Food Cooking Tips & Techniques How to Julienne Carrots Like a Pro Fancy slicing and dicing isn't as difficult as it looks. Follow these steps to create perfect julienned matchsticks every time. By Maggie Shi Maggie Shi Maggie Shi is a freelance writer, editor, and recipe developer with 25 years of experience in the media industry. She is a former deputy editor at Real Simple. Maggie is also a psychotherapist practicing in New York City. Highlights: * 25 years of experience in the media industry * Author of Slow Cooker Family Favorites, published 2016 * Certified Kansas City Barbeque Society judge * Former editorial assistant at Epicurious * Former associate producer & editor at FoodNetwork.com * Former producer & editor at MTV.com * Former editor at MarthaStewart.com * Former senior food editor at iVillage * Former deputy editor at Real Simple * Former interim editorial director at Penguin Random House * Former editor at NBCUniversal * Freelance writer, editor, and recipe developer - nearly 9 years * Current therapist at Humantold and Metropolitan Center for Mental Health * Graduated from Princeton University, New York University, and the Institute of Culinary Education Real Simple's Editorial Guidelines Published on May 9, 2017 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Photo: John Cullen/Getty Images Cutting carrots into a julienne—thin strips that resemble matchsticks—may sound like a daunting task that requires fancy knife skills, many hours of practice, or a culinary school degree (or a combo of all three), but it's easy once you learn the basic technique. You'll be rewarded with a pretty pile of matchstick-size carrots that are great for garnishing salads and adding to sautés and stir-fries. Before you start, it's important to make sure you have a sharp chef's knife to handle the job; a sharp knife ensures cuts will be clean and helps prevent the blade from slipping, which means you're less likely to cut yourself in the process. A sturdy cutting board is a must, too. Once you've mastered this technique, you can apply it to many other vegetables—potatoes, celery, and more. 01 of 04 Peel and Trim John Cullen/Getty Images First, peel the carrot. (Tip: We love using a Y-shape Swiss peeler—the basic one from Kuhn Rikon works like a dream and is favored by professional chefs everywhere. Plus, it's inexpensive!) Trim off the top and bottom ends of the carrot and discard. 02 of 04 Cut Smaller Pieces Slice the carrot crosswise into pieces about 2 inches long, depending on the size of your carrot and the desired length of matchsticks you want. The idea is to create pieces that are similar in size, so the resulting julienne is uniform. 03 of 04 Create a Flat (and Stable) Surface Cut a thin slice lengthwise from one side of each carrot piece, creating a flat surface. Roll the carrot onto its flat side, creating a stable bottom that will prevent the carrot or your knife from slipping, protecting your fingers and making the rest of your cuts a cinch. 04 of 04 Start Slicing Cut the carrot pieces lengthwise into ⅛-inch thick slices. Stack the slices on top of each other, then slice lengthwise into ⅛-inch thick strips, creating uniform matchsticks. And voilà—you've got perfectly julienned carrots. Use this technique with different veggies (cucumbers, zucchini, potatoes) to create perfect strips every time. 18 Incredibly Easy Carrot Recipes That Taste Delicious Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit