How to Clean Leeks

Step-by-step instructions for cleaning and prepping leaks. We include instructions for cleaning whole leeks and chopped leaks for soup.

By
Elise Bauer
Elise Bauer
Elise Bauer
Elise founded Simply Recipes in 2003 and led the site until 2019. She has an MA in Food Research from Stanford University.
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Updated January 25, 2024
Elise Bauer

Consider the leek.

It's majestic, a titan in the onion family.

Mostly just the white and light green parts are eaten, though the darker green parts have plenty of flavor and can either be cooked longer to tenderize them, or used when making homemade soup stock.

Leeks Washed at a Kitchen Sink in the Background, and in the Foreground, a Cutting Board and Four Washed Leeks on the Counter

Simply Recipes / Elise Bauer

Leeks Are Dirty

The challenge when cooking with leeks is that they are almost always dirty. When leeks are grown, soil is piled up around them, so that more of the leek is hidden from the sun, and therefore lighter in color and more tender.

What produces a beautiful leek, a long pale body, also results in sand and dirt being lodged deep inside the leek.

Two Ways to Clean Leeks

There are basically two ways to clean leeks, the method you use depends upon how you are going to use the leeks in cooking. The easiest way is to prepare them chopped for use in soup.

A little more challenging is preparing a leek for use in a recipe that requires whole leeks. Both methods are detailed here.

Bowl of Washed Leeks

Simply Recipes / Elise Bauer

Have Leeks? Here Are Some Great Recipes to Use Them With:

Bowl of Leeks

Simply Recipes / Elise Bauer

How to Clean Leeks

Prep Time 10 mins
Total Time 10 mins
Servings 2 to 12 servings
Yield 1 to 6 cleaned leeks

Choose leeks that are about an inch thick, and have a long white to pale green shaft. The pale parts are the most useable.

Ingredients

  • Fresh leeks

Method

Rinse the leeks

  1. Rinse:

    Before getting started with either method, rinse the leeks under water to remove visible dirt or sand.

    several long fresh leeks before cleaning them
    Elise Bauer
    leeks are dirty
    Elise Bauer

Preparing leeks for soup

  1. Remove the roots and slice:

    Cut off the roots of the leeks. Slice the leeks lengthwise.

    Best Potato Leek Soup slice the leeks lengthwise
    Elise Bauer
  2. Make crosswise cuts:

    Decide how much of the leek greens you want to use. They are tougher and can be stronger tasting, but soften with long cooking.

    The last couple of inches of the dark green ends should probably be discarded or saved for making stock. (I put mine in a plastic bag and drop it in the freezer.)

    Make crosswise cuts along the parts of the leek that you intend to use.

    slice leeks crosswise to prepare leeks for soup
    Elise Bauer
  3. Rinse in a bowl of cold water:

    Place the chopped leeks into a bowl and fill with cold water. (If the leeks are especially dirty, rinse them first in a colander, before covering with water.) Use your hands to agitate the leeks and dislodge any dirt or sand that may be clinging to them.

    rinse leek slices under running water to clean the leeks
    Elise Bauer
    sliced leeks, rinsed and drained
    Elise Bauer

    Scoop the leeks out of the water with a sieve or slotted spoon and place in a new bowl.

Cleaning and prepping whole leeks

  1. Cut from opening to ends of greens:

    Place leek on a cutting board. Insert the tip of a sharp knife about a 1/4-inch below the lowest opening in the leek.

    Cut straight through, up to and through the green ends of the leek, leaving the pale part of the leek whole.

    best way to clean leeks
    Elise Bauer
    easy way to clean leeks
    Elise Bauer
  2. Rinse:

    Fan open the leek and place under cold running water. Rinse out any dirt or sand. If the leek is especially dirty, you may want to make another similar cut through the leek to further be able to fan the leek open.

    rinse cut leek under running water to remove dirt from the leek
    Elise Bauer
  3. Cut off dark green tops:

    Cut off the dark green tops of the leek, reserving on the body of the leek as much of the dark green as you want. We like the taste (it's basically just a big onion green), so we typically keep about 2 to 3 inches or so of the dark green part with the body of the leeks.

    cut off the top green parts of the leeks to prep the leeks
    Elise Bauer

    Discard the dark greens or save them to flavor soups or stews, or use for making stock.

  4. Cut of the root end of the leeks:

    Stay as close to the roots as possible. Cutting close to the roots will hold the leeks together when cooking them whole.

    cut the root end off the leek before cleaning the leek
    Elise Bauer
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
6 Calories
0g Fat
2g Carbs
0g Protein
×
Nutrition Facts
Servings: 2 to 12
Amount per serving
Calories 6
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 0g 0%
Saturated Fat 0g 0%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 2mg 0%
Total Carbohydrate 2g 1%
Dietary Fiber 0g 1%
Total Sugars 0g
Protein 0g
Vitamin C 1mg 4%
Calcium 6mg 0%
Iron 0mg 1%
Potassium 18mg 0%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate. In cases where multiple ingredient alternatives are given, the first listed is calculated for nutrition. Garnishes and optional ingredients are not included.