How to cut cauliflower

Here’s how to cut cauliflower into florets:

Equipment:

• Sharp knife
• Cutting board

Instructions:

1. Wash the cauliflower: Rinse the whole cauliflower under cold running water.
2. Trim the leaves: Use your hands to remove the large outer leaves from the cauliflower. You can save these leaves for another recipe if you want, like making vegetable stock.
3. Cut the cauliflower in half: Stand the cauliflower upright on its stem on the cutting board. Using your sharp knife, cut the cauliflower down the middle vertically, through the stem. This will give you two large halves.
4. Cut the halves into quarters (optional): If the cauliflower halves are large, you can cut them each in half again lengthwise, resulting in four quarter pieces.
5. Remove the core: Locate the core in the center of each cauliflower half or quarter. The core is a tough, white part and isn’t typically eaten. Use the tip of your knife to cut it out and discard it, or save it for making vegetable stock.
6. Cut the florets: Now that the core is removed, you can break the cauliflower halves or quarters into florets by hand. Alternatively, use your knife to cut the cauliflower into bite-sized florets.

Tips:

• A serrated knife can also be used to cut cauliflower, but a sharp chef’s knife will provide more precise cuts.
• If you find the florets are breaking apart too much while cutting, you can adjust your technique and cut florets off the core instead of breaking them apart.
• The smaller the florets, the faster they will cook.
• The cauliflower leaves can be chopped and added to stir-fries or soups if you don’t want to discard them.
• Save the cauliflower stem! You can peel it and chop it into small pieces to roast or add to soups and stews. The stem has a similar flavor and texture to the florets.

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