How to Chop Vegetables Like a Pro (Without Wasting Half of It)

If you’ve ever watched professional chefs slice and dice vegetables with lightning speed, you might wonder if they possess some kind of cooking superpower. 

The truth is much simpler: they’ve mastered the knife skills that anyone can learn. 

Whether you’re prepping ingredients for your MyFitnessPal Meal Planner recipes or just trying to eat more veggies, knowing how to chop properly is a game-changer in the kitchen.

Vegetables are nutrition powerhouses, packed with fiber, vitamins, and minerals. But let’s be honest—prepping them can feel like a chore. That’s why many of us end up purchasing more expensive pre-cut produce or avoiding veggie-heavy meals altogether. 

“There is so much research on the benefits of fruits and vegetables! They lower the risk of metabolic disease and improve gut health thanks to the fiber, vitamins, and minerals in these foods,” says Joanna Gregg, a MyFitnessPal dietitian (1).

Benefits of Good Chopping Skills

One of the most common barriers to healthy eating is the time it takes to prepare fresh produce. 

When you improve your knife skills, you not only make meal prep faster but you will also reduce the amount of food you waste at home.

• You’ll likely use more of each vegetable, including the parts you may have otherwise discarded. For example, properly trimming a bell pepper means using almost the entire vegetable rather than wasting the parts around the stem and seeds.
• You’ll likely extend the life of your vegetables. Cleanly-cut vegetables brown more slowly than those mangled by dull knives or improper techniques. This means your chopped veggies can stay fresh longer in the refrigerator. 
• You’ll likely enjoy cooking more. When chopping vegetables isn’t a tedious chore, you’re more likely to incorporate them into your daily meals—and that translates directly to better nutrition habits.

Eating more nutritious foods like vegetables is directly tied to health benefits. Diets like the Mediterranean Diet or the DASH Diet are high in vegetables and offer many nutritional benefits. (4, 5)

“The DASH diet encourages plenty of fruits and vegetables in addition to whole grains, low-fat dairy, nuts, beans, fish, and poultry while limiting foods that are high in added sugar, saturated fat, and sodium,” says Melissa Jaeger, head of nutrition at MyFitnessPal (3).

Kitchen Knife Basics

Investing in a good chef’s knife will transform your cooking experience more than any other kitchen tool. You don’t need an expensive set—just one quality knife that feels comfortable in your hand. 

Here’s what you need to know:

 Choose the right knife for the job

• Use a 7–8 inch chef’s knife for most tasks. (It’s about the length of a standard wooden pencil.)
• A paring knife, a small, sharp kitchen knife with a narrow blade and pointed tip, is ideal for smaller, more detailed work
• A serrated knife works best for soft or slippery produce like ripe tomatoes or kiwis

Hold your knife correctly

Your knife should feel like an extension of your arm, allowing fluid movement. If you’re straining or feeling awkward, you might need to adjust your grip or try a different sized knife.

When grabbing your knife, use the “pinch grip” by placing your thumb and forefinger on the blade. This offers better control and reduces fatigue.

Keep your knife sharp

A sharp knife not only makes chopping easier—it also keeps you safer and preserves the quality of your ingredients. A sharp knife is safer and causes less damage to your produce. Plus, clean cuts help veggies stay fresh longer and retain nutrients.

About the Experts

Joanna Gregg, MS, RD, is a Food Data Curator at MyFitnessPal. She earned her Master’s degree from The University of Nebraska. Her focus is helping people find the right balance of food, fitness and healthy living to reach their optimal health.

Melissa Jaeger RD, LD, is the Head of Nutrition for MyFitnessPal. Melissa received a Bachelor of Arts in Nutrition (DPD) from the College of Saint Benedict and completed her dietetic internship through Iowa State University. In May 2024 she was recognized as the Registered Young Dietitian of the Year awarded by the Minnesota Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

Caroline Thomason, RD, is a dietitian and diabetes educator combining her love of nutrition with the power of making better health easy to understand. With 12 years in the industry, her work has appeared in more than 40 publications. She’s also a speaker, broadcast spokesperson, and recipe developer.

How to Chop Vegetables Step-by-Step

Step 1: Set up your station
Before you even pick up a knife, a well-organized workspace sets the stage for safe, efficient chopping.

• Wash your vegetables thoroughly
• Place a damp paper towel under your cutting board to prevent slipping
• Gather your tools and ingredients

Step 2: Create a stable base
Prevent rolling and slipping by giving round vegetables a flat surface to rest on. Here are some examples:

• Onion: Cut off the top, then halve through the root
• Bell pepper: Slice off the top and bottom, then open one side to flatten
• Tomato: Halve through the equator for dicing, or slice from the bottom for rounds

Step 3: Use the claw grip
Protect your fingers by curling them into a “claw” on your guiding hand. (To see the claw grip in action, check out this demo.)

• Tuck your fingertips under and let your knuckles guide the blade
• The side of the knife should gently brush your knuckles—not your fingertips

Step 4: Cut with a rocking motion
The key to smooth, efficient chopping is keeping the knife’s tip on the board and using a gentle rocking motion.

• Start by cutting vegetables into slices or planks
• Stack and slice into strips, then rotate and dice
• For speed and safety, let the knife roll—not chop straight down

Step 5: Roll-and-slice any herbs or greens
Fragile leaves bruise easily, so a gentle technique makes a big difference. (This knife technique is technically called chiffonade, and you can see how it’s done in this demo.)

• Stack and roll tender greens or soft herbs into a tight bundle
• Use the rocking motion to slice into fine ribbons (a chiffonade)

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

The Bottom Line

Mastering the art of chopping vegetables means learning basic knife skills that help you eat a nutrient-dense diet. The time you invest in learning proper techniques will be returned many times over through quicker meal prep, less food waste, and healthy, veggie-packed meals. By removing the barrier of tedious preparation, you’re setting yourself up for success with your nutrition goals. 

Remember that practice makes perfect. Start slowly, focusing on safety and proper technique, and speed will naturally follow. Your future self—standing in the kitchen on a busy weeknight, effortlessly preparing a healthy meal—will thank you for the effort.

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