Leeks are rather dirty, because of the way they are grown (in dirt, of course), so they need to be cleaned well.
Before you can slice or chop leeks, you should chop off the root and about 1/4 in. of the white part.. Any coarse or ragged outer leaves should also be removed. The darkest part of the leaves, which is not as tender, should be trimmed off (you can save this and make seasonings with it). Leave about 2 inches of the green part of the leek.
Slice the leeks lengthwise through, then rinse them carefully under cold running water. Be sure to clean the leaves carefully.
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