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Wondering how to cut cilantro? Here’s a step by step guide and video that shows you the best way for cutting cilantro (and our favorite herb saver, too).

Video: How to cut cilantro

Are you wondering how to cut cilantro? What’s the best way to remove the leaves and chop them up for garnishes? Alex and I use cilantro all the time, and use this method for cutting cilantro that is slick and simple. We use this method all the time, like when we garnish recipes like our Mexican sweet potatoes or crispy cauliflower tacos. Also, have you ever had issues with cilantro going bad in the plastic bag from the grocery store? We share our favorite herb keeper, too. Here’s our step by step guide for how to cut cilantro, including a video of me cutting cilantro in our kitchen.

Related: 20 Knife Skills Videos: How to Cut Everything!

How to cut cilantro step by step

How to cut cilantro | Use herb keeper for max freshness
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Before we start, make sure to store your cilantro in an herb keeper for maximum freshness. Storing cilantro this way keeps it fresh for a week or more! Here’s our best herb keeper.

Step 1

How to cut cilantro | Scrape with knife

Hold the root ends of the cilantro with your non-cutting hand. Use a large chef’s knife to scrape off the leaves in a downward motion.

Step 2

How to cut cilantro | Remove large stems

Use your fingers to remove any large stems from the cilantro leaves; small tender stems are okay.

Step 3

How to cut cilantro | Chop leaves with rocking motion

Holding the top of the blade with your non-cutting hand, rock the blade back and forth to chop the cilantro. Pull the leaves back into a pile and go over them with the knife several times until the pieces are the size that you’re looking for.

And there you have it: how to cut cilantro in 3 easy steps!

Let us know if you try our method for how to cut cilantro, and tell us how it goes in the comments below.

Best herb keeper

Have you ever had cilantro go bad in what seems like hours if you store it in the plastic bag from the grocery store? Storing cilantro upright in water in an herb keeper can keep it fresh and happy for a week or more. Here’s our favorite herb keeper for storing cilantro, similar to the one shown in the video:

Best chef knife & cutting boards

Alex and I are often asked about the best kitchen tools. And every time we answer, “A good sharp chef’s knife!” A good knife can drastically improve your time in the kitchen, and lasts for years (we’ve had our chef knives for 10 plus years). Here are some of the knives we recommend, as well as cutting boards and the best knife sharpener. These recommendations are perfect for outfitting your own kitchen, or great gifts for a wedding registry or someone who loves to cook!

Video: Knife Skills, Gear, & How to Hold a Knife!

Looking for cilantro recipes?

Now that you know how to cut cilantro, here are some of our favorite cilantro recipes for you to try:

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How to Cut Cilantro

How to Cut Cilantro
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Wondering how to cut cilantro? Here’s a step by step guide and video that shows you the best way for cutting cilantro (and our favorite herb saver, too).

  • Author: Sonja
  • Prep Time: 2 minutes
  • Cook Time: 0 minutes
  • Total Time: 2 minutes
  • Yield: Variable
  • Category: Knife Skills
  • Method: Chopped
  • Cuisine: N/A

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 bunch cilantro

Instructions

  1. Hold the root ends of the cilantro with your non-cutting hand. Use a large chef’s knife to scrape off the leaves in a downward motion.
  2. Use your fingers to remove any large stems from the cilantro leaves; small tender stems are okay.
  3. Holding the top of the blade with your non-cutting hand, rock the blade back and forth to chop the cilantro. Pull the leaves back into a pile and go over them with the knife several times until the pieces are the size that you’re looking for.

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About the authors

Alex & Sonja

Hi! We’re Alex & Sonja Overhiser, authors of the acclaimed cookbooks A Couple Cooks and Pretty Simple Cooking—and a real life couple who cooks together. We founded the A Couple Cooks website in 2010 to share seasonal recipes and the joy of home cooking. Now, we’ve got over 3,000 well-tested recipes, including Mediterranean diet, vegan, vegetarian, pescatarian, smoothies, cocktails, and more!

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2 Comments

  1. Terry Covington says:

    You guys have really been innovating on your blog lately, obviously doing a lot of work on detail and new ideas and things that are helpful to anyone wanting to learn how to cook better at home. This series of videos is great! Thank you for such a lot of information that will be helpful in so many ways.

    1. Sonja says:

      Oh thank you for these kind words! We’ve been trying to do some new things lately and we’re glad it shows! Thank you for your feedback :)