KITCHEN KNIVES ??

You’ve bought that set of knives that you were dreaming of for so long. The knives have settled down well in a cozy drawer in your kitchen and are ready to begin work. The question here is, which knife will you use? Each knife is meant for a special job and you need to know what that is.

The Chef Knife: The chef knife will have a triangular blade from 6 to 10 inches long (with the most popular being 8"), usually at least 1 1/2" tall which gently tapers to the point. The chef knife often seems too large to novices, but with some practice it becomes the knife of choice because it is efficient for large as well as multiple jobs.

You can use the Chef’s knife to chop, slice and mince. The side of the blade can be used for crushing garlic and some spices. While wielding this knife, use it in a rocking motion for chopping.

The Paring Knife: This type of knife is used to peel vegetables and fruits, trim meats, cut pastry dough or any job that requires delicate cutting work. A paring knife has a blade of about 2 1/2" to 4 inches that is only about 3/4" wide at its widest point.

The Serrated Knife: The long serrated knife is often called a bread knife because it is particularly good for slicing breads that require a back and forth sawing motion. Apart from slicing bread, the serrated knife can be used to slice tomatoes, peaches and fruits that have a skin that can be bruised easily.

It’s important to remember that a serrated knife shouldn’t be sharpened at home and should be sharpened professionally.

Other Types of Knives:
There are more types of knives that you can use.

Utility Knife: Smaller than a Chef’s knife and larger than a paring knife, a utility knife has a 6 inch blade. They are used for many jobs and often serve as an extra knife for a kitchen helper.

Boning Knife: This knife is used to cut meat off the bones. With a blade that is 5” or longer, a boning knife is quite narrow and available in straight, curved, stiff or flexible.

Slicing Knife: This long, thin knife, up to 8-10 inches, is used for slicing roasts, hams and turkeys.

Butcher Knife: This knife is similar to a chef's knife with a blade of up to 8 inches but is usually a bit heavier.

Cleaver: These are used to do heavy chopping and cutting of meats and for cutting through bone. They will either have a straight or slightly curved edge.

Steak: The steak knife is a dining knife used at a table setting when meats are served. However, it can function in the kitchen as a paring or utility knife.