Imagine the situation! You go to the store to buy a knife, but you don't know what kind of knife you need, you just know that you can't go home without a knife.
You enter the store, approach the knife stand, but there you see words like utility knife, deba knife, santoku knife, and for dessert, an Asian cleaver, which makes you wonder if you're even in the right store (Salesperson, is this a construction store?) Relax, just relax! You are in the right place, because today, together with you, we will embark on a journey through the diverse world of knives. The next time a friend tells you in horror that the kitchenware store sells Asian cleavers, you can proudly reply that it's not a cleaver at all, but a knife designed to slice and chop vegetables and meat products. It's not that complicated, is it?
Let's start with the simplest. Do you know what kind of knife you need? For slicing, chopping, peeling or deboning? Did you choose? Remember that the right knife will change your daily kitchen routine. No, that doesn't mean you need to have all the knives we're talking about today in your knife arsenal, but keeping in mind that it changes your daily life in the kitchen, you'll certainly be able to discover the joy of cooking and subsequently create dishes with even greater precision, reliability and confidence by choosing the most suitable types of knives for you.
FRUIT KNIFE: Have you ever seen how beautifully sliced fruit is in restaurants, how perfectly sliced the pieces are, making you want to reach for that juicy orange slice that looks so delicious... Friends, let us tell you a secret: You can do it with a fruit knife! These are excellent for slicing and peeling various fruits, and a good fruit knife will be designed so that it doesn't crush the fruit pulp.
TOMATO KNIFE: Is it possible to do without a tomato knife? Yes and no. If you are a perfectionist and you are thrilled when a juicy red tomato is sliced into thin, even slices, looks stunning on a plate and its cut makes even your neighbor jealous, then yes, this knife is for you! The small serrations on the blade of a tomato knife easily glide through the tomato skin – as a result, the tomato is not crushed, but cut into beautiful slices.
PEELING KNIFE: Potatoes, beets, cucumbers, apples, carrots... If you peel any of the above, then you know how important a quality peeling knife is. This knife is designed for peeling, skinning and shaping fruits and vegetables. Next time you plan to cook potatoes for dinner, use a peeling knife and experience how easy it is to do.
BONING KNIFE: Are you a meat-eater? Yes? If you are, then you know that a boning knife is a very useful kitchen aid. It is designed to separate meat from bones and remove fat from meat.
FILLET KNIFE: Fishermen, listen up! Do you already have your own personal fillet knife? Its flexible, elongated blade is suitable for quickly and precisely removing skin from fish fillets and cutting a perfect fillet. The knife can also be used by hunters, as it can be used to easily and elegantly cut membranes from meat. Ladies, do you remember times when you asked your husband to sharpen kitchen knives because they had become "dull"? If you have this knife in your arsenal, you won't have to worry about that, because a fillet knife is always sharp.
BREAD KNIFE: Today's stores offer pre-sliced bread, making you wonder if a bread knife is even necessary. Here, I would immediately add that quite a few people bake their own bread or buy it from farmers at various markets. Mostly, they sell unsliced bread. Then we face the question of how to slice the bread? A bread knife is designed for such cases: a blade with large serrations – to cut precise slices of bread without flattening the bread.
KITCHEN CLEAVER: Remember how we laughed together about the Asian cleaver at the beginning of the article? It turns out that this is not the only cleaver you can find in the kitchen. In fact, it's not a cleaver at all, but a kitchen knife that is excellent for breaking and dividing meat with bones (ribs).
CHEESE KNIFE: Cheese lovers will definitely appreciate a cheese knife, as it is designed to slice and cube soft to semi-hard cheeses. Next time you want to prepare a cheese platter and impress your friends with your cheese-cutting skills, choose this knife. Afterwards, feel free to share how your friends reacted.
HAM SLICING KNIFE: Recommended for slicing cold cuts (ham, snack sausages) into thin slices.
STEAK KNIFE: The fine serrated blade is excellent for cutting cooked meat (steaks, breasts), and can also be used for slicing fruit.
BUTCHER KNIFE: With its strong, rigid blade and curved tip, this knife is an excellent aid for slicing fresh or cooked meat.
CARVING KNIFE: With its long blade and slightly curved tip, this knife will help you carve roasts.
CHEF'S KNIFE: If cooking is your passion, then a chef's knife might be perfect for your kitchen. This knife is traditionally used for cutting fish, but it can also be used for other purposes.
OYSTER KNIFE: What are your emotions when you hear the word oyster? Do you gasp with joy, remembering the heavenly taste when you tasted an oyster, and then sigh loudly, not understanding how an oyster can taste good? Whatever the case, know that there is an oyster knife: a flexible blade – the knife is designed for easy and safe opening of oysters.
MEZZALUNA KNIFE: The curved blade makes chopping herbs and spices a breeze.
SANTOKU KNIFE: When you hear this word combination, what are your associations? If your association is with Japan, then you are looking in the right direction. Japan is the birthplace of this knife. This knife is designed for slicing, cubing, and chopping products - a universal, sharp kitchen knife.
DEBA KNIFE: With a strong blade, widely used for cleaning and preparing fish.
NAKIRI KNIFE: Woks can come in many varieties, but regardless of the differences, the well-known Nakiri knife is often used. It is designed to quickly and evenly slice vegetables – excellent for preparing ingredients for wok dishes.
YAGANIBA KNIFE: A classic glass knife used in Asian cuisine – with an elongated blade to ensure a very precise cut. A very important knife for preparing sushi and surimi.
ASIAN CLEAVER: Concluding our journey into the world of kitchen knives, let's refresh our memory of the Asian cleaver we looked at in the beginning. Do you remember? It is designed to slice and chop vegetables and meat products.
We hope you enjoyed your journey into the world of knives. Next time you go to the store to buy a knife, use this cheat sheet. Remember that helpful salespeople in stores can always assist you in finding the most suitable and appropriate knife for your needs.
