The Right Knife For The Job

This week is going to be a little different than most. Instead of talking about psych we are going to focus on an important topic for anyone who cooks. Most people don’t realize how important it is to use the proper tools to prepare every meal. In my opinion, knives are at the top of the list for food prep and also cooking. So here is what you need.

The first thing you need before even thinking about using a knife is a cutting board. Using a countertop or a plate is a terrible idea, not only will you dull your knives, but you will ruin the counter and probably shatter a plate. Also try and get yourself a wood or bamboo cutting board, plastic and other materials are tough on the blade and lets be honest, a wood cutting board looks much cooler.

Next up is knives. In this case its a knife block but i realize not everyone cooks enough to need 25 knives. So I am going to cover the three most important knives that can be used for just about anything. Also the main point here is not only selecting the knife, but how to actually use it. So get yourself a cutting board, a knife, and some food as seen above.

This first knife is known as a chefs knife. It is hands down the most important knife in any kitchen. It is an all purpose knife used for cutting, slicing, chopping, and can even be used as a filet knife. In this case, we are cutting chicken. So here is how to use it:

1. First grab the knife around the handle. The exact hold doesn’t matter to much as long as it feels comfortable
2. Use your other hand to hold the meat, with your fingers tucked below your knuckles. Always keep your finger in when cutting. You would much rather slice a knuckle then chop off a finger, trust me.
3. Place the blade onto the meat and begin making level back and forth cuts, each slice will end up whatever size you choose. The sharper the knife the easier it cuts, in the case of chicken, one slice forward should do the trick.

Next up is a chopping knife. While the chefs knife can be used for chopping this one makes life way easier. The blade is curved which allows you to rock the knife back and forth while the oval dimples on the side keep food from sticking to it. So lets see it in action:

1. First grab the knife by the handle just like the previous knife, with your other hand holding the produce (fingers tucked).
2. Place the top of the blade on the board with the knife hovering over whatever you are cutting.
3. In a rocking motion, lower the handle into the produce while the tip remains on the board.
4. After the first cut is made simply raise the back up to position one and repeat.

The last knife does something a chefs knife could never do. With its serrated blade, the bread knife is used to cut into delicate foods without smashing them. Use it for breads, lettuce, and anything else that falls apart easily. Using it is very similar to the chefs knife:

1. Begin by holding the handle of the knife while using your other hand to keep the lettuce in place.
2. Choose what size cut you want to make
3. In a back and forth, level motion, begin cutting down into the lettuce. Be sure to make clean cuts and try your best not to let the knife smash down the food.

So there you have it, three different knifes, three different cutting styles. Believe it or not choosing the right knife really does make a difference. Every meal you make will require a variety of each and with a good set, you will find yourself spending less time crying over onions and more time stuffing your face.