How to Chop Cilantro

Co-authored by Randall Chambers

Cilantro is an herb that resembles parsley and is used in many diverse dishes. It has an earthy aroma and adds a fresh and sweet dimension of flavor to vegetable and fruit salsas and sauces. However, to make a salsa or sauce that picks up the flavor of this aromatic herb, cilantro needs to be chopped a particular way. By cutting cilantro properly, your dishes can benefit from the aromatic scent and flavor this herb provides.

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Rinsing the Cilantro

1
Fill a medium sized bowl with cold water. Take the bundle of cilantro and place it inside the bowl. Twirl the cilantro around in the bowl and then let it soak for about 10 minutes. This helps to gently loosen any dirt particles on the cilantro leaves.
2
Set the bundle of cilantro in a colander. Turn on cold water and place the cilantro underneath the water in the kitchen sink. Rinse the cilantro well. Move the bundle of cilantro around while the water hits it.
- By moving the cilantro around, you help to rinse away dirt particles underneath and between the leaves^{[1]
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3
Shake the colander with the cilantro bundle well until all of the excess water exits the colander. Place the cilantro onto a large paper towel. Absorb any excess water from the cilantro with the paper towel. Keep the paper towel for storing the leftover cilantro.

Part 2

Part 2 of 3:

Preparing the Cilantro

1
Look through the cilantro for any discolored or wilted cilantro leaves. Pick these out of the bundle and discard appropriately (compost if available). You can simply use your hands for this. Make sure only the healthy, green leaves remain.
2
Decide how much of the stems you want to keep. Depending on your preference for the texture and taste of cilantro stems, you may want to remove some of the long stems of the cilantro. For salsas and curries, many find the cilantro stems add a pleasant amount of concentrated cilantro flavor.^{[2]
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Expert Source

Randall Chambers
Personal Chef
Expert Interview. 1 March 2022.} If your recipe doesn't specify on the inclusion of stems, use your best judgement.
- For instance, pico de gallo is usually made with cilantro leaves.^{[3]
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  Expert Source
  
  Randall Chambers
  Personal Chef
  Expert Interview. 1 March 2022.}
3
Remove however much of the stems you wish. Place a cutting board on the counter. Place the cilantro on the cutting board and with a sharp knife, cut the long stems. These stems are located near the bottom of the cilantro bundle.
- You can place a moist washcloth underneath the cutting board to help provide traction so the cutting board does not slide around when you are chopping the cilantro bundle.

Part 3

Part 3 of 3:

Chopping the Cilantro

1
Chop the bundle of cilantro in half, using the middle as a guideline. This is where the abundance of cilantro leaves are located. When you need to use a small amount of cilantro, separate the bunches in half. Avoid removing the leaves from the portion of the cilantro you are storing for later, as it will last longer intact.^{[4]
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2
Store the unused cilantro. Wrap the unused bundle and the stems in the paper towel you used to dry the cilantro. Place them in a zip lock bag and place the bag in the refrigerator.^{[5]
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Expert Source

Randall Chambers
Personal Chef
Expert Interview. 1 March 2022.} This will keep it fresh for three to five days.^{[6]
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Research source}
3
Decide how finely chopped you want your cilantro. Cilantro is tender, so it isn't usually necessary for it to be very finely chopped. The later in the cooking process you intend on adding the cilantro, the more finely it should be chopped. If you are using your cilantro as a garnish, chop it just enough so that it can be easily sprinkled over your food.
4
Fold the bunch of cilantro leaves in half and place them on the cutting board. Use a rocking motion with the knife when chopping cilantro. Go back again with the knife to ensure that all the cilantro is chopped. Regardless of how fine you want your cilantro, try to keep the chop even.

Expert Q&A

Question

What part of cilantro are you supposed to eat?

Randall Chambers
Personal Chef
Randall (Randy) Chambers is a Personal Chef and the Owner of Luxury Meals From Home based in Arvada, Colorado. He has more than 16 years of commercial kitchen experience, five years of sous chef experience, and two years of experience as an executive chef. Chef Randy draws inspiration from his half Bolivian background and his forte is South American cuisine. He holds an Associate’s degree in Culinary Arts from The Art Institute.

Randall Chambers

Personal Chef

Expert Answer

Cilantro is actually one of the few herbs where you can eat the entire thing. What you include in your food really depends on the recipe.
Question

How should I prepare for use in salsa or pico de gallo?

Community Answer

Cut it very fine; you can chop the stems, too.
Question

How long does cilantro last in the refrigerator?

Community Answer

When stored in a plastic, zippered bag, cilantro typically lasts 3 to 5 days. For more information on storage, check out How to Store Cilantro.