Choosing the right cooking knife seems like it would be straight forward, but as cooking has become such a high-end business these days, there are now specific knives for nearly any task.
The great news is that the variety of knives now means that you can find the perfect knife for any specific job you have. Whatever knife you select however make sure that you take care of it when you purchase.
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When you are selecting the right knife expect to be inundated with choices, and nearly every price point. So it is best you gain an understanding of exactly what you should be looking for.
First, let’s take a look at the different types of cooking knives for sale today:
Steak Knife – Has a contoured blade and serrated edge. Great slicing knife.
Chef’s Knife – Has a wide blade and can be used for a variety of kitchen chores from chopping fruits and vegetables to slicing and dicing. A Japanese chef’s knife is called a Santuko
Carving Knife – Has a long and thin blade and used to carve ham and turkey.
Paring Knife – Has a small blade to give great control when you want to chop or dice things into small pieces.
Boning Knife – Small and narrow blade with a point to remove raw or cooked meat from bones.
Cleaver – Butchers use these knives. Wide and sharp. Will cut through meat, frozen food, and bones easily.
Bread Knife – These knives have long serrated blades for gutting through hard and think bread crusts.
Vegetable Knife – Has a small serrated blade and is very sharp for cutting the skin of vegetables without crushing the inside.
How to Select a Quality Knife
Handmade Knives:
The top-quality knives are always handmade. These knives are made from solid steel and tempered with heat by a human. The result is a knife that is sharpened and finished almost entirely by hand.
Stamped Steel Knives:
Stamp knives are a step below handmade knives but can still be high-quality. They are stamped from one piece of steel and finished by machine. These knives are lighter and sometimes easier to handle.
A Bolster
A bolster is a raised area between the handle and blade that enhances strength, stability, and comfort in your hand. Every quality knife will likely have this feature.
What Makes a Knife High Quality
Blade
Quality knives use high-carbon steel blades. They make the finest blades, never rust and are easy to keep sharp. They will also not be broken down by acid in any foods you prepare.
Edge
The blade’s midsection is for cutting and slicing meat, vegetables, and more. Look for a finely ground edge that will stay sharp even when cutting through thick food.
Full Tang – One Continuous Piece of Steel
This should extend from the tip of the blade to the end of the handle and the handle should sandwich the steel. This is for a perfect feel of the knife and good balance.
Ergonomic Handle
The handle should fit and feel comfortable in the hand. It should be well balanced and easy to grip.
When you purchase your knife quality kitchen knife, always take care of it. Sharpen it when required, keep it clean and store it in a block or in a blade guard. Your knife will then give you a lifetime of great service.
