How to Shave Fennel

Co-authored by wikiHow Staff

Last Updated: June 3, 2021 Tested

Fennel is a Mediterranean herb that has become popular because of its sweet, anise flavor. It is often sold as a big bulb similar to an onion with celery-like stalks growing out of it. Before you can use it, cut it down to size. Then, for a straightforward way to shave the fennel, make use of a vegetable peeler or a mandoline. Most kitchens have a peeler, so it’s a quick and cost-efficient option. If you have a mandoline, use it for a quicker way to prepare fresh fennel. The shaved fennel adds flavor to many dishes when cooked and can also be used raw in dishes like salads.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Cutting a Fennel Bulb

1
Set the fennel on a stable cutting board. Fennel bulbs are big, bulky, and difficult to cut on a slippery surface. After rinsing the fennel under running water, put it on a silicone or wood cutting board on your countertop. When you’re ready to cut the fennel, lay it on its side. Grip the base of the bulb to hold it steady.^{[1]
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- If your cutting board slides around while you’re slicing up the fennel bulb, put a damp paper towel underneath it.
2
Cut the stalks off the top part of the bulb. The white bulb will have several green, leafy stalks coming out of it. Plan on cutting each stalk about 1 in (2.5 cm) above where it attaches to the bulb. While holding the bulb steady, slice straight down through each stalk to remove it.
- To cleanly cut through the fennel, use a sharp knife. Pick one that is big enough to cut all the way through the fennel, such as a chef’s knife.
- The stalks and frond leaves have plenty of flavor, so consider saving them for another use. The stalks could be used to make vegetable stock, for instance. The leaves could be used for tea or salads.
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3
Trim the bottom of the bulb to make it flat. Turn the bulb around so the root end is accessible. Sometimes fennel bulbs have bits of brown, stringy roots still attached. If the fennel has any, remove them by cutting about 1 in (2.5 cm) from the end of the bulb. Slice straight down through the bulb to sever the roots.
- The root end of the bulb may need to be trimmed a little to even it out. Cut gradually and test the bulb by standing it on its root end. If it stays up, it will be easier to cut into shave-able pieces.
4
Peel away any tough or wilted outer layers on the bulb. The outer layers are similar to what you get with an onion. If they feel overly tough or rubbery, they won’t be pleasant to eat. Pull them off the fennel bulb by hand. Keep removing layers until you reach the soft, tender part of the bulb.^{[2]
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- In many cases, you only have to peel back 1 or 2 layers. It is the same as peeling the skin off an onion, so it doesn’t require any special tools.
5
Slice the bulb vertically in half after standing it on one end. Set the bulb on its root end, then hold onto it with your non-dominant hand. While keeping it steady, cut straight down through the bulb. Make sure you cut all the way through the center.
- You will end up with roughly equal halves. The halves can be shaved with a mandoline or cut again to be shaved with a vegetable peeler.
6
Check the fennel halves for roots or other debris. Sometimes the stringy roots or tough other layers are easy to miss until you cut into the bulb. Feel the bulb halves to make sure they feel soft and springy. If you notice anything, it will be easy to peel off from the cut halves.
- You can wait until after cutting the bulb in half to remove the outer layer. Remove the roots beforehand in order to keep the bulb stable while you’re cutting it.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Using a Vegetable Peeler

1
Slice halves of a fennel bulb into quarters. Position the fennel halves cut-side down on a cutting board. Hold onto the fennel with your non-dominant hand, taking care to keep your fingers out of the way. Then, make a lengthwise cut across the center of each half.^{[3]
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- If you’re planning on using a vegetable peeler, the fennel is easiest to work with when it’s in quarters instead of halves. The round shape and size of the halves make them difficult to shave by hand, but you can shave quarters with a single motion.
2
Hold the uncut edge of the fennel in your non-dominant hand. Keep a firm grip on a fennel quarter, tucking in your fingers so they are out of harm’s way. Try to position your fingers as far from the cut edge as possible. The peeler can catch your fingers if you’re not careful when you pull it across the cut portion of the fennel.^{[4]
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3
Run the peeler lengthwise down the fennel to shave it. Starting at the top of the fennel quarter, pull the peeler down toward the other end. Keep steady pressure on it to ensure the fennel doesn’t slip out from the peeler blade. Once the peeler reaches the end, move it back to the top again to continue. Repeat the process until you can no longer hold and peel the piece of fennel.^{[5]
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- Note that the fennel bulb has a tough inner core. It’s triangular-shaped at the base of the bulb. When you reach it, you can throw it away if you wish or save it with the stalks.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Operating a Mandoline

1
Fit a fennel half inside the mandoline’s safety guard. Mandolines are basically long boards with a blade in the middle. Since the blade is so sharp, use the included safety guard for protection. Position the fennel with the cut side down. Make sure it is well-secured inside the safety guard before continuing.^{[6]
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- While you can operate a mandoline without using a safety guard, the safety guard eliminates the possibility of cutting your fingers on the blade. Always use a safety guard if you have one. If you don’t have one, wear a cut-resistant glove.
2
Place the safety guard on the top edge of the mandoline. If you’re using a safety guard, fit it in the center of the board so it is above the blade. Some mandolines have raised edges to help hold the safety guard in place. If you’re not using a safety guard, tuck your fingers around the bulb to ensure they don’t come close to the blade.^{[7]
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- If you aren’t using a safety guard, you may need to move your fingers periodically to keep them elevated.
3
Run the fennel across the mandoline blade to shave it. Put pressure on the safety guard to press the fennel into the blade. While doing this, push it along the board. Drag it back up to the top and repeat to shave it. Keep going until you are no longer able to get any shavings. When you’re done, clear out the safety guard, then add the other half of the fennel bulb if you need to shave it as well.^{[8]
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- If you’re working without a safety guard, don’t move too quickly. It can be easy to forget where your fingers are once you get close to the end of the bulb half. Keep shaving it until it becomes difficult to hold.

Warnings

Be careful when using a knife or mandoline. To avoid accidents, make sure your cutting board is stable and take advantage of a mandoline safety guard or cut-resistant kitchen glove.

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