How to Mince Vegetables

PDF download Download Article
PDF download Download Article

Recipes often call for minced vegetables. Usually, garlic and onions require mincing, but occasionally other vegetables may need to be minced as well. Mincing is a fairly easy process you should be able to pick up quickly with some practice. To mince vegetables, you should first chop them into small pieces. Then, gently rock your knife over your vegetables to work them into even tinier chunks. When you're done, you can toss your minced veggies into your recipe and enjoy the cooking process.

Part 1
Part 1 of 3:

Chopping the Vegetables

PDF download Download Article
  1. Watermark wikiHow to Mince Vegetables
    Wash your own hands in warm, soapy water for about 20 seconds. Then, rinse your vegetables under the faucet, gently rubbing as needed to remove any stuck on dirt. [1]
    • You may need to use a vegetable brush on tougher vegetables, like squash, to get out stuck on dirt and debris.
  2. Watermark wikiHow to Mince Vegetables
    Things like onions, potatoes, and garlic should usually be peeled prior to cooking. You can simply peel off the skin of onion or garlic, but things like potatoes and squash require a vegetable peeler. [2]
    • When peeling an onion, you may accidentally peel off the top layer when removing the skin. You can still use an onion after peeling off the top layer, so do not worry if this happens.
    • Not all vegetables require peeling prior to cooking. Consult your recipe to see if you need to peel your vegetables first.
    Advertisement
  3. Watermark wikiHow to Mince Vegetables
    Cut off any ends with leaves or stems. Then, cut the vegetables in half length-wise. This will make it easier to dice them prior to mincing. [3]
  4. Watermark wikiHow to Mince Vegetables
    Hold the vegetables with bent fingers as you cut, keeping your fingers just behind the knife. [4] This allows for greater control while cutting. Cut the vegetables length-wise, keeping the slices about half an inch to a quarter of an inch apart. When you're done, you should have several thin slices of vegetables. [5]
    5. Advertisement
Part 2
Part 2 of 3:

Mincing the Vegetables

PDF download Download Article
  1. Watermark wikiHow to Mince Vegetables
    Take the perpendicular slices you just made and place the vegetables on a cutting board. Keep them close together when lining them up, but be sure to avoid any overlap. [6]
  2. Watermark wikiHow to Mince Vegetables
    Take your knife and cut along the vegetable slices cross-wise. Make a series of cuts, each one about a quarter of an inch apart, running down the lines of vegetables. When you're done, you will be left with small blocks of diced veggies. [7]
  3. Watermark wikiHow to Mince Vegetables
    Some overlap here is okay, as mincing is a less precise process than dicing. Your pile should be small and compact. You can either use your knife or hands to push the vegetables together. [8]
    • If you use your hands to push your veggies together, wash your hands first.
  4. Watermark wikiHow to Mince Vegetables
    Start at one end of your pile. Place the palm of your hand on the dull side of the knife. Use your palm and the hand holding the knife to rock the knife back and forth, following the natural curl of the blade. Move the knife across the pile of veggies gradually, continuing this gentle, rocking motion as you go. [9]
  5. Watermark wikiHow to Mince Vegetables
    Continue with the same basic motions, moving the knife back and forth across your vegetables. The goal is to get the vegetable pieces as small as possible. Once you notice some of the veggies forming a paste-like liquid, stop. This is a sign that the vegetables are adequately minced as they're starting to lose form. Minced vegetables should be mostly solid. [10]
    • Times vary depending on the type of vegetable you're mincing. Softer vegetables, like garlic, will mince faster than sturdier vegetables like potatoes.
    6. Advertisement
Part 3
Part 3 of 3:

Speeding Up the Process

PDF download Download Article
  1. Watermark wikiHow to Mince Vegetables
    Minced garlic is commonly called for in recipes. A garlic press is a device used to mince garlic quickly. You simply peel the garlic, place it in the press, and squeeze the press closed to mince. Garlic presses are cheap and can be purchased at most grocery stores. [11]
  2. A cheese grater, or a similar device, speeds up the mincing process. You simply run the vegetables over the grater after peeling them. They should break apart in tiny, delicate pieces [12]
    • A grater is not the best choice for delicate vegetables, like garlic, as will cause them to form a paste.
  3. 3
    Try using a food processor. You can run vegetables through a food processor to mince them quickly. [13] You can do so after dicing the vegetables into small, bite-sized chunks. If an actual food processor is out of your budget, buy a mini-food processor. [14]
    4. Advertisement

Expert Q&A

Search
Add New Question
  • Question
    How do you cut vegetables without cutting your fingers?
    Dorrenda Smith
    Personal Chef
    Dorrenda “Renny” Smith is a Personal Chef and the Co-Founder & CEO of The Crain Experience. With almost 15 years of experience in the food industry, she specializes in creating soul food with a healthier spin. Chef Renny and her partner provide event catering, event planning, and restaurant and food truck consultations.
    Dorrenda Smith
    Personal Chef
    Expert Answer
    Always keep your fingers tucked when using the knife, and always make sure that you have full control of the knife.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 2 Helpful 6
Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
      Advertisement

      Tips

      Submit a Tip
      All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
      Name
      Please provide your name and last initial
      Submit
      Thanks for submitting a tip for review!

      You Might Also Like

      How to
      Mince Garlic
      Signs That a Potato Is Bad: Raw & Cooked
      How to
      Tell if Your Carrots Are Bad
      Easy Ways to Tell if Your Brussel Sprouts Have Gone Bad
      How to
      Roast Parsnips
      How to
      Tell if a Kiwi Has Gone Bad
      How to
      Eat a Star Fruit
      How to
      Ripen Mangoes Fast (& Tell When They’re Ripe)
      How to
      Eat Guava
      How to
      Eat Kiwi Fruit
      How to
      Cook Baby Corn
      How to
      Store Collard Greens
      How to
      Buy a Good Avocado
      How to
      Ripen an Unripe Pineapple
      Advertisement

      References

      1. ↑ http://www.bhg.com/recipes/how-to/cooking-basics/how-to-wash-fruits-and-vegetables/
      2. ↑ http://startcooking.com/how-to-mince-dice-and-chop-onions
      3. ↑ http://startcooking.com/how-to-mince-dice-and-chop-onions
      4. ↑ Dorrenda Smith. Personal Chef. Expert Interview. 26 October 2021.
      5. ↑ http://startcooking.com/how-to-mince-dice-and-chop-onions
      6. ↑ http://www.bonappetit.com/test-kitchen/how-to/article/how-to-dice-vegetables
      7. ↑ http://www.bonappetit.com/test-kitchen/how-to/article/how-to-dice-vegetables
      8. ↑ https://www.groupon.com/articles/how-to-mince-garlic
      9. ↑ Dorrenda Smith. Personal Chef. Expert Interview. 26 October 2021.
      1. ↑ http://www.seriouseats.com/2015/01/how-to-mince-chop-garlic-microplane-vs-garlic-press.html
      2. ↑ http://www.seriouseats.com/2015/01/how-to-mince-chop-garlic-microplane-vs-garlic-press.html
      3. ↑ http://www.seriouseats.com/2015/01/how-to-mince-chop-garlic-microplane-vs-garlic-press.html
      4. ↑ Dorrenda Smith. Personal Chef. Expert Interview. 26 October 2021.
      5. ↑ https://happyherbivore.com/2015/02/chop-prep-vegetables-quickly-how-to-videos/

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      To mince vegetables, start by removing the outer skin using a knife or veggie peeler, then chop off any stems or ends. Cut the vegetables length-wise into slices, then line the slices up and dice them. Hold the knife in your dominant hand and place the palm of your other hand on the dull side of the knife. Use your palm to rock the knife back and forth over the veggies, chopping them into the smallest pieces possible. Move the knife across the pile gradually, continuing the gentle rocking motion as you go. If you want to learn how to use a grater or food processor to mince your vegetables, keep reading!

      Did this summary help you?
      Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 52,548 times.

      Did this article help you?

      Advertisement