Food Cooking Tips & Techniques Here's How to De-Stem Kale in 10 Seconds Making a dark leafy green salad has never been faster. By Heath Goldman Heath Goldman Heath Goldman is a trained chef, recipe developer, and writer. Real Simple's Editorial Guidelines Updated on October 13, 2022 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Discard stems and tear or chop leaves as needed. Photo: Kendyll Hillegas The health benefits of kale and other dark leafy greens like collards or mustard greens are undeniable. But it can be a huge pain to prep them. Stop using your knife to cut down either side of the stem and ditch any fancy gadgets that claim to do the job. All you need are two hands, a big bowl to catch your prepped leaves, and the following tips. 01 of 03 Hold Kendyll Hillegas Hold the stem end firmly with your non-dominant hand. 02 of 03 Gather Kendyll Hillegas Gather the leaves between the thumb and forefinger of your dominant hand. Pull back and away along the stem in one confident motion, applying even pressure to strip the leaves from both sides. (This works for thyme and rosemary, too.) 03 of 03 Discard Discard stems and tear or chop leaves as needed. Kendyll Hillegas Discard stems and tear or chop leaves as needed. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit