How to Cut Leeks

You don't want to miss this secret family trick that will teach you how to cut leeks and clean them in record time!

Course Dinner

Cuisine American

Keyword how to clean leeks, how to cut leeks, how to prep leeks, how to select leeks, leeks

Prep Time 3

Cook Time 0

Total Time 3

Servings leek

Calories 54kcal

Author Kelli Shallal MPH RD

Equipment

Knife
Cutting Board

Ingredients

1 Leek

Instructions

Cut off the tough green leaves. Don't overthink this! Cut off the dark green, and leave the light. (Try to do this on a surface that will be different from what you will use when you cut them after they are cleaned; otherwise, you'll get dirt on your cutting board.)
Stand up your leek, balancing it on the roots, and cut a horizontal cut all the way down without cutting through the roots. Repeat this with the knife verticle, this time forming an X down the center of the leak. (See number 3.)
Wash the leek under running water to remove all dirt.
Place your knife perpendicular to the onion, cut slices off it, and all the way down to the root. Discard the root. Now, use your leeks!

Video

Notes

Selecting a leek: The space between the roots and the tough dark green leaves is what you will use in your recipe. You want to grab a leek that maximizes that space, so the bigger that space is in depth and length, the better.

Nutrition