Start by washing the outside of the leek to remove any sand/dirt from the outside. Cut away the root and discard.

Cut the leek into three sections: 1) The white up to where it fades to light green. 2) The center section of light green. 3) The dark green leaves with the ends trimmed.

The leeks should be cut in half and washed to remove any sand/dirt that remains between the layers.

Cut the leek in half moon shapes.

Place the cut leeks into a bowl of water to give them a final rinse before use. The leeks should be lifted out of the water (rather than drained) so that any remaining dirt stays in the bottom of the bowl. Several rinses may be necessary to ensure that the leeks are clean.