The way to Chop Greens Like a Professional (With out Losing Half of It)

[ad_1] <img width="800" height="534" src="https://blog.myfitnesspal.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/how-to-chop-vegetables-1024x683.jpg" class="attachment-large size-large wp-post-image" alt="A home cook chops vegetables" decoding="async" srcset="https://blog.myfitnesspal.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/how-to-chop-vegetables-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://blog.myfitnesspal.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/how-to-chop-vegetables-300x200.jpg 300w, https://blog.myfitnesspal.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/how-to-chop-vegetables-768x512.jpg 768w, https://blog.myfitnesspal.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/how-to-chop-vegetables.jpg 1350w" sizes="(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /> Should you’ve ever watched skilled cooks slice and cube greens with lightning velocity, you may marvel in the event that they possess some form of cooking superpower.

The reality is far easier: they’ve mastered the knife expertise that anybody can study.

Whether or not you’re prepping components on your MyFitnessPal Meal Planner recipes or simply attempting to eat extra veggies, realizing easy methods to chop correctly is a game-changer within the kitchen.

Greens are vitamin powerhouses, filled with fiber, nutritional vitamins, and minerals. However let’s be trustworthy—prepping them can really feel like a chore. That’s why many people find yourself buying costlier pre-cut produce or avoiding veggie-heavy meals altogether.

“There's a lot analysis on the advantages of fruit and veggies! They decrease the danger of metabolic illness and enhance intestine well being because of the fiber, nutritional vitamins, and minerals in these meals,” says Joanna Gregg, a MyFitnessPal dietitian (1).

Meal planner is right here! Construct a customized meal plan round your calorie and macro targets immediately. strive meal planner

Advantages of Good Chopping Expertise

One of the crucial frequent obstacles to wholesome consuming is the time it takes to arrange contemporary produce.

If you enhance your knife expertise, you not solely make meal prep quicker however additionally, you will cut back the quantity of meals you waste at residence.

You’ll seemingly use extra of every vegetable, together with the elements you will have in any other case discarded. For instance, correctly trimming a bell pepper means utilizing nearly your complete vegetable slightly than losing the elements across the stem and seeds.

You’ll seemingly lengthen the lifetime of your greens. Cleanly-cut greens brown extra slowly than these mangled by uninteresting knives or improper strategies. This implies your chopped veggies can keep contemporary longer within the fridge.

You’ll seemingly get pleasure from cooking extra. When chopping greens isn’t a tedious chore, you’re extra more likely to incorporate them into your every day meals—and that interprets straight to higher vitamin habits.

Consuming extra nutritious meals like greens is straight tied to well being advantages. Diets just like the Mediterranean Weight-reduction plan or the DASH Weight-reduction plan are excessive in greens and provide many dietary advantages. (4, 5)

“The DASH weight loss program encourages loads of fruit and veggies along with complete grains, low-fat dairy, nuts, beans, fish, and poultry whereas limiting meals which can be excessive in added sugar, saturated fats, and sodium,” says Melissa Jaeger, head of vitamin at MyFitnessPal (3).

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Kitchen Knife Fundamentals

Investing in chef’s knife will rework your cooking expertise greater than another kitchen software. You don’t want an costly set—only one high quality knife that feels snug in your hand.

Right here’s what it's good to know:

Select the suitable knife for the job

Use a 7–8 inch chef’s knife for many duties. (It’s concerning the size of an ordinary picket pencil.)

A paring knife, a small, sharp kitchen knife with a slim blade and pointed tip, is good for smaller, extra detailed work

A serrated knife works greatest for delicate or slippery produce like ripe tomatoes or kiwis

Maintain your knife accurately

Your knife ought to really feel like an extension of your arm, permitting fluid motion. Should you’re straining or feeling awkward, you may want to regulate your grip or strive a unique sized knife.

When grabbing your knife, use the “pinch grip” by inserting your thumb and forefinger on the blade. This provides higher management and reduces fatigue.

Maintain your knife sharp

A pointy knife not solely makes chopping simpler—it additionally retains you safer and preserves the standard of your components. A pointy knife is safer and causes much less injury to your produce. Plus, clear cuts assist veggies keep contemporary longer and retain vitamins.

Concerning the Specialists

Joanna Gregg, MS, RD, is a Meals Information Curator at MyFitnessPal. She earned her Grasp’s diploma from The College of Nebraska. Her focus helps individuals discover the suitable stability of meals, health and wholesome dwelling to achieve their optimum well being.

Melissa Jaeger RD, LD, is the Head of Diet for MyFitnessPal. Melissa acquired a Bachelor of Arts in Diet (DPD) from the School of Saint Benedict and accomplished her dietetic internship by Iowa State College. In Might 2024 she was acknowledged because the Registered Younger Dietitian of the 12 months awarded by the Minnesota Academy of Diet and Dietetics.

Caroline Thomason, RD, is a dietitian and diabetes educator combining her love of vitamin with the ability of creating higher well being straightforward to know. With 12 years within the business, her work has appeared in additional than 40 publications. She’s additionally a speaker, broadcast spokesperson, and recipe developer.

The way to Chop Greens Step-by-Step

Step 1: Arrange your stationBefore you even choose up a knife, a well-organized workspace units the stage for protected, environment friendly chopping.

Wash your greens totally

Place a moist paper towel underneath your reducing board to stop slipping

Collect your instruments and components

Step 2: Create a secure basePrevent rolling and slipping by giving spherical greens a flat floor to relaxation on. Listed here are some examples:

Onion: Reduce off the highest, then halve by the basis

Bell pepper: Slice off the highest and backside, then open one aspect to flatten

Tomato: Halve by the equator for dicing, or slice from the underside for rounds

<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="643" src="https://blog.myfitnesspal.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/announcing-myfitnesspal-meal-planner-1-1024x643.jpg" alt="What to Know About Meal Planner, the Newest MyFitnessPal Feature" class="wp-image-63245 size-full" srcset="https://blog.myfitnesspal.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/announcing-myfitnesspal-meal-planner-1-1024x643.jpg 1024w, https://blog.myfitnesspal.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/announcing-myfitnesspal-meal-planner-1-300x188.jpg 300w, https://blog.myfitnesspal.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/announcing-myfitnesspal-meal-planner-1-768x482.jpg 768w, https://blog.myfitnesspal.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/announcing-myfitnesspal-meal-planner-1.jpg 1504w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /> You may additionally like

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Step 3: Use the claw gripProtect your fingers by curling them right into a “claw” in your guiding hand. (To see the claw grip in motion, try this demo.)

Tuck your fingertips underneath and let your knuckles information the blade

The aspect of the knife ought to gently brush your knuckles—not your fingertips

Step 4: Reduce with a rocking motionThe key to clean, environment friendly chopping is conserving the knife’s tip on the board and utilizing a delicate rocking movement.

Begin by reducing greens into slices or planks

Stack and slice into strips, then rotate and cube

For velocity and security, let the knife roll—not chop straight down

Step 5: Roll-and-slice any herbs or greensFragile leaves bruise simply, so a delicate method makes a giant distinction. (This knife method is technically known as chiffonade, and you'll see the way it’s completed on this demo.)

Stack and roll tender greens or delicate herbs into a decent bundle

Use the rocking movement to slice into effective ribbons (a chiffonade)

Regularly Requested Questions (FAQs)

What’s the very best knife for novices? A mid-sized chef’s knife (7-8 inches, the size of an ordinary picket pencil) from a good model is good. Search for one which feels balanced and cozy in your hand slightly than focusing solely on value.

How do I chop greens quicker? Apply the claw grip and rocking movement till they change into second nature to you. Maintain your knife sharp, and manage your workspace effectively. Pace comes with confidence and repetition!

Can I freeze pre-chopped greens? Sure, most chopped greens freeze nicely for 2-3 months. Blanch them briefly in boiling water earlier than freezing to protect shade, texture, and vitamins.

How do I hold prepped veggies contemporary for longer? Retailer them in hermetic containers lined with paper towels to soak up extra moisture. Completely different greens require totally different storage strategies, however most will final 3-5 days when correctly ready and refrigerated.

The Backside Line

Mastering the artwork of chopping greens means studying primary knife expertise that provide help to eat a nutrient-dense weight loss program. The time you put money into studying correct strategies can be returned many instances over by faster meal prep, much less meals waste, and wholesome, veggie-packed meals. By eradicating the barrier of tedious preparation, you’re setting your self up for achievement along with your vitamin targets.

Do not forget that observe makes good. Begin slowly, specializing in security and correct method, and velocity will naturally comply with. Your future self—standing within the kitchen on a busy weeknight, effortlessly getting ready a wholesome meal—will thanks for the hassle.