Before the heat · 02 / 15
Knife cuts
Same-size pieces cook at the same time. That is the whole point of a dice.
When to use it
Soups, stir-fries, salads, and anything you want tender at the same moment.
- 1
Curl your guiding fingertips under so the knuckles meet the blade, not the nails.
- 2
Slice: keep the tip on the board and rock. Do not chop straight down.
- 3
Dice an onion by halving it, slicing lengthwise, then across.
- 4
Mince garlic by slicing, then rocking the knife through a pinch of salt.
- 5
Chiffonade herbs by stacking leaves, rolling them, and cutting thin ribbons.
You are done when
Pieces in one pile are close to the same size. A 1 cm dice is a good weeknight default.
Watch out
- A dull knife. It slips. Hone before you start.
- Huge chunks next to tiny ones in the same pan.