Ina Garten's Mess-Free Method For Cutting Cauliflower Is Genius

Have you ever tried to cut cauliflower only to have tiny pieces of the white cruciferous vegetable scattered about your kitchen? If you have, you know how tedious it can be to clean up these fragments. The pieces tend to roll under your hand if you try to swipe them off the counter, and if you have a white kitchen, it can be hard to see where they all went.

Thankfully, Ina Garten is here to rescue you from your cauliflower-cutting woes. In a YouTube short, she explained how to cut cauliflower like a pro. The biggest mistake you're making if cauliflower gets all over your kitchen when you're cutting it is trying to cut straight through the top. Instead, she recommends turning it upside down so the core is facing up. The first step is to cut out the core with a large kitchen knife. Work in a circular motion cutting all the way around the core so you can pull it out. Once you have the core out, you can pull large pieces apart. From there, use a knife to cut through the stem of each piece and pull the florets apart. "You have perfect florets and no mess. How easy is that?" Garten says as she smiles at the end of the video.

Ina Garten's mess-free cutting method isn't the only cauliflower tip she has. It's one of her favorite foods to get at farmer's markets in the fall, and there are a few different ways she preps it. To make cauliflower gratin, Gartin uses her cutting method to cut it into florets, then cooks them in a large pot of salted boiling water. This allows them to get just a little bit tender but still be firm. Parboiling your cauliflower like this is a good way to ensure it roasts or cooks to your desired texture. 

For another recipe, roasted cauliflower snowflakes, Garten deviates a bit from her tried and true cutting method. After removing the leaves from the head, she trims the stem just a bit, but this time, she doesn't remove the core. Next, she cuts the whole cauliflower into ½ inch thick slices. Even if the slices fall apart, her recipe states, this prepping method results in cauliflower that looks like snowflakes. What a beautiful way to prepare cauliflower for a fall or winter dinner. Whether you're roasting a sheet of cauliflower or simply cutting some up for a vegetable tray, Garten's tips can help keep your kitchen clean and your recipes tasting delicious.