Types of Knives and How to Use Them

Kitchen Knives! They get the job done. It is important to have a quality set of kitchen knives to efficiently perform any slicing, dicing and chopping work needed. First and foremost, you should know which knives work best for certain kitchen tasks. So, let’s slice into the topic of the different types of kitchen knives and the purposes that they serve.

The Chef’s Knife

Are you looking to slice, dice, chop, debone or disjoint meats? Well, then you can certainly depend on this knife to do all of that for you. With a chef’s knife, the options are endless! The most wonderful thing about this knife is that it can be used for pretty much any and every kitchen cutting task. The chef’s knife can truly do a lot. 

You may be familiar with this knife. Or, you might have heard this knife be referred to as a Cook’s Knife. That is another name for it. This knife is typically 8-inches in length and has a width of 1-½ inches. It is one of the most important knives to have in your kitchen. 

The Utility Knife

The Utility Knife is only about 4 to 7 inches long. Typically, this knife is used to cut up smaller food. It is great for tasks such as trimming and slicing. Since the knife is relatively small, it allows for cooks to have a lot more control with their cuts.

The Paring Knife

Whether you are an avid cook or not so much, most people have this knife at the ready in their kitchen. The Paring Knife is a small knife with a short blade. It is best used for precision cuts and cutting up small fruits and vegetables. It is great for peeling the skin off of fruits and vegetables as well.

The Santoku Knife

Similar to the chef’s knife, this knife is great for slicing and chopping up just about anything. This knife however is thinner and shorter than a chef’s knife. This sets it apart and makes it excellent for precision cuts.

The Boning Knife

Here is one that is rather self explanatory. The boning knife is used to separate meat from the bone. This knife is also great for filleting fish and peeling vegetables. 

The Bread Knife

The Bread Knife is another self explanatory one. From baguettes to bagels and every bread in between, this knife is the best one to use for any bread-slicing job. Identifying the bread knife is easy. It has serrated edges. It is long and pretty much looks and acts like a saw.

The Steak Knife

The Steak Knife is excellent for cutting through meats such as steaks, chicken and pork. It is even great for cutting right through vegetables at mealtime. If you have ever been to a steakhouse or simply ordered a juicy steak at a restaurant, then you most likely received a steak knife along with your meal. Another name for this knife is a table knife. 

Kitchen Shears

This one comes in last on the list because technically, it is not a knife. Kitchen Shears are also known as Kitchen Scissors. These are a great tool to use in the kitchen to chop up fresh herbs, cut open packaging and cut up meat. You can even use them to slice pizza instead of using a pizza cutter. How cool, right? Kitchen Shears are sure to get the job done quickly and efficiently. 

As you can see, there are many different kitchen knives and they each have their own special purpose. What are some of your personal favorite knives to use in the kitchen?