No kitchen would be complete without the proper tools, and proper kitchen knives are an essential part of those tools. Not only does a great knife increase your efficiency in the kitchen, it also makes it fun. Slicing through a vegetable with no effort never ceases to put a grin on my face.
From left to right: Chef’s Knife, Utility Knife, Bread Knife, Carving Knife, Paring Knife, and Sharpening Steel
Chef’s Knife – The most important knife in your kitchen for all your basic chopping and cutting needs. Chef’s knives usually consist of a large blade that is more angled which makes it better for dicing.
Utility Knife - With a slightly smaller blade than a chef’s knife a utility knife is great for cutting sandwich meats and vegetables.
Bread Knife – Thick bladed knife with serrations to slice through bread without smashing it down. It can also be used to cut melon, cake, tomatoes, and anything else with a soft inner core.
Fillet / Carving Knife – Usually a thin blade which is very sharp used to remove skin or fat from tenderloins or bones.
Paring Knife – Also called a peeling knife, paring knives are small and perfect for cutting fruits, vegetables, and fine detail work.
Sharpening Steel - An important tool to keep your knives in prime cutting condition. Using one will ensure that your knives will never get dull. Check out the knife sharpening basics.
With these knives in your tool belt (or block preferably) you will be able to complete 99.9% of kitchen tasks with ease.
