How To Cut a Bell Pepper

  • December 3, 2007
  • 12,116 Views
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Don’t be discouraged by its crazy shape—a bell pepper can be tamed just like any other vegetable.

You Will Need

  • Water
  • A clean cloth or paper towel
  • A bell pepper
  • A chef's knife
  • And a cutting board
  • A paring knife (optional)
How To Cut a Bell Pepper: Wash & dry

Step 1: Wash & dry

Wash and dry the bell pepper.

How To Cut a Bell Pepper: Position pepper

Step 2: Position pepper

In the center of the cutting board, lay the pepper on its side with the stem facing your knife-wielding hand.

How To Cut a Bell Pepper: Grasp knife

Step 3: Grasp knife

Grasp the knife in your dominant hand, holding the handle close to the blade with three fingers: your middle, ring, and pinkie. Curl your forefinger around one side of the blade while holding your thumb on the opposite side.

How To Cut a Bell Pepper: Cut off top

Step 4: Cut off top

Cut off the top of the bell pepper just below the curve under the stem, exposing the ribs and seeds inside the pepper.

How To Cut a Bell Pepper: Pop out stem

Step 5: Pop out stem

Pop the stem out of this top portion and discard it. Set the leftover pepper aside to be cut up later.

How To Cut a Bell Pepper: Slice off other end

Step 6: Slice off other end

Slice off the other end off the pepper, just below where it curves, and set it aside too.

How To Cut a Bell Pepper: Slice vertically

Step 7: Slice vertically

Set the pepper upright on one end and use the tip of your blade to make one vertical slice on the side closest to you to open the pepper. Make sure not to cut the pepper in half—just slice through one side.

How To Cut a Bell Pepper: Remove insides

Step 8: Remove insides

Turn the pepper on its side and cut along the inside, removing the seeds and thin whitish ribs, also called ‘membranes’.

If the ribs do not come out easily, use a pairing knife to remove them.

How To Cut a Bell Pepper: Flatten pepper

Step 9: Flatten pepper

Flatten the now-clean pepper, skin-side down, onto the cutting board, or cut it into two more manageable sections. You now have a clean slate of pepper—slice it any way you want!

Red bell peppers are just green bell peppers that have stayed longer on the vine—they also boast much more beta-carotene than their green siblings.

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Comments (6)

supertechmonkeymedia1

this is really great! i watched this while i was making pizza [ we expermented with toppings i taught me the basics! go howcast!

over 4 years ago by supertechmonkeymedia1

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Cornelius

Er, that wasn't a chef's knife...

over 2 years ago by Cornelius

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supertechmonkeymedia1

maybe you sholud mention to be carful with the nife.

over 4 years ago by supertechmonkeymedia1

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owensbt

This is a much better way than hacking at it.

about 1 year ago by owensbt

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vdunbar10

Interesting fact! I never knew that.

about 1 year ago by vdunbar10

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supertechmonkeymedia1

go howcast!

over 4 years ago by supertechmonkeymedia1

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Video is in Cooking 101 (40 videos)