Dan Merriman shares how to chop veg like a pro (Image: Getty)
Fresh off the back of being crowned 2024 : The Professionals champion, sous chef Dan Merriman is on hand to assist budding cooks at home with some top advice.
The 29-year old, from Accrington, Lancashire, says you can “chop veg like a pro” if you follow his lead. Dan took to to share his winning technique in an appearance on Morning Live.
“The safest way is to always make sure you have a flat surface,” he explained to presenters Gordon Smart and Jacqui Joseph as he demonstrated with a courgette. “It’s sturdy on the board, it’s not going to roll around.”
With the sliced vegetable placed face down on the chopping board, Dan continued: “Second step is a rocking motion with the knife – but making sure the fingertip is tucked behind the knife and the knife is just rubbing against the finger.”
Chopping at pace, Dan emphasised the positioning of the finger is key to Gordon. The host then tested the technique himself, carefully adopting a “claw” over the courgette and sure enough was able to chop almost as quickly as his teacher.
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Writing in response, users praised “worthy winner” Dan and a “fabulous final” on the Beeb. “Congratulations Dan, have been rooting for you since the first show, enjoy your Chinese with your lovely partner and baby boy,” one person said. “Very well done to Chiara and George. Amazing dishes from you both.”
A second penned: “Fabulous final, three worthy winners! Delighted for Dan, lovely human and fabulous chef.” A third agreed: “A fabulous final. What a great trio of chefs and a hugely deserved win for Dan. His reaction was astonishing. So well deserved (they all deserved to win).”
While a fourth gushed: “I’m so happy you won. You were amazing throughout and knew you were going to win ages ago.”
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Dan took to following his victory to express gratitude to the , its presenters and his competitors. “Well that’s it, Masterchef champion 2024,” he penned.Holding his trophy aloft, he closed: “The level of [fellow finalists] Georgie Birtie and Chiara Tomasoni as chefs is phenomenal and I’m so grateful to have shared the kitchen with these chefs, this would have never been a reality for me without these guys and all the incredible chefs I have met in this competition.”