Wash: Before cutting, rinse the Brussels sprouts under cold water to remove any dirt or debris. Pat them dry with a clean towel.
Trim: Place a Brussels sprout on your cutting board. Using your knife, trim off the tough, woody base, but avoid cutting too much, as this holds the leaves together. Once the end is trimmed, peel away the outermost leaves.
Halves
Position the sprout on your cutting board again. Slice the sprout lengthwise in half from top to base. If you want smaller pieces for your recipe, or if the sprouts are particularly large, you can also quarter them by cutting the halves in two.
Shreds
If you're making a Brussels sprouts slaw or salad, place a halved sprout flat-side down and thinly slice it to create fine shreds.