In this post, learn how to cut a head of cauliflower into florets or steaks with ease. You can then use the cauliflower florets or steaks for roasting, steaming, grilling, or more! All you need is a good chef’s knife, a cutting board, and a few minutes of time.

Head of cauliflower on a white dish towel

Do you ever buy a full head of cauliflower, but wonder if there is an easier way to cut it? Whether you want to cut cauliflower into florets or cauliflower steaks, I have got you covered!

In this post, learn how to safely and easily cut cauliflower into florets or steaks. It takes just a few minutes to prep cauliflower for cooking your favorite healthy cauliflower recipes, like lemon garlic roasted cauliflower, roasted cauliflower tacos, mashed cauliflower, Moroccan spiced cauliflower, cauliflower soup, or cauliflower piccata.

To cut cauliflower, all you need is a cutting board and a good knife. I recommend an 8-inch chef’s knife for this.

Step-by-step video

Cauliflower nutrition & health benefits

Cauliflower is an incredibly healthy vegetable to include in your diet. As a Registered Dietitian, it’s one of my personal favorite vegetables to cook with and eat!

One cup of raw cauliflower provides:

  • 2.1 grams of dietary fiber (8% of your daily needs)
  • 2.1 grams of plant-based protein
  • 60.99 mcg folate (15% of your daily needs)
  • 0.714 mg pantothenic acid (14% of your daily needs)
  • 0.197 mg Vitamin B6 (12% of your daily needs)
  • 51.6 mg Vitamin C (57% of your daily needs)
  • 16.6 mcg Vitamin K (14% of your daily needs)

As a member of the cruciferous vegetable family, cauliflower is rich in a beneficial plant compound called sulforaphane. This compound has potent anti-inflammatory effects, protecting our cells against certain diseases. Other cruciferous veggies like cauliflower include kale, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, and cabbage.

How to cut cauliflower into florets

  1. Begin by removing all the leaves from the cauliflower head using your hands or a small knife.
  2. Using a chef’s knife, cut the head of cauliflower in half, through the core.
  3. Cut the two halves in half, making four quarters total.
  4. Make a 45° angle cut up into the cauliflower at the core on each side, so the core is easily removed.
  5. Cut off any remaining leaves that you missed and discard.
  6. Use your hands to easily break the cauliflower into its naturally occurring florets.
  7. Then, use a knife to cut the large florets into smaller ones, if desired.
Two cauliflower halves on a wooden cutting board
Cut cauliflower in half
Cut cauliflower in half
head of cauliflower quartered sitting on a wooden cutting board
Cut cauliflower into quarters
hand cutting the core of a cauliflower off of a quarter of a head of cauliflower on a wooden cutting board
Cut out the core away from the cauliflower florets

hands tearing a cauliflower floret apart
Easily break into florets with your hands
hands cutting up a small piece of cauliflower on a wooden cutting board
Cut into smaller florets if desired

How to cut cauliflower steaks

  1. Begin by ripping off or cutting of the large leaves on the head of cauliflower.
  2. Cut off any protruding piece of core, leaving a flat surface.
  3. Place the head of cauliflower solidly on a cutting board core side down.
  4. Cut the cauliflower in half through the core.
  5. Prop one of the cauliflower halves up, core side down. Starting with the cut side, slice it into 2-3 steaks, about 1 inch thick each. Repeat with the other half.

I find that I can get 4-6 cauliflower steaks from one head of cauliflower, depending on how big the cauliflower is. With the leftover cauliflower pieces, you can just cut them into florets and use them in another recipe that doesn’t require steaks.

Head of cauliflower with leaves removed sitting upside down on a wooden cutting board
Remove the leaves and protruding piece of the core
head of cauliflower cut in half on a wooden cutting board
Cut the cauliflower in half

cauliflower cut into a steak slice on a wooden cutting board
Cut each half into 2-3 steaks

How to store cauliflower florets and steaks

If you’d like, you can cut cauliflower a few days in advance of cooking. Cut cauliflower keeps well in the fridge for up to three days.

Store raw cauliflower florets and steaks in an airtight container in the refrigerator. If you are storing cauliflower in a baggie, squeeze out as much air as possible from the baggie to avoid oxidation.

Can you freeze cauliflower?

Yes! You can freeze cauliflower florets for later use. After cutting cauliflower into florets, here’s how to freeze it:

  • Blanch cauliflower florets in boiling water for 1 minute. Transfer to a bowl of ice water to stop the cooking process.
  • Strain the cauliflower from the ice water and pat dry to remove excess moisture.
  • Arrange cauliflower florets on a parchment paper lined baking sheet, being sure not to let any of the florets touch. Freeze for 2 hours. This prevents the florets from clumping together when frozen.
  • Transfer the pre-frozen florets to a freezer-safe bag or storage container. Freeze for up to 3 months.
Cauliflower florets on a wooden cutting board

Healthy cauliflower recipes

Now that you have cauliflower florets or steaks, it’s time to cook! I have linked some of my favorite cauliflower recipes, below:

Let me know if you love this post by leaving a comment or star rating below, and check out Instagram and Pinterest for more healthy lifestyle inspiration. Thanks for stopping by!

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head of cauliflower quartered sitting on a wooden cutting board

How to Cut Cauliflower: Florets or Steaks

  • Author: Alex Aldeborgh
  • Prep Time: 5 minutes
  • Total Time: 5 minutes
  • Yield: 1 cauliflower 1x
  • Category: main dish
  • Method: no cook
  • Cuisine: American
  • Diet: Vegan
Print Recipe

Description

In this post, learn how to cut a head of cauliflower into florets or steaks with ease. You can then use the cauliflower florets or steaks for roasting, steaming, grilling, or more! All you need is a good chef’s knife, a cutting board, and a few minutes of time.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 head of cauliflower

Instructions

Cauliflower florets

  1. Remove the large leaves from the core using your hands or a small knife.
  2. Cut the cauliflower in half, through the core. Then cut each half in half, making four quarters.
  3. Make a 45° angle cut up into the cauliflower at the core on each side, so the core is easily removed.

Steps of cutting a cauliflower: cauliflower cut in half, then in quarters, then hands cutting the core out of a quarter

  1. Cut off any remaining leaves and core using a knife.
  2. Use your hands to easily break the large pieces of cauliflower into their naturally occurring florets.
  3. You can then cut the larger florets into smaller, more evenly sized pieces with a knife.
    Steps of cutting cauliflower into florets: breaking large piece of cauliflower apart, cutting a piece of cauliflower in half, cauliflower florets on a wooden cutting board

Cauliflower steaks

  1. Rip off with your hands, or cut off with a knife the large leaves on the head of cauliflower.
  2. Cut off the protruding piece of core, leaving a flat surface made from the core.

  3. Place the head of cauliflower solidly on a cutting board, core side down.

  4. Cut the cauliflower in half through the core.

  5. Prop one of the cauliflower halves up, core side down. Starting with the cut side, slice it into 2-3 steaks, about 1 inch thick each. Repeat with the other half.
    Steps of cutting cauliflower steaks: cauliflower with leaves removed, cauliflower cut in half, cauliflower half cut into a sliced steak

Notes

How to store cauliflower florets and steaks

If you’d like, you can cut cauliflower a few days in advance of cooking. Cut cauliflower keeps well in the fridge for up to three days.

Store raw cauliflower florets and steaks in an airtight container in the refrigerator. If you are storing cauliflower in a baggie, squeeze out as much air as possible from the baggie to avoid oxidation.

Can you freeze cauliflower?

Yes! You can freeze cauliflower florets for later use. After cutting cauliflower into florets, here’s how to freeze it:

  • Blanch cauliflower florets in boiling water for 1 minute. Transfer to a bowl of ice water to stop the cooking process.
  • Strain the cauliflower from the ice water and pat dry to remove excess moisture.
  • Arrange cauliflower florets on a parchment paper lined baking sheet, being sure not to let any of the florets touch. Freeze for 2 hours. This prevents the florets from clumping together when frozen.
  • Transfer the pre-frozen florets to a freezer-safe bag or storage container. Freeze for up to 3 months.

Keywords: cauliflower florets, cauliflower steaks, how to cut cauliflower, how to cut cauliflower into florets, how to cut cauliflower steaks