Limited Edition Collector Blades
How to Chop Nuts (Coarse, Fine and Slivered)
How do you chop nuts? Pile them in the center of a board, hold the tip of a chef's knife down with your guide hand and rock the heel up and down through the pile, gathering the nuts back to the center as you go. Stop at coarse or keep going for fine. A wide chef's knife does this best. The Dalstrong Gladiator Series 8" Chef's Knife ($79) is German X50CrMoV15 at 54–56 HRC with a curved belly built for rocking.
Step by step
- Toast first (optional) at 350°F for 5–10 minutes until fragrant. Cool before chopping.
- Pile the nuts in the middle of the board.
- Anchor the tip. Rest your guide hand flat on the spine near the tip.
- Rock the heel through the pile.
- Gather scattered pieces with the blade's spine or a bench scraper and repeat.
- Sift through a strainer if you need even pieces; save the dust for crusts.
Chop size guide
| Size | Use |
|---|---|
| Coarse (halves to quarters) | Salads, granola, cookies |
| Medium | Brownies, quick breads |
| Fine | Crusts, coatings, pesto |
Tricks to stop flying nuts
- Halve round nuts like hazelnuts before chopping so they don't roll.
- Place a damp towel under the board so it can't slide.
- For a few nuts, press them with the flat of the blade first to crack them.
- Use a sharp knife; a dull blade crushes and launches nuts.
Different nuts
Soft nuts (walnuts, pecans) chop quickly. Hard nuts (almonds, hazelnuts) need more strokes and a sharp edge. For slivered or sliced almonds, buy them that way; they're hard to cut evenly by hand.
Our picks
Chef's Knife 8", Gladiator Series, ELITE, NSF Certified ($79). Spec sheet: German X50CrMoV15 steel, 54–56 HRC, 16–18° edge, NSF certified.
Chef's Knife 8", Shogun Series, Elite ($129). Spec sheet: Japanese AUS-10V core, 62+ HRC, 8–12° edge, 66-layer Damascus or hammered finish.
Santoku Knife 7", Gladiator Series, Elite, NSF Certified ($79). Spec sheet: German X50CrMoV15 steel, 54–56 HRC, 16–18° edge, NSF certified.
Related: how to hold a chef knife and the best knife for chopping herbs.
Hone before you start with a ceramic honing rod ($79). More: knife safety tips.
FAQ
How do you chop nuts by hand?
Pile them, anchor the knife tip and rock the heel through the pile, gathering them back as you go. A curved chef's knife like the Dalstrong Gladiator Series 8" Chef's Knife ($79) is best for rocking.
How do you keep nuts from flying when chopping?
Halve round nuts first, use a sharp knife and keep the tip anchored.
Should you toast nuts before or after chopping?
Usually before; whole nuts toast more evenly.
What knife is best for chopping nuts?
A wide chef's knife with a curved belly.
