Featured Kitchen Knives

Kitchen Knives

Kitchen Knives can be described as pieces of steel ground on a honing wheel to give them a honed edge. They are then polished on a felt wheel to make them extremely sharp.

Kitchen Knives come in all sizes and types. The difference in kitchen knives depends on how they are used in the Kitchen. For example, there is the common slicing knife which comes with the long and narrow blade that is extremely suitable for making thin slices. There is also the carving knife that has a pointed and slightly curved blade that is suitable for carving fowl and roasts. There is also the common utility knife that comes with a shorter blade that can be used for dicing, slicing and cutting. Finally, there is the paring knife which also comes with a short blade that is suitable for dicing and peeling fruits and vegetables.

As all chefs have come to know, for every cutting situation that one may encounter in the kitchen, there is a proper kitchen knife that one can use. Apart from one using specific purpose kitchen knives, there are also general purpose knives that have specifically been created to for use in a wide range of circumstances. These general purpose knives are indispensable in any kitchen.

Due to this, it is vital for anyone interested in cooking to know which the type of kitchen knives they should use and also how to keep them sharp and in great condition. This makes food preparation safer, easier and definitely more enjoyable.

Blades Of Kitchen Knives

Kitchen Knives come in different blade edges. These edges are described as scalloped or serrated. A serrated edge is typically found in knives designed for cutting bread. It works like a saw and generally rips food apart. A scalloped edge is composed of a series of arcs that gives more cutting surface than other edges.

Caring for Kitchen Knives

Like any other tool, kitchen knives periodically need to be sharpened and given some minimum maintenance. Just like any other cutting tool, if the edge is not sharp, more muscle and force must be applied to effectively cut anything. This use of extra muscle is dangerous and prone to cause accidents.

To sharpen your knife, you have the option of using a sharpening rod or an oilstone. When you are between sharpening sessions try to use a steel sharpener frequently to maintain the sharp edge. When using the steel, use it in exactly the same manner as the oil stone. However, don’t use oil.

If you need to sharpen knives with serrated or scalloped edges, you need to use special equipment because you cannot use an oilstone. Another alternative is for you to use round sharpening rods for sharpening scalloped edges. Sharpen each scalloped edge individually.

Other tips for ensuring that your kitchen knives are both effective and long lasting include;

1. If you are slicing or mincing make a point of using a cutting blade to prevent the blade from dulling. A hard surface has a tendency of dulling a knife faster than anything that it is used to cut.
2. Generally, kitchen knives are can be washed in the dishwasher, however they can be easily dulled if they are knocking on other items. When you place a knife in the dishwasher ensure that it secured well and that it will not knock on anything.
3. Once you get finished using your knife, make sure that you thoroughly wash and hand dry. Some foods can easily ruin the finish.
4. Always make sure that you store all knives in their own rack or in partitioned drawer. This will ensure that they are stored safely and that they will not hit any other items.