The Buyer's Guide To Choosing The Best Kitchen Knives
Every cook’s training begins with the selection of a good knife. The knife is considered the first and most important piece of equipment as long as a cook prepares food. Every cook is trained to keep the kitchen knife sharp, clean, and protected so that he can perform well.
Cooking is considered an art and you can bring proficiency into this art with time, experience, and obviously with the use of good tools. As a kitchen knife is considered the basic tool, every cook must pay attention while choosing the right tool. If you are about to upgrade your kitchen knife or looking to buy a good chef knife set for your kitchen, this article is for you.
The discussion is all about choosing the right knife. Explore the basic methods of making a kitchen knife, along with the common types of kitchen knives. As well as this, we have also discussed the common factors that will surely help you select the right option according to your choice:
Stamped or forged knives?
Generally, kitchen knives are made up of two basic methods - the stamped method and the forged method. Knowing the knife method is important as it is the primary factor in the cost of any knife:
1) Stamped knife
Usually, the stamped knives are completely machine-made and are frequently second-rated to forged ones. However, certain amazing versions are available that boast full tangs and high-quality materials along with well-designed blades holding a great edge. Stamped knives can feature quality, gripped handles, and can either be honed or hand-polished. All these features may affect the cost of the knives.
2) Forged knives
Forged knives are made up of heated and melted metal. Forging requires either highly specialized and automated machinery or the skills of a professional craftsperson to design a finished blade. A forged knife is made up of premium materials. Thus, it performs better and is easier to use.
Compared to stamped knives, forged knives are heavier; however, they are well-balanced so they do not feel heavier. As well as this, forged knives may hold an edge longer because the entire blade can be modeled to sustain the edge.
Almost every type of knife is available in both versions, i.e., stamped kife and forged knife. However, they are different in cost. Professionals suggest that if you need to use a knife frequently, it must be of good quality. However, if knives are intended for a light type of work, you can be more flexible while choosing them.
Things to consider while choosing a knife
Discover the pro tips, proposed by professionals, to have the best tools in your kitchen:
1) MaterialHigh-quality knives are well-constructed and always made up of solid materials. Ceramics and metals are always considered the quality materials for a knife. Besides this, quality knives or materials stay sharp for a long time and are easy to sharpen.
2) Blade shapeWhile buying your new knife, you must also consider the shape of the blade. Usually, the shape of a blade depends upon the use of a knife. Blades with straight edges are found on many knives and they are usually well sharpened.
Blades that are fully serrated have jagged edges, that cut through fibrous materials and rope. Partly serrated blades have the finest of both styles of cutters on a single edge.
3) Blade lengthThe length of a blade also depends upon the use of a knife. For example, a knife with a longer blade is best for slicing and cutting the meat.
4) HandleThe knife’s balance and grip is affected by the handle of a knife. Usually, the handle is made up of different materials, such as wood, plastic, or silicon. The texture and shape of a handle also effect the comfort and grip of a knife.
5) FitEnsure that a knife is comfortably fit in your hand and is easy to use.
Common types of kitchen knives
The following are the common types of knives that come to use in almost every kitchen:
1) Bread knife
Whether you are a professional chef or need to prepare food in your home, a bread knife may be a basic tool for everyone. The bread knife is used to slice bread of all kinds - from bagels and biscuits to baguettes and brioches.
Besides this, they are useful in many other tasks done by confectioners. Examples are breaking up chocolates and shaping or levelling the cakes for decoration purposes. However, you must always invest in quality bread knives to bring proficiency in your task.
2) Steak knife
A steak knife is the basic requirement for kitchens where meat is prepared regularly. The major uses of a steak knife are cutting beef, chops, and chicken breasts. However, if you love to eat steaks, then you can also appreciate the importance of a steak knife.
Besides cutting meat, a steak knife can also help chefs or even home cooks with several tasks. For example, they are best at coring apples, slicing avocados, and even cubing cheese. For your convenience, you can explore the best collection of steak knives to choose the best product.
3) Cleaver knife
If you are involved in slicing, dicing, mincing, and pounding a variety of foods regularly, you can know the importance of a cleaver knife. Moreover, the product is mostly used in butcheries.
To bring accuracy and safety in the use of a cleaver knife, you must have a good command of using it. As well as this, choosing the right product can also help you get a safe and efficient experience. You can buy the best cleaver knives here to be more proficient in your job.
4) Nakiri knife
The best use of a Nakiri knife is to cut vegetables; however, it can also be used to slice or cut boneless meat. A Nakiri knife is resembling with a Chinese cleaver, having more brittle steel and can chip against hard ingredients like bones. Explore the best collection of quality Nakiri knives to get an exceptional experience in preparing food comprised of vegetables.