Artichokes are a favored food among many people around the world. The delightful green vegetables can be used in a variety of recipes. Although their flavor is one that may not appeal to everyone, they are tasty when prepared properly. Learning how to prepare artichokes is something that is easy to do and can be done just by following a few simple steps.

The first step in preparing an artichoke for cooking is to wash the artichoke. Use cold water and if you have a brush, brush the outside of the artichoke. As an artichoke grows, it develops a light film on itself and if this film is not removed, it can lead to the artichoke having a bitter taste. So give your artichoke a good, cold bath.

The next step involves using a knife. A serrated edge kitchen knife is the best choice and you need to make sure that it is sharp. You begin by cutting approximately one inch from the top of your artichoke. You can then take about a half of an inch from the stem of the artichoke. If you are planning on stuffing the artichoke, you will need to remove the stem completely. But if you are not planning on having to stuff your artichoke, then leave the stem. It is actually a part of the heart of the artichoke and the heart is the best and most tasty part of the entire artichoke.

If you are looking to have a lovely presentation for your artichoke, you should cut of the thorns that grow on the tips of the petals of the artichoke. This is not a necessary step since the thorns will get soft while the artichoke is being cooked. But if you want your artichoke to have some visual appeal, then take any pair of scissors that you have around and give it a quick trim to remove the thorns.

A few other optional things that you might want to do with your artichoke to prepare it for cooking is to rub some fresh lemon juice on the cut parts. This helps to stop those cut parts from turning brown during the cooking process. Rather than just seasoning the outside of the artichoke, you should consider spreading the artichoke petals a little bit to allow your chosen seasonings to get in between the petals.