How to Cut Cilantro with Step-by-Step Instructions

Cilantro is a flavorful herb widely used in cuisines worldwide from the Middle East to Africa, Asia, and Latin America. It has a zesty, citrusy, and peppery flavor with a pungent odor and is related to the carrot family.

It’s used broadly in salsas, curries, soups, and pestos, and when cooking with it, cut cilantro should be added near the end of the recipe so that its flavor isn’t diminished. Cilantro is used to finish a dish—if you cook or simmer it, it loses its aromatic taste.

When you’re cooking or preparing dishes with cilantro, knowing how to cut cilantro is a valuable kitchen skill to have. If you love cookin, you need to know how to cut cilantro for tacos or to add to homemade salsa.

So, if you haven’t used cilantro in cooking before, you may be wondering, what is the best way to cut cilantro?

Picking the best cilantro for your meal

You can buy cilantro year-round at your local market or the fresh produce section at grocery stores. When you are buying cilantro, look for fresh bunches with green, vibrant leaves and firm stems. Avoid purchasing any cilantro that has yellow or wilted leaves or limp stems.

Prepping cilantro to be cut

Bunches of cilantro that you buy might look clean, but you still need to wash off any dirt or pesticide residue before using it. Here are a few ways you can do this:

• Wash the cilantro under cold water. Rinse well until all dirt is removed and leaves are washed.
• Hold the bunch of cilantro by the stems and swish the leaves in a bowl of cold water until clean.
• Add a splash of white vinegar to the bowl of water if you are concerned about bacteria, and rinse well afterward.

After washing thoroughly, dry the cilantro carefully by laying it on paper towels and blotting dry. You’ll now be ready to cut your cilantro.

How to cut cilantro

Here is the best method for how to cut cilantro in 3 easy steps:

1. Take your washed bunch of cilantro and place it on a clean cutting board. Make sure you use a sharp knife.
2. Slice off the long stems and place them in your compost.
3. Fold the bunch in half and chop the cilantro horizontally by rocking the knife back and forth.

Your roughly chopped or finely chopped cilantro is ready to use!

Using a food processor to chop cilantro

You can also use a food processor to chop cilantro. Make sure you wash and thoroughly dry the cilantro first, then simply add to your food processor and use a medium pulse until the cilantro is finely chopped.

How do you store cilantro after prepping?

Storing cilantro varies a bit depending on if you’ve chopped it or still have it whole.

For chopped cilantro

Once your cilantro is chopped up, it won’t last longer than a day or two before it wilts, so freezing it is the best way to store it.

Place your chopped cilantro into ice cube trays with a few drops of water or olive oil to fill the cube. You can move them to another container once they’re frozen.

For the whole cilantro bunch

• Take a glass jar, fill it with a few inches of water and place the cilantro inside, stems first. Cover the cilantro leaves with a resealable plastic bag. Pop in the refrigerator and remember to change the water every few days to keep fresh.
• Slightly dampen a paper towel and wrap it around the cilantro. You can then additionally wrap the whole bunch into a plastic bag if you prefer.

Cilantro that makes the cut

Cilantro is a fresh, fun, and zesty herb that brightens up so many dishes. It’s an easy herb to find at the grocery store, and it’s simple to prepare, cut, and store. Try adding cut cilantro to your next Mexican feast by picking up some at your local grocery store or having your groceries conveniently delivered via Instacart.

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