Step 1

Trim the ends of Brussels sprouts and discard any tough or discolored outer leaves. Rinse in a large bowl of cold water.

Step 2

Slice each trimmed sprout in half lengthwise.  If the Brussels sprouts are small, leave them whole before cooking.  If the sprouts are large, you can quarter them. Make sure they are in uniform pieces so they cook evenly at the same rate.

Step 3

Cut an "X or I" in the bottom of the trimmed sprouts that the center area cooks at the same rate as the outer layers.

Step 4

Fill a large bowl with ice and water; set aside.

Step 5

Bring a large stockpot of salted water to a boil over high heat.

Step 6

Place Brussels sprouts in water and cook for 2 minutes.

Step 7

Remove Brussels sprouts from the heat and immediately transfer to ice water to halt the cooking process. Let them cool completely in a colander. Drain, pat them dry with paper towels then cook them in any recipe.