How to Slice, Chop and Mince

Follow this guide to learn proper knife skills, then watch our how-to video.

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How-To: Slice, Chop and Mince

There are a lot of ways to slice. Make prep time easy by learning to make rounds, half-moons and slice on the bias.

Slicing Rounds

Rounds are coin-shaped pieces sliced from something cylindrical, like a zucchini or a carrot.

Learning to Slice

To make rounds, steady what you're cutting and make sure your fingers are tucked under.

Determining Thickness

Rest the knife against your knuckles, walk your fingers back and slice with a continuous motion. The thickness is determined by how far back you move your fingers between slices.

Half-Moons

To make half-moons, slice in half lengthwise.

Cutting Half-Moons

Lay the flat side down and slice across. That's all there is to it!

Slicing on the Bias

A bias cut simply means cutting on the diagonal. Hold your food at a slight angle to the knife and slice. Bias cuts are often used in Asian stir-fry.

Chopping

When a recipe calls for something to be chopped it means roughly the same size, but it's not important to be precise.

Slice Into Strips

First, slice the pepper into strips.

Slice Across

Then, turn the strips 90 degrees and slice across the strips again. Done!

Mincing

Mincing is taking something that is roughly chopped and then chopping it finely.

Move the Knife

Put one hand flat on top of the knife while moving the knife over the chopped pile.

Gather the Pile

Occasionally, use the heel of the knife to gather the pile back together. This will work for a recipe that calls for finely chopped or minced ingredients.

Speed Up Your Prep Time

Remember, good knife skills speed up your prep time and get you closer to dinnertime.