Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

top-and-tail

verb
/ˌtɒp ənd ˈteɪl/
Definition
To prepare food for cooking by cutting off the top and bottom parts, especially in the context of fruits and vegetables.
Examples
  • Before cooking the beans, she decided to top-and-tail them for a neater presentation.
  • He taught me how to top-and-tail the green beans to prepare them for the stir-fry.
Meaning
The term ‘top-and-tail’ refers to a method of food preparation where the ends of an item are trimmed away. It is commonly used in cooking to make fruits or vegetables ready for consumption or further cooking.
Synonyms
  • Trim
  • Prepare
  • Clean