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[-] southsamurai@sh.itjust.works 12 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

A few ways you do it.

First is for bigger cukes only, really. You cut it in half first. Seems like it isn't answering what you actually asked, but there is an upper limit to how big a slice can get before it's too big. So once a cuke is much bigger than maybe an inch and a half (a little under 4 cm) wide, cut it in half first.

Second is to sacrifice a slice length wise. Take your knife, cut a ribbon off of one side,and you'll have a flat part thru not only reduces/prevents rolling slices, it also makes the job easier. It's a little less pretty maybe, but effective.

Third is to slice at an angle. The rounds then fall over before they can roll. It's also visually appealing, if maybe not better than standard slices.

Fourth, use a barrier. Some damp paper towels (or cloth ones) placed on the edge of your cutting board will stop the slices from going past. Yeah, you can use dry ones, but they tend to move easier, so paper towels will blow away (and cloth ones get knocked away by errant elbows.) But any barrier will do tbh. A long handled spoon, your honing rod, whatever.

Fifth, use a jig. I'm not aware of any brands, but there's veggie cutting jigs with even slice sizes. They have the side benefit of holding things like carrots, cukes, or zucchini and keeping the slices in place. Haven't used one in ages, so I'd have to go searching for a link, and you can do that just as easily; but if you can't find anything, holla back and I'll see what I can find. But you can make your own with a little ingenuity and access to a band saw or even the right hand tools, but the plastic ones are cheaper and lighter.

Sixth is using a damp towel on your cutting surface. I wouldn't do it, but if you pay attention to what you're doing, you won't fuck up the towel and it does work. Has to be damp though, something about that makes the skin grab better than on a dry one.

Seventh is using your hands and speed. If you're feeding the cuke along with the ol' claw finger technique, and slicing/chopping fast, they don't get a chance to roll.

As an alternative to that, the eighth I'm aware of is to partially slice through on your first pass, then come back and finish. The slices don't roll. Won't work on more fibrous veggies, but stuff like cukes or zucchini will stay in place just fine. Takes longer though.

Tbh though, I've always had more trouble with carrots, even with very thin knives that don't wedge much. Which, that helps too, btw. If you pick up a cheap Kiwi nakiri (kiwi is a cheap brand of stamped steel knives, but they rock for some jobs better than the fanciest and most expensive knives. Try one with onions and you'll see what I mean for sure), you'll have way less wedging, so there's less force applied along the side of the slice, meaning they don't roll as much.

Shit, you could probably just push the end of the cuke/zucchini against something weighty as you slice and as long as you don't push hard, it would at least reduce the force the slices would roll with, meaning they wouldn't go far.

Sharp knives also reduce the problem because they go through with less force, leading to less motion as the slices part from the body of the veg.

Legit though, doesn't matter what you do, you'll have some escapees with thick slices. Cukes are much rounder than most similar shaped veggies, and often have smoother skin. So they roll easier than most. Like I said, I had more trouble with carrots, until I got my techniques down and knives that let me do the job smoothly. A decent knife with a thin profile, kept sharp and used appropriately to the design of the knife tends to apply the force in a way that slices fall laterally rather than roll. Plus, if you slice conservatively, the force you're applying across the veg doesn't have enough energy to get the slice moving much. That's easier with a well maintained knife.

Edit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dKwE1jHNEww

This is an adaptive system, but the jig they have on it is the first example I found.

[-] ascallion@lemmy.world 1 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

Thanks! This is really helpful. I think it's the slicing things at an angle I'm missing when doing them whole

[-] Bratosch@lemmy.world 7 points 2 weeks ago

How round are y'alls cucumbers?? When I slice it the pieces just tip over

[-] Skullgrid@lemmy.world 4 points 2 weeks ago

I've sliced cucumbers for many years. I have yet to frequently encounter the same cylinders OP is buying. they usually have a more flat side, or just tilt the knife a little after you cut and the cucumber is stuck to the knife.

[-] jrubal1462@mander.xyz 6 points 2 weeks ago

I don't. I make one careful, lengthwise cut, then I slice up the halves to get a bunch of semi-circlss. Mostly, I just do this so the cucumber stays planted on the board better (for safety), but not losing the round slices is a nice secondary benefit.

[-] AbouBenAdhem@lemmy.world 5 points 2 weeks ago

Cut the slices at a slight angle so they tilt over if they roll.

[-] Sharkticon@lemmy.zip 3 points 2 weeks ago

Thats just simply never been an issue for me when cutting cucumber...

[-] Iconoclast@feddit.uk 2 points 2 weeks ago

Cut thinner slices? Idk. That never happens to me and I slice cucumber daily. I don't think I could make a slice roll even if I tried to - they just fall over.

[-] orbituary@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 points 2 weeks ago

Angle the blade slightly so it's not perpendicular to the cucumber.

[-] nocturne@piefed.social 2 points 2 weeks ago

I use a mandolin usually. But also when cutting a cucumber, i usually cut it into quarters lengthwise before slicing it.

[-] just_another_person@lemmy.world 2 points 2 weeks ago
[-] FuglyDuck@lemmy.world 1 points 2 weeks ago

So I got myself a mandolin, and the hippie who sold it to me asked if I wanted to join his band. Now I play the mandolin (very badly,) for a hippie band. The music sucks but the weed is great.

[-] MIDItheKID@lemmy.world 1 points 2 weeks ago

And a chain mail glove.

Not joking. You can get them cheap and they will save your finger tips.

Mandolins usually come with those plastic things to hold the food you are slicing, but I always find them to be awkward and kinda sketchy. Like they can slip off the track and send your knuckle down on the blade etc.

Chain mail glove.

[-] Kolanaki@pawb.social 1 points 2 weeks ago

Cut it just down to the skin so the skin holds it together but can easily be broken when you go to plate/put in a bowl with stuff.

[-] blimthepixie@lemmy.dbzer0.com 0 points 2 weeks ago

Is...is...is your chopping board level?

[-] ascallion@lemmy.world 1 points 2 weeks ago

Yes! I don't know, they just take off on their own sometimes...

[-] dcoe@lemmy.world 0 points 2 weeks ago

I don’t. Raw pickles are disgusting.

[-] kayzeekayzee@lemmy.blahaj.zone 7 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)
[-] cecilkorik@lemmy.ca 1 points 2 weeks ago

My cousin thought pickles came from a different plant than cucumbers and it was glorious, we will never let him live it down.

this post was submitted on 16 Feb 2026
18 points (90.9% liked)

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