Leeks make a great addition to stews, sauces, and many other meals. You need to prepare leeks for use in a recipe by cleaning and trimming them. Preparing a leek for your next great kitchen masterpiece is a snap:
Cut off the roots of the leek.
![Cut off the roots of the leek.](https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/88587.image0.jpg)
Leave the bulb itself intact.
Cut off the top of the leek.
![Cut off the top of the leek.](https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/88589.image2.jpg)
Leave about 2 inches of pale green at the top.
Slit the leek in half lengthwise.
![Slit the leek in half lengthwise.](https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/88591.image4.jpg)
You may leave the base of the bulb intact if you don’t want two leek halves.
Rinse the leek under cold running water.
![Rinse the leek under cold running water.](https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/88593.image6.jpg)
You want to wash out any grit or dirt.