How to Cut and Cook Broccoli (original) (raw)
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There are a number of ways to prepare broccoli, whether you are getting ready to cook it by steaming, stir-frying, sautéing, roasting, or any other cooking method. Some recipes might call for broccoli florets, some might call for broccoli wedges, or you might need to chop your broccoli. Here’s the how-to for all of these broccoli prep and cooking methods!
Table of Contents
- Cutting Broccoli Into Florets
- Cutting Broccoli Wedges
- How to Peel Broccoli Stems
- How to Chop Broccoli
- Storing Cut Broccoli
- How to Cook Broccoli
- More Broccoli Recipes
- More Veggie Cooking Tips
- How to Cut Broccoli Recipe
How to Prepare and Cook 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!
Cutting Broccoli Into Florets
Place the head of broccoli upside down on a cutting board. With a sharp chef’s knife, trim the larger florets from the stem very close to the stem. Then, cut the larger pieces into small florets, about 1 inch in size. See below for how to peel and cut the stems for cooking.
Cutting Broccoli Wedges
Wedges are larger, longer pieces of broccoli that include a part of the crown and a part of the stem. The amount of wedges you will get from a head of broccoli depends on the size of the head. The size and the shape of the wedges also depend if you are cutting up a full head of broccoli with a longer stem vs. a crown of broccoli without the stem.
For Broccoli Crowns:
If the broccoli crowns are about 3 to 4 inches in diameter, cut it into 4 wedges. If the broccoli browns are 5 to 6 inches in diameter, cut those into 6 wedges.
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.
For a Full Head of Broccoli With the 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 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.
How to Peel Broccoli Stems
The stalks of broccoli may also be trimmed and cooked. Peeling the stems ensures that they are tender all the way through, as the outer skin is quite tough.
You can then cut the peeled stalks into the shapes you want, such as 1-inch pieces or slices, or you can chop the stems the way you can chop the rest of the broccoli heads.
- Cut off the woody, dried bottom of the stalk.
- 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 vegetable peeler to remove the skin.
You can use this technique for either raw or cooked 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. This will help the broccoli cook evenly if it’s raw or just make the presentation more appealing if you are chopping cooked broccoli to use in a recipe, such as Broccoli Orzo Salad or Cheesy Broccoli with Rice.
Storing Cut Broccoli
Cut broccoli can be stored in a sealed container or plastic bag in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
How to Cook Broccoli
So what is the best way to cook broccoli? There are several excellent methods for cooking broccoli. My favorite cooking methods for broccoli are roasting (Roasted Broccoli with Parmesan is extra special!), stir-frying (try it in all kinds of stir-fries or make Simple Stir-Fried Broccoli), steaming (check out How to Steam Broccoli without a Steamer Basket), and sautéing.
Broccoli is also great in soups (try it in Broccoli Cheddar Soup or Minestrone) and casseroles like this Cheddar Broccoli Casserole.
More Broccoli Recipes
More Veggie Cooking Tips
- How to Cook Broccoflower
- How to Cook Broccoli Rabe
- How to Cook Cabbage
- How to Cook Fresh Green Beans
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- ▢ Fresh broccoli
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.
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.
Katie Workman is a cook, a writer, a mother of two, an activist in hunger issues, and an enthusiastic advocate for family meals, which is the inspiration behind her two beloved cookbooks, Dinner Solved! and The Mom 100 Cookbook.