How do you cut up carrots into sticks...

[Fujiko]

...without maiming yourself?

Me and my bloody almost-stumps want to know.

[jeanine123]

Buy them already cut.

Did you try cutting the carrot in half and then placing the flat side on the board and cutting the sticks from that half? Though cutting it in half can be tricky, maybe use the peeler to peel some extra off of one side to make more of a flat/stable side to lay on the board before starting in on the cutting? And a really sharp knife can make all the difference.

[Magelet]

a few things:
a really sharp knife and a stable cutting board
I cut the carrots into their final length first. (so that I'm working with a say... 4 inch carrot rather than 8.)

Then carefully cut them in half. once they are in half you can put cut side down and have a flat surface and then it's pretty easy.

[KristyDi]

Originally Posted by Magelet

a few things:
a really sharp knife and a stable cutting board
I cut the carrots into their final length first. (so that I'm working with a say... 4 inch carrot rather than 8.)

Then carefully cut them in half. once they are in half you can put cut side down and have a flat surface and then it's pretty easy.

[Fujiko]

Originally Posted by Magelet

a few things:
a really sharp knife and a stable cutting board
I cut the carrots into their final length first. (so that I'm working with a say... 4 inch carrot rather than 8.)

Then carefully cut them in half. once they are in half you can put cut side down and have a flat surface and then it's pretty easy.

A really sharp knife: CHECK
A stable cutting board: CHECK
Cutting carrots into their final length: CHECK
Carefully cut them in half: ...um how? If I hold it with the carrot laying horizontally, the carrots rolls under the knife. If I hold it vertically (like a log), it could slip and I could put the knife into my fingers instead (ask me how I know this).

I think a pp mentioned shaving a little off of one side to make a flat side...I might try that today.

[mamadelbosque]

erm... just hold one end carefully while its horizontal, then cut quickly with the knife in half. Not hard.

[velochic]

I hold the carrot piece (fingertips tucked in, using the knuckles to guide the knife) and slice one sliver off of the side. Then it has a flat surface to keep it stable. After that, just make slices, stack the slices and finish the julienne. The first sliver taken off is thin enough that you can just julienne it quickly by itself. Remember, fingertips tucked in and knuckles as your guide. You can make FAST work of prep with this one simple rule.

[jeanine123]

When I cut a carrot in half I stick the knife a little ways into the carrot, so it won't slip or slide. Then I move all fingers out of the cutting zone and on top of the knife and push down to finish the cut.

[Juvysen]

Originally Posted by Fujiko

A really sharp knife: CHECK
A stable cutting board: CHECK
Cutting carrots into their final length: CHECK
Carefully cut them in half: ...um how? If I hold it with the carrot laying horizontally, the carrots rolls under the knife. If I hold it vertically (like a log), it could slip and I could put the knife into my fingers instead (ask me how I know this).

I think a pp mentioned shaving a little off of one side to make a flat side...I might try that today.

If it's rolling when your knife hits it, your knife probably isn't really sharp enough... how often do you sharpen your knives? My knives slide right through carrots like buttuh but I keep them extremely sharp and hone them before every use.

[beanma]

This might be something to ask a friend to show you how to do it in person. It's not really very hard with sharp knives or dull knives. I think my mom has the dullest knives ever and I can cut a carrot just fine with hers or mine. I do like jeanine123. I peel it first, then cut each end off. Then holding the far end of the carrot I poke the knife down into the closer end of the carrot (usually the big end) at about a 45 degree angle. Once the knife is in far enough I angle the knife down and slice that end in two. Then I rotate the carrot so the cut end is away from me and the uncut end (the small end) is toward me. I stick the knife back in the same cut that I just made and, holding the far end (big end) of the carrot again (now the cut end) I angle the knife down pull it toward me and finish cutting it in two. Once you've got two big flat sides it's pretty easy. You can cut it horizontally first if that's easier.

[Storm Bride]

I cut the carrot into the lengths I want first.
Then, I hold each piece on the cutting board, with my thumb on one side, and my index finger on the other side, and cut the carrot in half lengthwise.
Then, I cut into the stick of the thickness I want.