Squaring Off; “Parer” is the French term, is the first step for creating most of the classic cuts in The Cuts Matrix™. It is a concept that often elicits an emphatic “duh” from new chef's. Especially, from new cook's who have spent years literally chasing their naturally round-shaped product, across their cutting boards.

Squaring Off is a prerequisite step in The Cuts Matrix™ achieved by cutting off the rounded sides off of the product and leaving (most often) a 2 inch (5 cm) portion with which to make your derivative cut “Planks” (classically “Tranches”) which in turn can be cut down into, rectangular “Logs” of various thicknesses such as Bâtonnet, Alumette, or Julienne.

The first step in squaring off is to cut your product into roughly 2 - 2 ½ inch segments. In the classic kitchen, this segmentation step is called "tronçonner." Once in segments, the rounded sides are removed with a perpendicular knife cut, leaving a square sided product that is ready to be cut further into the classic log or cube shapes.

It’s important to monitor the angle of your knife in relation to the cutting surface – this should be a completely perpendicular, 90º angle. The best way to ensure the proper angle is to cut with your head directly over the cutting surface and product. So it’s best to use a high table or counter to cut on – otherwise you may prompt an aching back, in as little as 2 minutes.

Assuming that you have some peeled product ready from Topic 5, and if you are ready to practice some Squaring Off, in anticipation of creating various end cuts later in this Lesson, set up your cutting board on a towel as discussed previously. Once set, take your knife, preferably a Chef’s Knife and focus on the safety lessons learned in How to Hold Your Knife.

When you are ready, go slowly and remain focused as you Square Off your peeled product by cutting the Carrot into 2 inch long sections and then Squaring Off. How was that? Is your product square? Does it resemble the product in the video? If it does, we're ready for Exercise 3: The Classic Cuts.