Since the flavor of this root vegetable is located between the skin and the root itself, peel off the skin as thinly as possible. For recently picked and fresh roots in soil, a quick scrub with a natural bristle scrubber or vegetable brush is sufficient. For older roots that have become hard, scrape with the back of a kitchen knife to remove the skin. Burdock root has a high lye content. Cut and soak in water for about 5 to 10 minutes to remove excess lye. However if soaked for too long or if the water is replaced, the flavor also will seep out.

Scrape off the skin, lay a kitchen knife against the burdock root in a manner to start shaving off from the end and then proceed to shave off thin pieces. Have a bowl full of cold water ready to directly catch the burdock root shavings.

Scrape the burdock root with a knife, and cut into 5 cm (2 in.) length pieces. Then place in water and cut into planks of around 3 mm (0.1 in.), gradually sliding and stacking these planks. Lastly, thinly julienned into widths of around 3 mm (0.1 in.).