By Timothy Hales | Updated: October 17, 2021
Parsley is a common herb that can simply be used to garnish a plate of food. It is also an excellent addition to any dish with its neutral herb flavor. In this guide, I go into the details of How to cut parsley.
There are two types of parsley: flat leaf and curly leaf. The flat leaf variety tends to have more flavor than the curly leaf and is primarily used in cooking. The curly leaf is often used as decoration; however, it can be used is cooking as well.
Table of Contents
What you need
- Chef Knife
- Cutting Board
- Parsley Bunch
- Bowl with cold water
In the demonstration below I use the J.A. Henckels International Chef Knife and the Greener Chef Bamboo Cutting Board.
How to cut parsley
Step 1 – Wash parsley in bowl of water.
Wash parsley by dunking the parley in a bowl of cold water. This allows the dirt to fall to the bottom of the bowl. Empty water and repeat until no dirt remain in the bowl.
Step 2 – Pat parsley dry with paper towel.
Hold the parsley upsidedown and shake to remove excess water. Pat dry with a paper towel.
Step 3 – Cut parsley leaves from the stem.
Remove leaves from stems. Use a knife to shave the leaves off in an angled and downward motion.
The stems also have flavor and can be used in cooking.
Step 4 – Gather parsley leaves into a tight bunch.
Gather parsley leaves in a tight pile. You may need to roll the leaves as you gather them.
Step 5 – Slice parsley into smaller pieces.
Hold parsley bunch together, and slice leaves into smaller pieces. If you want a fine consistency, continue to step 6. 
Step 6 – Chop parsley using rocking motion.
Chop the cut parsley by using a rocking motion with your chef knife. Gather parsley into a pile and repeat until you have minced that parsley into the desired consistency.
Tips
- Chop or mince your parsley in as few cutting strokes as possible to avoid losing color and flavor.
- Use kitchen scissors to remove small amounts of parsley from the stems.
Substitutes for parsley
- Chervil
- Cilantro
How to store parsley
Cut Parsley
Place cut parsley in an airtight container with a damp paper towel. Will remain usable for 4-6 hours.
Freeze in an ice cube tray with water or broth. Store up to 3 months.
Uncut Parsley Leaves
Wrap uncut parsley in a damp paper towel, place in a plastic bag, and refrigerate. They will be usable for 3-5 days.
Parsley Boquet
- Gather parsley into a bunch and trim the bottom of the stems.
- Place parsley bunch in a jar of water. Be sure to remove and use any leaves that are below the water level.
- Cover the parsley with a plastic bag to create a moist and humid environment. Keep the bag loose to allow air flow.
- Parsley will remain fresh for 2-3 weeks.
Parsley Recipies
Seared Chicken Breast with Lemon Herb Pan Sauce
