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Photo:Preethi Venkatram

different cuts/slices/chops of bell peppers on a cutting board

Preethi Venkatram

Whether green, red, orange or yellow,bell peppersare chameleons when it comes to the kitchen. Bell peppers are sweet, crunchy and colorful. This trifecta is what makes them such a great ingredient to work with. The veggie is good both raw and cooked and can be used in dishes from many different cuisines.

Bell peppers are equally delicious as a topping onpizza, stir-fried in dishes likeKung Pao Chicken,sautéedto top sandwiches, and loaded with fillings such as cheese, meat and veggies to makestuffed peppers. But figuring out how to cut this bell-shaped beauty is not exactly intuitive. That’s where we come in. Below, we’ve outlined all the ways bell peppers can be cut.

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How to Choose Bell Peppers

When selecting bell peppers, choose ones that are firm and feel heavier than they appear. Look for peppers that are vibrant in color with a smooth and shiny sheen. Avoid ones that are wrinkled, bruised or have soft spots. These are indications that the bell peppers are old or starting to decompose.

How to Prep Bell Peppers

Choosing the freshest bell peppers is important, but they also need to be prepped properly once you get home:

overhead view of four bell peppers in a colander in the sink, faucet washing them

How to Cut Bell Peppers to Be Stuffed

Stuffed bell peppersare a crowd pleaser. Lighter stuffed peppers (e.g., theseCauliflower Rice-Stuffed Peppers)make a great side dish, while others are filling enough to eat as a main course (e.g., theseJambalaya Stuffed Peppers).

To cut your bell pepper to be stuffed, follow these steps.

Step 1

Lay the pepper on its side on your cutting board.

red bell pepper on its side on a cutting board - hands holding the pepper and using a knife to slice off the top

Step 2

Slice off the stem end of the bell pepper, cutting off about 1/2 inch. If you’d like, reserve the top to use as a “lid.”

red bell pepper on its side on a cutting board - hands holding the pepper and using a knife to slice off the top

Step 3

Cut a small slice off the bottom of the pepper so that it can stand up on a stable base. Make sure to only cut a small sliver so as not to create any holes or gaps.

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Step 4

Next, run a knife along the inside flesh of the pepper to remove the core and seeds (you might need to use a paring knife rather than a chef’s knife for this task; discard or compost the core and seeds). Your pepper is now recipe-ready! Some stuffed pepper recipes have you steam or roast the prepped peppers before stuffing.

overhead view of a cutting board with a red bell pepper that has been cut open with seeds and insides scooped out.

How to Cut Bell Peppers into Rings

Bell peppers cut into rings are a great addition to salads and sandwiches. You can also turn them into deliciousBell Pepper Oven Fries. Here’s how to do it.

red bell pepper on its side on a cutting board - hands holding the pepper and using a knife to slice off the top

Slice off about 1/2 inch of the top (stem end) of the pepper. Discard or compost the stem and save the flesh around the stem for another use, such as makingstock. You can also just eat it as a snack.

Slice off the bottom of the pepper and save for another use.

Slide your knife around the inside of the pepper, removing the core and seeds (discard these).

hands using a small knife to core the pepper

Step 5

Return the pepper to its side and cut into rings.

hands slicing a red bell pepper into rings

How to Cut Bell Peppers into Strips

Bell pepper strips are great to eat withhummusorguacamoleand are the unsung hero in many sautéed dishes. Here’s how to do it.

Make a vertical cut and open up the bell pepper.

red bell pepper with top removed being held and sliced vertically

Lay the pepper skin-side down on your cutting board and slide your knife along the inside to remove the core, white pith and seeds. Discard.

hands maneuvering a red bell pepper and slicing the core out

Step 6

Now cut the pepper into long strips. Cut the reserved top and bottom into strips as well.

hands slicing a red bell pepper into strips

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How to Dice Bell Peppers

Diced bell peppers are great forsoups,chopped saladsandhash. They also make a fabulous addition toomelets. Here’s how to do it.

hands using a knife to cut the top off of a red bell pepper

Slice off about 1/2 inch from the top and bottom. Discard the stem and set the rest aside.

Make a vertical cut to open up the bell pepper.

Place the pepper skin-side down. Run your knife along the inside of the pepper and remove the core, white pith and seeds (discard these). For a small dice, slice the pepper into 1/4-inch-wide strips. For a medium dice, slice the pepper into 1/2-inch-wide strips. For a large dice, slice the pepper into 3/4-inch-wide strips.

Rotate the strips 90 degrees and cut them into evenly sized squares.

hands dicing a red bell pepper

Bottom Line

view from above of a cutting board with bell peppers sliced in various ways

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