in the stems too, so I recommend leaving some of them so that none goes to waste.

Make sure that the florets are roughly the same size so that they cook evenly.

3. Cut up the stem (Optional)

You can use the stem as well. This part of the broccoli is great for making broccoli slaw! Cut off the irregularities and the bottom of the stump. Shred the rest of it as your base for your slaw.

You can also cut off four sides so that you end up with a rectangle. This makes it easier to cut into matchsticks which is great for stir-fry or maybe in a pasta dish or soup.

If you found this how-to easy then check out how to cut brussel sprouts and how to cut asparagus.

How to finely chop broccoli florets

First, you should cut off the broccoli stalk and discard it or keep it for your next soup.

Now, cut it into small florets by slicing through the stem end of each piece.

Finally, finely chop them on a cutting board with a sharp knife for about 30 seconds or until they’re very small and nearly shredded.

How to cut broccoli stems

Cut the leaves of the broccoli off of the stem, then peel the skin of the stem off with a vegetable peeler or sharp knife.

A sharp knife is needed for this task. Cut the stem of the broccoli off at an angle.

Place the broccoli on its side and cut down through the stem.

Now go ahead and cut the stems to the thickness that you like. You could also use the peeler and make peels that you can cook or eat raw.

How to store cut broccoli

Cut broccoli will last for about 2-3 days in the refrigerator. You can also freeze it, but keep in mind that frozen fresh produce is not as good for you.

I prefer to use an airtight container or cover a bowl or dish with saran wrap or a Ziploc baggy.

How to Cut broccoli (3 Simple Steps)

Learn how to cut broccoli in two easy steps throw them in your salad, enjoy as a fresh snack, or add into your soup. It's all cut the same way.

Prep Time 5 mins

Total Time 5 mins

Course Side Dish

Cuisine American

Servings 4

Calories 39 kcal

• 1 lb broccoli

• Wash your head of broccoli under lukewarm to cold water. Make sure that you wash the underside as well so that you are rinsing in between the florets as well.

  Give it a few good shakes over the sink to get out all of the water and then pat it dry with a towel.

  If the florets are to thick you can wash them after you cut them.

• Cut the florets off by cutting at the base of each one where the stems meet the stalk. They will just fall off and leave you with just the bright green stalk.

  You can leave the stems long or cut them short depending on what you want for your dish. Some of the larger florets you will want to cut in half so that they cook evenly.

• If you plan to also you the stem "stalk" cut off about a 1/4 inch at the very bottom. Then cut four sides down the side, making it so that you have a rectangular-shaped stalk.

  You can shred this for making coleslaw, cut into matchsticks for a stirfry or dice it up and throw it in your fried rice.

  There are many different ways to use up the nutrient-packed stalk!

Tip: Don’t cut the stems too close to the florets so they don’t all fall apart.

Serving: 4gCalories: 39kcalCarbohydrates: 8gProtein: 3gFat: 1gSaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 37mgPotassium: 358mgFiber: 3gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 706IUVitamin C: 101mgCalcium: 53mgIron: 1mg

Keyword How to cut broccoli