Stem
Knife work & mechanical
Cutting and shaping without heat.
01At a glance
CategoryKnife work & mechanical
Taste impactNeutral
Texture—
02How to do it
- 1Hold the leaf or fruit by its stem.
- 2Pinch and pull leaves from woody herb stems, or strip greens from their ribs.
- 3For chilies and tomatoes, twist or cut out the stem end.
- 4Discard tough stems; keep tender ones if usable.
03Doneness & pitfalls
Doneness cues
- Tough stems and ribs removed; only the usable part remains.
Common mistakes
- Leaving woody stems gives a fibrous, bitter bite.
- Stripping too hard tears tender leaves.