Zucchini is one of the most versatile and abundant vegetables around. We’ll show you how to cut zucchini in 5 easy ways so that you can use it in a variety of nutritious meals for your family.

Medically reviewed and co-written by Jamie Johnson, Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN), and Lauren Braaten, Pediatric Occupational Therapist (OT).

In this guide, you’ll find: show

How to Cut Zucchini

Zucchini is a nutritious and mild-tasting veggie, which makes it perfect for fitting into salads, soups, breads, pasta, and more. Depending on the dish and the way you cut it, finding different ways to cut zucchini can make it feel like you’re creating a whole new recipe. If you feel like you’re stuck in a rut with serving zucchini the same old ways, don’t worry! We’ll review 5 easy ways to cut zucchini, each with a helpful step-by-step pictorial guide.

Hands holding three zucchini against a white background.

Recommended Tools

Frequently Asked Questions

Should you wash zucchini before cutting it?

Yes! Especially since most recipes advocate for leaving the skin on zucchini, you should always thoroughly wash and gently pat dry the outside of the zucchini to reduce exposure to any pesticide residue.

How can you tell if zucchini is ripe?

Look for zucchini that’s small in size (6-8 inches), firm, and has a vibrant color. Avoid zucchini with any bruising or cuts on the skin.

Should I choose organic zucchini?

Ideally, yes, when possible choose organic zucchini. This is because zucchini is usually eaten with the skin on. However, keep in mind that consuming non-organic veggies is still better than eating no veggies at all. And, according to research from the Environmental Working Group (EWG), zucchini was one of many fruits and vegetables that were classified as having a low to moderate pesticide residue score.

Three zucchini sitting on a white background.

How to Pick a Good Zucchini

Here are some tips on how to pick a fresh, ripe zucchini:

  • Size: ideally, you want zucchini that are small to medium-sized (no longer than 6-8 inches) for the best flavor and texture. If zucchini gets too large, the seeds and rind begin to harden, making it unpalatable.
  • Touch: a ripe zucchini should have the right level of firmness. Too soft means the zucchini may be rotting and is past its prime. The skin should be glossy and slightly prickly to the touch.
  • Color: choose zucchini with a vibrant green hue (although depending on the variety of zucchini, it may also be yellow or white). Avoid zucchini with any bruising or nicks.

Benefits of Zucchini

Zucchini is a nutrient-dense food and has many benefits. In addition, it’s soft and primarily water, making it a great option for hydrating babies.

  • High in vitamin C, which supports the immune system and helps with iron absorption
  • Contains beta-carotene, needed for healthy eyesight
  • A good source of potassium, an important electrolyte needed for fluid balance, muscle contractions and a normal blood pressure
  • Contains water and fiber, which support digestion and can help with constipation

How to Store Zucchini

If you plan to cook the zucchini within a few days, leave it out at room temperature. If you don’t plan to use the zucchini in a few days, you can store the whole zucchini in the crisper drawer in the fridge. This will help zucchini stay fresh for up to 2 weeks.

Store cut zucchini (rounds, plank, or diced) in an airtight container or Ziploc baggie in the crisper drawer of the fridge for up to 5 days. Keep spiralized or shredded zucchini in a sealed bowl or container lined with a few paper towels to absorb excess moisture. Store in the fridge and use within 2-3 days.

A blue plate with zucchini noodles.
A hand holding a zucchini against a white background.
A bright purple kids plate with chopped zucchini.
A bright pink kids plate with slices of zucchini.
A bright green kids plate with planks of zucchini.
A bright blue kids play with grated zucchini.

How to Cut Zucchini

Zucchini is one of the easiest veggies to cut and serve many different ways. Here are five of our favorite options for cutting zucchini:

  • Zucchini Rounds
  • Zucchini Planks
  • Diced Zucchini
  • Grated Zucchini
  • Zucchini Noodles

Tips for Cutting Zucchini

  • Wash well (when you’re ready to use it) – although you should keep zucchini as dry as possible to keep it fresh, you should always wash it thoroughly just before preparing it.
  • Cutting board – choose a cutting board with grooves along the outer edges. This will help with catching extra water from the zucchini as you cut, keeping your kitchen counter less messy.
  • Sharp knife – to avoid any accidents, make sure you are using a sharp knife when you cut zucchini.

Wash Zucchini

You should always thoroughly wash and gently pat dry the outside of the zucchini to remove any dirt and reduce exposure to any pesticide residue.

A wooden cutting board with two hands cutting a zucchini into slices.
A wooden cutting board with two hands cutting a zucchini into slices.
Hey wooden cutting board with an entire zucchini cut into slices.
A bright pink kids plate with slices of zucchini.

How to Cut Zucchini into Rounds

Zucchini rounds are great for eating raw, lightly steamed or roasted and put on top of salads, in casseroles, or in side dishes.

  1. Wash and dry the zucchini.
  2. On a large cutting board, using a sharp knife, cut off the stem.
  3. Slice zucchini into thin 1/4″ rounds.
  4. Repeat until finished.
A wooden cutting board with the top and bottom cut off of the zucchini.
A wooden cutting board with two hands cutting a zucchini into planks.
A wooden cutting board with two hands cutting a zucchini into planks.
A wooden cutting board with a zucchini cut into planks.
A bright green kids plate with planks of zucchini.

How to Cut Zucchini into Planks

Zucchini planks are perfect for roasting and serving on top of salads or using in a vegetable lasagna. If you cut zucchini into thicker spears and cook it, this is also a great way to serve to babies 6+ months.

  1. Wash and dry the zucchini.
  2. On a large cutting board, using a sharp knife, cut the ends off the zucchini.
  3. Cut zucchini lengthwise into thin 1/4-1/2 inch slices.
  4. Repeat until finished slicing.
A wooden cutting board with the top and bottom cut off of the zucchini.
Two hands cutting a zucchini into small pieces on a wooden cutting board against a white background.
Two hands cutting a zucchini into small pieces on a wooden cutting board against a white background.
Two hands cutting a zucchini into small pieces on a wooden cutting board against a white background.
A wooden cutting board with small pieces of zucchini cut perfect.
A bright purple kids plate with chopped zucchini.

How to Dice Zucchini

Diced zucchini is great for stir fry, in omelets, on top of pizza, or mixed into casseroles. It’s a great way to serve cooked zucchini to babies 9+ months.

  1. Wash and dry the zucchini.
  2. On a large cutting board, using a sharp knife, cut off the ends.
  3. Cut zucchini lengthwise into 1/2″ slices, depending on how thick the zucchini is.
  4. Rotate zucchini, and cut into 1/2 inch cubes.
  5. Repeat until finished.
Two hands cutting the top of the zucchini off.
Two hands grading a zucchini over a cutting board.
A wooden cutting board white background with a pile of grated zucchini.
A hand holding a paper towel with grated zucchini in it.
Hands holding a paper towel with grated zucchini getting the water out of it.
A bright blue kids play with grated zucchini.

How to Grate Zucchini

Use grated zucchini in breads, muffins, and soups for added flavor, nutrition and texture.

  1. Wash and dry the zucchini.
  2. On a large cutting board, using a sharp knife, cut off the stem at an angle.
  3. Place the grater onto a cutting board and hold with one hand.
  4. Hold zucchini with the other hand and grate to shred it.
  5. Place shredded zucchini into a paper towel or cheesecloth and gently squeeze to remove excess moisture.
And inspiralizer making spiral zucchini
And inspiralizer making spiral zucchini
A pile is zucchini noodles on top of a wooden cutting board.
A blue plate with zucchini noodles.

How to Make Zucchini Noodles

Zucchini noodles, also known as “zoodles” are great for, well noodles! Use them in place of regular noodles for a nutritious and fiber-rich alternative.

  1. Wash and dry the zucchini.
  2. On a large cutting board, using a sharp knife, cut off the stem at an angle.
  3. Place the grater onto a cutting board and hold with one hand. Hold zucchini with the other hand and grate to shred it.
  4. Gently pat spiralized zucchini with a paper towel or cheesecloth to remove excess moisture before cooking.
Graphic for post - how to cut zucchini with a grid of images against a white background showing colorful plates with different cuts of zucchini.

Get the recipe: Step-by-Step: How to Cut Zucchini

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A step-by-step guide on how to cut a zucchini, 5 fun and easy ways!
Yield: 2 servings
Prep: 5 minutes
Total: 5 minutes
Author: Michele Olivier
Course: Side Dish
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Ingredients 

  • 1 zucchini

Instructions 

HOW TO CUT ZUCCHINI INTO ROUNDS

  • Wash and dry zucchini. On a large cutting board, using a sharp knife, cut off the stem.
    A wooden cutting board with two hands cutting a zucchini into slices.
  • Slice zucchini into thin 1/4″ rounds.
    A wooden cutting board with two hands cutting a zucchini into slices.
  • Repeat until finished.
    A bright pink kids plate with slices of zucchini.

HOW TO CUT ZUCCHINI INTO PLANKS

  • Wash and dry zucchini. On a large cutting board, using a sharp knife, cut the ends off zucchini.
    A wooden cutting board with the top and bottom cut off of the zucchini.
  • Cut zucchini lengthwise into thin 1/4-1/2 inch slices.
    A wooden cutting board with two hands cutting a zucchini into planks.
  • Repeat until finished slicing.
    A bright green kids plate with planks of zucchini.

HOW TO DICE ZUCCHINI

  • Wash and dry zucchini. On a large cutting board, using a sharp knife, cut off the ends.
    A wooden cutting board with the top and bottom cut off of the zucchini.
  • Cut zucchini lengthwise into 1/2" slices, depending on how thick the zucchini is.
    Two hands cutting a zucchini into small pieces on a wooden cutting board against a white background.
  • Rotate zucchini, and cut into 1/2 inch cubes.
    Two hands cutting a zucchini into small pieces on a wooden cutting board against a white background.
  • Repeat until finished.
    A bright purple kids plate with chopped zucchini.

HOW TO GRATE ZUCCHINI

  • Wash and dry zucchini. On a large cutting board, using a sharp knife, cut off the stem at an angle.
    Two hands cutting the top of the zucchini off.
  • Place the grater onto a cutting board and hold with one hand. Hold zucchini with the other hand and grate to shred it.
    Two hands grading a zucchini over a cutting board.
  • Place shredded zucchini into a paper towel or cheesecloth and gently squeeze to remove excess moisture.
    Hands holding a paper towel with grated zucchini getting the water out of it.
  • Let air dry until ready to cook or bake with.
    A bright blue kids play with grated zucchini.

HOW TO MAKE ZUCCHINI NOODLES

  • Wash and dry zucchini. On a large cutting board, using a sharp knife, cut off the stem at an angle.
    A wooden cutting board with two hands cutting a zucchini into slices.
  • Place zucchini into spiralizer, turn the handle to spin zucchini.
    And inspiralizer making spiral zucchini
  • Gently pat spiralized zucchini with a paper towel or cheesecloth to remove excess moisture before cooking.
    A blue plate with zucchini noodles.

Equipment

Cuisinart Knife Set

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