How to clean a leek

By Devra Gartenstein

They’re like onions, only better. But they grow in dirt so they sometimes come with dirt hidden between their layers. Here’s how to find that pesky dirt and clean your leeks well, without a fuss.

1. Trim the top and bottom, but don’t take off more than you need because it’s all good food.
2. Cut the leek lengthwise and wash it in cold running water. Get between the layers because that’s where the dirt hides, especially where the green meets the white. 
3. Don’t separate the layers much while you wash the leek. If you keep them together they’ll be easy to cut, but if you separate them they’ll get curly and unruly.