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Home » Recipes » Cooking Tips

How To Clean And Cut Leeks

Published: November 2, 2021 | Last Updated: February 14, 2022 | Lisa 5 Comments
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Last Updated February 14th, 2022 at 01:42 pm by Lisa

Whole leeks pictured in an ad to learn how to clean, and slice them for recipes.

Fresh leeks will become one of your favorite vegetables when you know all the easy ways to cut, clean, and cook with their mild onion-like flavor.

Raw leeks can be used in place of a standard onion in your cooking. Think of them simply as oversized scallions. They are not as popular in the United States as they are in other countries around the world like France.

Follow this step-by-step guide for the best way to trim leeks, and freeze the thin strips so they are ready to go in recipes. They bring a wonderful delicate flavor to dishes and are easy to find near the spring onions in any grocery store...

How To Clean Leeks

Grown partly underground, whole leeks grow in sandy soil. A lot of dirt gets trapped on the outer leaves and inside the light green parts. And you sure don't want that in your recipe!

Step 1: On a stable cutting board, use a good sharp knife and slice off the root end of the leek and discard.

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STEP 2: From the root end, slice up through the leek half way. Leave the tough green top end connected. Fill up a large bowl of cold water. This is so you can soak and begin to wash the dirt off but not have leaves go everywhere. You will begin to see the sand in the bottom of the bowl of water. Use a circular motion and swish them around.

STEP 3: Use your hands to remove a lot of dirt. The bottom of the bowl of water will get quite gritty. Put the dark green tops into the water and continue to clean. Change the dirty water several times as you go.

STEP 4: Fan the leaves open underwater to be sure they are clean. And keep changing the water until clear.

How To Cut Leeks

STEP 5: Once clean, move to a cutting board. Now slice all the way through the length of the leeks. Place the flat cut side down on the cutting board.

STEP 6: Slice the entire leek into thin half moons for your recipe.

Julienne Cut: Take 3-4 layers from leek halves, then fold in half lengthwise, and slice into thin long strips with a large chef's knife. Go slowly and use your best knife skills to slice leeks, they can slip so be careful.

Finer Slices: Take clean leek halves pieces with the flat side down, and start at one end and slice across into ⅛ inch thick half moon slices. You can then cut those strips into finer dice.

PRO TIP: After your leeks are clean, the easiest way to get them dry is in a salad spinner. They will saute nicely once dry.

How To Store Leeks

PRO TIP: My favorite method to use leeks in different ways in my cooking is to buy 2-3 fresh leeks at a time. I prefer to cut leeks all at one time and keep them frozen and ready to use.

  • Fridge Storage: After you buy them, store leeks unwashed in open plastic wrap or zip top plastic bags for up to 1-2 weeks in the crisper drawer.
  • Freezer Storage: Store clean sliced leeks in freezer zip lock bags or airtight container for 3-4 months. Use a kitchen or paper towel to blot them dry before you freeze or cook with them.
  • Freeze the clean sliced tought top dark green leek pieces in a ziplock plastic bag, and use them to make homemade stock or broth.
Chicken Stock (Bone Broth) Plus Freezer Tips and 15+ Recipe Uses!
Make Chicken Stock aka Bone Broth at home to create other tasty recipes with chicken stock, plus cooking tips and 15+ delicious recipe ideas!
GET THE RECIPE PIN IT
3 small Mason jars filled with chicken stock and black heart shaped labels.

Cooking With Leeks

Leeks are a mild wonderful vegetable, a "distant relative" to onions and garlic. Use these cooking tips and try them in place of regular onions in recipes.

They have a sweet delicate mild flavor. Their vibrant light green color is so pretty in dishes.    

Sauté Leeks

  1. In an extra-large heavy skillet, melt a tablespoon of butter or splash of olive oil, season with sea salt, and cracked pepper.
  2. Add the chopped leeks, and saute' over medium heat about 5-8 minutes until soft and light brown.
  3. Add a bit more butter to cooked leeks, for a delicious side dish called buttered leeks.

Roast Leeks

  1. Clean and chop leeks into ½ inch pieces. Rinse the cut pieces in colander and rinse very well to get all the sand and debrie removed. Pat dry with a clean paper or kitchen towel. You want them dry to roast well.
  2. On a large sheet pan, drizzle with olive oil, salt, and pepper and roast at 425° for 15 to 20 minutes, or until they're tender. Turn half way through at about the 10 minute mark.
Chopped leeks stirred in a pan with an olive wood spoon.

Top Leeks Tips

  • 2 large leeks or 3 medium yields about 2 cups (179g) sliced.
  • Buy several at once, clean, slice, and keep ready in the freezer for quick recipe preparation.
  • Leeks freeze well in zip-top bags and freezer containers, just like onions. It makes cooking go so much faster to have onions or leeks ready to cook with.
  • Most recipes call for the white part of the leeks or the light leafy green part. The darker green parts and dark green tops of the leek can be tougher, but are a great addition in homemade chicken stock and vegetable broths.
  • Think of leeks as giant green onions, and try them in different recipes in place of green onions aka scallions.
What Are Leeks?


Leeks are a vegetable that tastes like mild onions. They are part of the allium family also known as the onion family. They are closely related to garlic, chives, scallions, shallots, and all other onions.

What are popular leek recipes?


Use as a side dish, you can roast them with parmesan cheese, salt, and pepper. Leeks are famous in soups, stews, and vegetable or Chicken Stock.

Clean, chop and saute to add into pasta dishes, Parmesan Risotto, toss into an omelet, or sprinkle as a pizza topping. Bake into a cheesy French gratin, mix into roasted or Smashed Potatoes or in Hash Browns for breakfast.

Bake up a leek tart, a leek potato casserole, or use in scalloped potatoes.

What do leeks taste like?

Leeks have a delicate sweet, mild onion flavor.
They are classic in recipes like potato leek soup and gratins. They can be used in place of onions in creamy soups, stews, pasta, flatbreads, and so many other dishes.


Popular leek recipes are potato soup, cold vichyssoise, leek tarts and gratins.

More Leek Recipes

These are a couple of my favorite leek recipes, stuffed chicken breasts can be made ahead, and it makes the best pan sauce. Gorgonzola Stuffed Chicken will be a hit at family dinner with everyone, plus it's a low-carb recipe.

Stuffed Chicken Breasts Recipe
Stuffed Chicken Breasts makes a great weeknight family dinner, and is perfect for special occasions, holidays, or romantic date nights. Make ahead for entertaining, and has the best sauce with only one pan and a tiny bowl to clean! Try lots of different stuffings and ingredients.
GET THE RECIPE PIN IT
Cooked Gorgonzola Stuffed Chicken in pan sauce garnished with fresh thyme.

Chilled Cucumber Soup (aka White Gazpacho) is a refreshing Summer recipe with yogurt, grapes, green apples, topped with almonds and crab.

Cucumber Gazpacho Recipe
A chilled cucumber gazpacho recipe is so refreshing in the summer months with yogurt, grapes, and green apples, topped with almonds and lump crab meat. This cold cucumber soup recipe includes lots of other garnish topping ideas for you too!
GET THE RECIPE PIN IT
Chilled cucumber soup topped with crab meat and grape garnish served in bowls over ice.

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Bright green leeks held by rubber bands at a Farmers market.
Print Pin Recipe

How To Clean, Cut, and Cook Leeks

Learn how to clean and cut leeks, plus freezer storage tips. Creative recipe ideas to saute and roast them for soups, dinner, and sides.
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Servings 8 cups
Calories 54kcal
Author Lisa Hatfield

Equipment

Epicurean Non-Slip Cutting Board
Chef Knife

Ingredients

  • 2 large leeks
  • olive oil
  • sea salt
  • black pepper

Instructions

  • STEP 1: On a stable cutting board, use a good sharp knife and slice off the root end of the leek and discard.
  • STEP 2: From the root end, slice up through the leek half way. Leave the tough green top end connected. Fill up a large bowl of cold water. This is so you can soak and begin to wash the dirt off but not have leaves go everywhere. You will begin to see the sand in the bottom of the bowl of water. Use a circular motion and swish them around.
  • STEP 3: Use your hands to remove a lot of dirt. The bottom of the bowl of water will get quite gritty. Put the dark green tops into the water and continue to clean. Change the dirty water several times as you go.
  • STEP 4: Fan the leaves open underwater to be sure they are clean. And keep changing the water until clear.
  • STEP 5: Once clean, move to a cutting board. Now slice all the way through the length of the leeks. Place the flat cut side down on the cutting board.
  • STEP 6: Slice the entire leek into thin half moons for your recipe.

Notes

Pro Cooking Tips

2 large leeks or 3 medium yields about 2 cups (179g) sliced.
Buy several leeks at once,  clean, slice, and keep ready in the freezer for quick recipe preparation.
Most recipes call for the white and light green parts, the dark green parts can be tougher, but can be used in your chicken stocks and broths.
If the recipe calls for cooked leeks, you can saute them in a skillet with a splash of olive oil, just cook them like onions until soft and their edges are turning golden brown but not dark. 

Storing

After you buy leeks, refrigerate them unwashed in open plastic bags up to 1-2 weeks. 

Freezing

Press on a clean towel on leeks to dry, or use a salad spinner. Store clean and pre-sliced, in freezer zip lock bags for 3-4 months. 
Freeze the clean, dark green leek pieces in a ziplock bag, and use to make homemade stocks or broth.
Julienne Cut: Take 3-4 layers from leek halves, then fold in half lengthwise, and slice into thin long strips with a large chef's knife. Go slowly and use your best knife skills to slice leeks, they can slip so be careful.
Finer Slices: Take clean leek halves pieces with the flat side down, and start at one end and slice across into ⅛ inch thick half moon slices. You can then cut those strips into finer dice. How To Cut Leeks

Nutrition

Calories: 54kcal | Carbohydrates: 13g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 18mg | Potassium: 160mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 1484IU | Vitamin C: 11mg | Calcium: 53mg | Iron: 2mg
Tried this recipe?Let's see it on Instagram! Follow us @Delicious.Table and tag us on your recipe photo with #delicioustable
Need ingredients or equipment to make this recipe? Shop Now Every cooking product recommended I own, use, and love how they perform in my kitchen. Happy Cooking! Lisa
Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, Delicious Table earns advertising fees from qualified purchases linking to Amazon.com

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Katy Keck says

    July 02, 2020 at 6:04 pm

    5 stars
    Great to know you can freeze leeks. I love using them in quiche or egg dishes - such a sweet, yet mild taste, even better when caramelized. Now I won't have any grit!

    Reply
  2. Barbara Curry says

    June 25, 2020 at 2:26 pm

    5 stars
    Love that you broke this down and make it look so easy

    Reply
  3. Laura says

    June 23, 2020 at 6:52 pm

    5 stars
    I love fresh leeks! Thanks for this great post on how to get them squeaky clean.

    Reply
    • Lisa says

      June 23, 2020 at 7:11 pm

      Clean is definitely good when it comes to leeks! Someday soon, I will be sharing a recipe for potato leek soup that I learned from my Mom and it is good in the Winter (or can be served cold in the summer-vichyssoise soup) Thanks for stopping by Laura and for your comment.

      Reply
  4. Amy Engberson says

    June 23, 2020 at 4:39 pm

    5 stars
    Thank you for sharing! I don't usually buy leeks because the thought of cleaning them is overwhelming! Next time I'm at the store I'm grabbing some!

    Reply

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