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One of the questions I get asked a lot in my Facebook group is how to properly cut strawberries. So, of course, I felt the need to show you guys not just one, but five ways to cut strawberries! Whether you’re getting them ready for a quick smoothie, tossing them into a salad, or using them in a strawberry pie, having a few different cutting techniques up your sleeve can really come in handy.
Table of Contents
Why Learn How to Slice Strawberries
- Minimal waste. Knowing how to properly cut, slice, or dice strawberries makes the most of each strawberry and keeps food waste to a minimum. Cut strawberries also sometimes last longer in the fridge if they are washed, dried, and stored properly.
- Variety of cuts. Whether you’re learning how to cut strawberries for a fruit tray or need diced berries to add to strawberry banana bread, it’s important to know the different cutting techniques to tailor these berries to specific recipe needs.
- Facilitates cooking. Uniform and pre-cut strawberries cook more evenly and quickly in recipes where the berries are cooked, such as strawberry crisp and 2-ingredient strawberry sauce.
What You’ll Need to Cut Strawberries
- Fresh strawberries – Look for berries that are bright red, firm, and shiny. Avoid strawberries with a lot of white or green tips, as that is a sign that they are not fully ripe. Check for any sign of mold, bruising, or mushy spots.
- Paring knife – Most of the cutting techniques can be done with a paring knife. If you need diced strawberries, it may be helpful to grab a bigger knife, like a chef’s knife. But a paring knife, because of its small size and sharp blade, can both hull and cut the strawberries.
- Cutting board – Use a sturdy cutting board and line a damp paper towel underneath to prevent it from slipping1].
How to Cut Strawberries – 5 Ways
Cutting strawberries is easy but the technique will largely depend on how you’ll be using this juicy summer fruit. This tutorial covers 5 different ways to cut strawberries, so you’re never left wondering how to do it properly. Whether you’re looking for hulled whole strawberries, halved (with and without the stem), quartered, or sliced to conveniently tuck them into strawberry stuffed French toast – I have you covered. I even share how to dice strawberries to add to your favorite baked goods.
Whole Strawberries
- Remove the green stems by gently pinching them off.
- Or, you can use a paring knife and gently cut around the stem, removing as much or as little of the white part as desired.
Halved Strawberries
- If you prefer to remove the stems, follow the steps above. Then, hold the strawberry steady on a cutting board.
- Using a sharp knife, slice it in half vertically from top to bottom until it’s completely cut through.
Quartered Strawberries
- Hold the stemless strawberry on a cutting board and use a sharp knife to slice it in half vertically from top to bottom.
- Then place each half on the cutting board with the cut side up and cut in half again to create quarters.
Sliced Strawberries
- Hold the strawberry steady on the cutting board and use a sharp knife to slice off the green stem, creating a flat surface.
- Place the strawberry on its flat side and thinly slice it horizontally from top to bottom.
Diced Strawberries
- Follow the instructions for how to slice strawberries. Then, turn the slices and cut them vertically, creating small strips.
- Line up the strawberry strips and make perpendicular cuts across to create diced strawberry.
Tips for Cutting Strawberries
- Properly wash strawberries. Rinse the berries under cold water to remove any dirt or pesticides. You can also soak them for a few minutes in a bowl of cold water with ½ cup of vinegar. Then rinse in a colander.
- Allow them to dry completely. Drain the strawberries for a few minutes and transfer them to a kitchen towel to absorb excess moisture. Blot gently and let them air dry. You can also run the strawberries through a salad spinner to remove any water and then air dry.
- Chill the strawberries. Cutting slightly chilled strawberries makes them firmer and easier to handle. This is especially helpful if you’re cutting them into very small pieces or need uniform sizes.
- Stabilize for safety. Stabilize the cutting board on your counter by placing a damp kitchen towel or paper towel underneath. This will prevent it from slipping and twisting while you cut.
Recipes to Make with Cut Strawberries
- Strawberry Greek Yogurt Smoothie
- Strawberry Pie
- Pink Strawberry Cupcakes
- Strawberry Spinach Salad
- Strawberries and Cream Parfait
- Chia Strawberry Jam
- Homemade Strawberry Pop Tarts
- Banana Strawberry Smoothie
- Strawberry Chocolate S’mores
Frequently Asked Questions
Store cut strawberries in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. For whole strawberries, line the bottom of the container with a piece of paper towel to absorb moisture.
Absolutely! For longer storage, consider flash-freezing the strawberries on a baking sheet first, then transferring them to a freezer bag. Freeze for up to 6 months. You can do this with whole, quartered, sliced, or diced strawberries. For more detailed instructions, check out my simple tutorial for how to freeze strawberries.
A visually appealing fruit tray features a variety of cut strawberries. Cut some strawberries in half vertically, leaving the green stem on for a decorative touch and contrasting color. For the rest, remove the stems and cut them into quarters. This creates a mix of visually appealing strawberries with the stem on and easy-to-grab quartered pieces, making the fruit tray both beautiful and convenient to eat.
As you can see, cutting strawberries is easy, whether you need whole, halved (with or without stems), quartered, sliced, or diced. By following this simple tutorial, you can prepare these juicy summer berries perfectly for any recipe.
More Fruit Cutting Tutorials:
- How to Cut Papaya
- How to Cut Dragon Fruit
- How to Cut an Apple
- How to Cut Grapefruit
- How to Cut a Pomegranate
- How to Cut a Peach
- How to Cut an Orange
- How to Cut a Kiwi
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How to Cut Strawberries – 5 Ways
Ingredients
- 1 pint Fresh strawberries
Instructions
Whole Strawberries
- Remove the green stems by gently pinching and pulling them off with your fingers or by using a paring knife.
Halved Strawberries
- See step one for whole strawberries if you prefer to remove the stems. Otherwise, hold the strawberry steady on the cutting board and use a sharp knife to slice it in half vertically from top to bottom, leaving the green stem intact.
Quartered Strawberries
- Remove the green stems by gently pinching and pulling them off with your fingers or by using a paring knife.
- Hold the strawberry steady on the cutting board and use a sharp knife to slice it in half vertically from top to bottom. Then cut each half in half again to create quarters.
Sliced Strawberries
- Hold the strawberry steady on the cutting board and use a sharp knife to slice off the green stem, creating a flat surface.
- Place the strawberry on its flat side and thinly slice it horizontally from top to bottom.
Diced Strawberries
- Follow the instructions from sliced strawberries. Then turn the slices and cut them vertically.
- Make perpendicular cuts all across to create the dices.
Notes
- Dry strawberries well. Drain them for a few minutes and transfer them to a kitchen towel to absorb excess moisture. Blot gently and let them air dry. You can also run the strawberries through a salad spinner to remove any water and then air dry.
- Stabilize for safety. Stabilize the cutting board on your counter by placing a damp kitchen towel or paper towel underneath. This will prevent it from slipping and twisting while you cut.
Nutrition
Nutrition information provided is an estimate. It will vary based on cooking method and specific ingredients used.
