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Save money by buying a head of cauliflower and cutting it into florets yourself! Here’s my best and easiest method of cutting cauliflower with the least amount of cauliflower crumbs to clean up after!
Table of Contents
- How To Pick Cauliflower
- How To Cut Cauliflower into Florets
- How To Store Cauliflower
- Can You Freeze Cauliflower?
- Best Knife to Cut Cauliflower
- When Is Cauliflower In Season (aka the cheapest!)
- How To Deal With Brown Spots on Cauliflower
- Can You Eat Cauliflower Leaves and Stem?
- Ways to Use Cauliflower
- Some Recipes Using Cauliflower
- How to Cut Cauliflower Recipe
How To Pick Cauliflower
Before we get to cutting, we want to make sure we get the best cauliflower to work with. When at the store, here’s what to look for to pick the freshest cauliflower:
- Make sure the cauliflower a bright white or creamy white color throughout
- Avoid cauliflower with brown or wet spots
- Give the cauliflower a light squeeze to make sure it is firm and dense
- Check the stem for green leaves
How To Cut Cauliflower into Florets
- Place the cauliflower stem side down.
- Slice the cauliflower in half by starting at the top of the cauliflower crown down to the core.
- Cut the core out of each half of the cauliflower by angling your knife to cut a V shape into the core.
- Some florets will separate naturally but to help it along, use your hands and break apart the cauliflower into florets.
- If you wish, you can cut larger florets into halves or quarters. Or you can store larger florets together and smaller florets together for different uses.
How To Store Cauliflower
How to store a full head of cauliflower from the store:
I recommend you replace the tight plastic it is usually sold in and wrap it loosely with some paper towels and place in the vegetable crisper drawer for up to a week.
How to store cut cauliflower florets
Cauliflower florets can be stored in an airtight container or plastic bag like a ziploc, in the fridge for up to a week.
Can You Freeze Cauliflower?
Yes! Freeze your florets on a baking sheet or tray in a single layer before transferring them into a freezer friendly airtight plastic bag like a ziploc or container. Store in the freezer for up to 3-4 months.
Best Knife to Cut Cauliflower
A sharp chef’s knife is best to cut a head of cauliflower.
When Is Cauliflower In Season (aka the cheapest!)
Peak season for cauliflower is fall to early winter, around September to November.
How To Deal With Brown Spots on Cauliflower
If you find some brown spots on your cauliflower florets, use a microplane and just shave it off.
Can You Eat Cauliflower Leaves and Stem?
Yes! You can saute cauliflower leaves and stem or save them for soups and purees. You may want to peel the outside of the cauliflower stem though as it can be tough.
Ways to Use Cauliflower
- Blend it into a smoothie
- Turn it into a soup
- Stir fry it
- Roast it
- Turn it into cauliflower rice
- Steam it
- Boil it
Some Recipes Using Cauliflower
Now that you’ve gotten the hang of cutting up cauliflower into florets, here are some delicious recipes to put those knife skills to the test!
- Vegetarian Cauliflower Pita Wrap
- Cauliflower Pizza Casserole
- Buffalo Cauliflower Wings
- Cheesy Cauliflower Bread Sticks
- Cauliflower Pizza
I hope you enjoy all the recipes I share with you including these helpful tutorials. I hope you try it, enjoy it, rate it and share it with your friends and family!
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How to Cut Cauliflower
Ingredients
- 1 head cauliflower, or more
Instructions
- Place the cauliflower stem side down.
- Slice the cauliflower in half by starting at the top of the cauliflower crown down to the core.
- Cut the core out of each half of the cauliflower by angling your knife to cut a V shape into the core.
- Some florets will separate naturally but to help it along, use your hands and break apart the cauliflower into florets.
- If you wish, you can cut larger florets into halves or quarters. Or you can store larger florets together and smaller florets together for different uses.
