There's A Better And Cleaner Way To Cut Your Broccoli Florets

Cooking doesn't have to be chaotic, and a good chef knows that the secret to a seamless experience lies in the preparation of it all. The French call it mise en place, which translates to "put in place." It's the practice of gathering and prepping all the necessary ingredients before you start cooking.

Then, there's the matter of cleanliness. We can all agree that a sleek space makes cooking a more pleasant experience, but a messy countertop seems inevitable as you chop up the ingredients, especially fruits and vegetables (we're all familiar with the crime scene-esque aftermath of seeding pomegranates or cutting beets, for instance).

Even seemingly innocent vegetables like broccoli and cauliflower can be difficult to cut without ending up with tiny green buds scattered all over the place. It might not be the biggest of your culinary problems, but there is a better and easier way to do it without making a big mess. And yes, the same technique can be used for cauliflower, too.

Don't buy pre-cut broccoli anymore. Thanks to America's Test Kitchen's hack, chopping up broccoli florets without the mess has never been simpler. Instead of laying your broccoli flat on the chopping board, grab the stalk and hold it upside down. Then, grab a sharp knife and remove the broccoli heads along with the small stems you created from the larger stalk. Once the florets are separated, cut along the stems according to your preferred size and gently pull them apart and voila, your mess-free broccoli florets are ready to cook.

Remember the broccoli stalk you set aside? Don't throw it away, because not only is it edible and juicy, but it's also one of the most flavorful bits of the vegetable. Carefully remove the outer layer with a knife or peeler, cut the stem into pieces, and cook it how you would the rest of the broccoli.

Size matters when it comes to vegetables for even cooking, so make sure your florets are somewhat uniformly sized. With this handy trick, you'll be able to make all those broccoli recipes you've been wanting to try, and your debris-free kitchen counter will thank you in the process.