Tool safely separates, cuts cauliflower florets

I have never bought cauliflower, much less prepped it. But since I had a Chef’n Stalkchop cauliflower prep tool in hand, I was excited to have the chance to roast the florets — seeing so many cookbook pictures of the tanned and charred veggie was motivation. To make sure I was doing things right, I sought out my uncle, Tootsie, a retired cook, and we tested the gadget on heads of cauliflower and broccoli (“works great for broccoli, too,” says the instructions).

While the Stalkchop worked, my uncle wasn’t impressed. He said it didn’t save him time in prepping broccoli, and he preferred his knife to do the work. He did add, though, that the tool is much safer to use — great for a knife-challenged person like me.

When I initially tried the gadget, I didn’t remove the cauliflower leaves from the head. I just slid the metal blade between stalk and stem to gently pop off the florets. While that worked, the floret pieces varied in size. But the Stalkchop addressed that issue, easily chopping big chunks down to size.

It would have been easier to remove the florets if I had first removed the leaves — that is achieved by turning the cauliflower upside down and chopping them off with the tool. There is a slight curve to the metal blade, but it doesn’t seem to make a difference which way you use it.

In terms of the broccoli, my uncle’s preference for his knife is probably due to his own method of breaking down the head. While cutting off the broccoli florets, he also cleans the stalk and cuts it into thin pieces. His method results in little waste. But since the Stalkchop isn’t made to trim and clean broccoli stalks, there’s no way to complete that task without a knife.

Does it work?: Yes.

Pros: Safer than using a knife, so it’s a good tool for kids to use while helping out in the kitchen. It feels comfortable in the hand, is easy to grip firmly and easy to clean. Plus, it’s pretty.

Cons: Cannot clean stalks.

Cost: About $8 on various sites, including chefn.com and amazon.com.

Worth it?: Yes, for children, clumsy people and people who cannot maneuver knives.