Shred
Shredding is cutting or tearing food into long, thin strips. You can do it with the large holes of a box grater, the shredding disc of a food processor, or a knife, and for cooked meat you can simply pull it apart with two forks. The pieces are longer and more ribbon-like than the fine particles you get from grating on small holes.
Cooks shred to create texture that mixes and melts well or piles up appealingly. Shredded cheese melts smoothly over nachos and into casseroles, shredded cabbage and carrots form the base of coleslaw, and shredded lettuce tops tacos. For meat, let a cooked roast or chicken rest until cool enough to handle, then pull it into strands along the grain for pulled pork or chicken tacos. Chill soft cheese before shredding so it holds its shape instead of clumping.
Cooks shred to create texture that mixes and melts well or piles up appealingly. Shredded cheese melts smoothly over nachos and into casseroles, shredded cabbage and carrots form the base of coleslaw, and shredded lettuce tops tacos. For meat, let a cooked roast or chicken rest until cool enough to handle, then pull it into strands along the grain for pulled pork or chicken tacos. Chill soft cheese before shredding so it holds its shape instead of clumping.