When you think of a chef, you probably think of someone who is incredibly skilled in the kitchen and spends their days creating delicious, mouthwatering meals for their friends and family. They spend hours in the kitchen, learning all the various tricks of the trade and have to have the best tools to make their job even easier and more efficient. Thankfully, modern technology has given us a whole host of new kitchen tools that chefs can use to make preparing and cooking their meals even easier than ever before. Chefs use knives in the kitchen for a variety of different tasks, but each of these tasks requires a different type of knife. You don’t need to know the difference between a chef’s knife and a petty knife to get started in the kitchen, or even a chef’s knife and a Santoku knife. Most chefs simply know that they need an all-purpose knife, a chef’s knife, and a paring knife. But if you’re ready to step up your game and start learning all about knives and how to use them effectively, read on for a more in-depth look at the different types of knives required for a chef’s arsenal.
All-purpose Knives
These are the knives most people think of when they hear the term “chef’s knife”. These knives come in a variety of different sizes, with many short knives and one long knife that can be used for chopping, slicing, dicing, mincing, and more. These are knives that are great for cutting fruits, vegetables, meats, fish, cheese, and bread. Chef’s knives are designed for more delicate foods, as they have smaller blades and thinner blades. Most chef’s knives also have curved blades that are designed to make it easier to roll the knife across the cutting board, especially when you’re trying to chop a lot of smaller ingredients. Most chef’s knives also have a smaller handle than the average knife, so your grip is slightly different than you would use if you were using a standard chef’s knife.
Santoku Knives
Santoku knives are designed to be an all-around knife, capable of doing a variety of tasks. These knives come in a variety of different sizes and lengths, with a short, medium, and long blade. Typically, the short blade is used for chopping and dicing, the medium blade is used for slicing, and the long blade is used for chopping and mincing. Because they’re designed to be an all-purpose knife, you can use the same knife to chop and dice vegetables, slice garlic cloves, and minces herbs, all with the same knife. The reason Santoku knives are so popular with chefs is because they’ve really been embraced and used for a variety of different tasks, rather than being a knife that is strictly for chopping and mincing. Santoku knives are also a bit lighter and thinner than butcher knives, so they’re easier to control and are less dangerous to use.
Bread and Paring Knives
These are typically smaller knives that are designed to be used for cutting your bread. They’re typically made from softer metals, such as aluminum or titanium, and are lighter than your standard chef’s knife. This makes them easier to use for cutting through your bread without breaking it and causing your meal to get delayed. Bread knives are typically designed with a heavy, thick blade that’s easy to use when cutting through your loaf. Because they’re designed specifically to cut through bread, they have a pointed tip, and have very sharp edges. Paring knives are similar to bread knives, but they are smaller and have a thinner blade, designed to be more precise when cutting smaller fruits and vegetables.
Sharpening Knives
Sharpening knives are designed to help you maintain the sharpness on your chef’s knives. When you use your chef’s knife, it dulls over time and is no longer as sharp as it was when you first purchased it. To keep it in good working order, you need to use a sharpening stone or a sharpening steel to get it back in shape. These knives are typically made from softer metals, such as steel, chromium, or stainless steel, and will typically have a handle made from leather or wood. Sharpening knives are typically designed with a different shape from your typical chef’s knife. This is because you’re going to be holding them in a different way, to keep your hand and wrist in good working order. There are also different types of sharpening stones and sharpening steels, so you need to choose one that’s designed for your chef’s knives.
Boning Knives
These are specifically designed for use when boning your meats or trimming your steaks. They’re typically made from stainless steel or carbon steel, and are designed for heavy-duty use. They’re also typically heavier and larger than your standard chef’s knife, so they’re not as easy to use. Boning knives are designed specifically for use when boning and trimming your meats, and are typically made from stainless steel or carbon steel. They’re also typically heavier and larger than your standard chef’s knife, so they’re not as easy to use. These knives are designed specifically for use when boning and trimming your meats, and are typically made from stainless steel or carbon steel. They’re also typically heavier and larger than your standard chef’s knife, so they’re not as easy to use.