16 foods you're probably slicing, peeling, and cutting all wrong

Cheyenne LentzAug 6, 2020, 19:59 IST

Peeling carrots wastes time and nutrients.plprod/Shutterstock

Insider asked chefs to explain the proper way to cut, peel, and slice a number of fruits, vegetables, breads, meats, and cheeses.
They advised avoiding dull knives, especially when slicing eggplant and bread.
Hard cheeses should be cut into shards not cubes, and soft cheese should never have its "nose" (the tip of a wedge) sliced off.
It's also important to cut off the "eyes" of pineapple to avoid an unpleasant chewing experience.

Insider asked several chefs, cheesemongers, and other food experts for their advice on how to properly prepare vegetables, fruits, cheeses, meats, and breads.

Here are some of the foods you might be slicing, peeling, or cutting wrong, and tips to help you do it right.

Using a peeler on ripe kiwis can crush them — use a spoon instead.

A spoon can help remove the kiwi fruit from its skin. INSIDER/Kristen Griffin

When dealing with mangoes, cut off the edges to create a flat surface first.

Cutting off the edges of mangoes creates a flat surface. INSIDER

It's essential to cut the "eyes" off of pineapples because they're tough to chew.

The "eyes" of a pineapple are sharp and tough to chew. INSIDER/Kristen Griffin

Retrieve pomegranate seeds with less mess by slicing the fruit in half first.

Don't pick out pomegranate seeds individually. Viktor Kochetkov/Shutterstock

Using a dull knife to cut eggplant can cause oxidation, turning the slices brown.

Eggplants oxidize quickly, so a sharp knife is best for slicing. ffolas/Shutterstock

Stop peeling carrots, as most of the nutrients are found in the peel.

Carrot peels are full of nutrients. plprod/Shutterstock

It's easier to snap asparagus by hand instead of cutting it with a knife.

Snapping asparagus by hand helps ensure the tough end of the vegetable is removed. windcoast/Shutterstock

To prevent injury and minimize sliding, place a towel under winter squash before cutting it.

Cutting a squash without a towel can lead to injury. Andrea De la Parra/Shutterstock

Cutting off the top of an onion can make it harder to chop.

Leave the root of an onion intact for chopping. Alex Sun/Shutterstock

Bell peppers should be seeded prior to slicing.

Remove the seeds of bell peppers. ffolas/Shutterstock

Chunk hard cheeses into shards, not cubes.

Hard cheeses have a better texture in shards rather than cubes. niktalena/Shutterstock

For the best flavor possible, never remove the "nose" from a wedge of soft cheese.

It is best to cut soft cheeses like brie into wedges for the fullest flavor. Moving Moment/Shutterstock

Sandwiches and bread loaves will get crushed under a dull knife.

Cut bread on its side with a sharp, serrated knife. Sophie Hoeller/INSIDER

Using a knife to cut pizza can cause a big mess.

Use a pizza cutter for the cleanest slice. Jullius/Shutterstock

Always slice against the grain of raw meat.

Slicing on the grain can make the meat tough to eat. FotoDuets/Shutterstock

Let cooked meat rest before you slice it.

By letting meat rest before you cut it, you'll help it stay moist. caliber_3D/Shutterstock

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