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A Quick Guide To Choosing A Chefs Knife

8 Dec 2015, 11:03 AM
When choosing a knife to use in your professional kitchen, there are a number of things to consider. From the brand of knife you choose, well known brands such as chef works and victorinox offer all different variations, to how to sharpen it, here are some of the main considerations.
Main Types of Knives


The chef's knife is one of the most essential knives in any professional kitchen. This is designed as an all-purpose knife, and the blade can come in a range of sizes from about eight inches up to 14 inches. Use this for general tasks in the kitchen, and it is also a good option for slicing food.


The utility knife is another all-purpose knife, but this knife is usually smaller. The blade is typically less than eight inches, and it is used for similar tasks as the chef's knife.


The paring knife is a short knife that is typically up to about four inches in length. This is the knife used for more delicate kitchen tasks, and it is often the choice for slicing small items or trimming.


Santoku knives are multi-purpose blades that are used for slicing and dicing. They are lighter than the chef's knife, and they are particularly suitable for chefs with smaller hands. The Santoku knife is a good choice when using the chopping technique and the back-slice technique.


The boning knife is a very small and sharp knife that is used for trimming fat from the meat and for carving meat from the bone.


Finally, a serrated knife is useful for cutting food that has a hard outer layer and a softer inside, like bread.


Blunt knives have no place in your kitchen. So how can you ensure that your knives are always as sharp as possible?

Firstly, know that higher quality knives will get sharper and stay sharper for longer, so this should always be your first consideration when choosing your knives.

You have a number of options when it comes to sharpening your knives. One option is to send them to a professional sharpener, but this should be for occasional sharpening rather than regular sharpening as it can be quite expensive.

If you do it yourself, use a grinding stone for the best results. This will remove less material from the knives than other methods, helping to ensure your knives last longer, and it will also lead to the sharpest edge. Grinding stones come with different types of grid, so you may want to invest in two stones, one with medium grit and one with fine grit.
handles

Having a handle on your chef knife that you feel comfortable with is vitally important as this will allow you to use the knife in the most efficient manner, below are some some various handle materials and the benefits they provide:

wood

These handles provide excellent grip and most people consider them to be aesthetically pleasing, however, they can be easily damaged when exposed to a lot of water.

 

steel

These handles provide excellent grip and most people consider them to be aesthetically pleasing, however, they can be easily damaged when exposed to a lot of water.

 

nylon

This is a popular material due to its tolerance of high temperatures, these handles are also very strong and so would be a good choice for the tougher jobs.
As well as having a good selection of professional knives in your kitchen, there are other things that you may want to consider investing in.

Knife holders can be a good way to organise your knives and keep them safe. These come in a wide variety of styles, and some may even come with a set of knives included.

Knives with coloured handles can be useful in a professional kitchen. These colour-coded knives can help you to separate your knives out for different tasks.

A knife steriliser may be a useful way for you to keep your knives clean and ready to use for greater convenience and improved health and safety.

You may also want to consider investing in a pair of cut-resistant gloves to help you to avoid picking up cuts while you work.

Find the Perfect Knives for Your Kitchen


Chefs rely on their knives every day, and using the best knives for each task is essential when running a professional kitchen. Take your time considering your choice of knives, and also think about investing in the extras that may be useful in your kitchen such as knife sterilisers and knife holders.

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