How to choose a kitchen knife
It’s hard to know where to start when buying your first kitchen knife. Which kitchen knife should I buy first? How to choose knife brands? Knives made of carbon or stainless steel? Everyone has probably faced these questions. In this article we will try to answer as briefly and clearly as possible all the questions concerning the choice of kitchen knives.
Which kitchen knife should I buy first?
Chef’s knife Gyuto or Santoku. Both will perfectly cope with various tasks, but each has its own strengths and weaknesses. If the budget allows, buy both! The santoku knife is best suited for straight cutting. The shape of the gyuto blade has a stronger bend and will be better for those who cut with a large swing;
Universal/Small knife. A small universal knife is great for small things like cutting an apple or an orange. Don’t fall into the trap of buying a low-quality universal knife. A universal knife should be as sharp and have an excellent edge as your chef’s knife;
Chopper. Look for a heavy duty shredder. This will protect your Japanese kitchen knives from damage when cutting bones;
Bread knife. If you like crusty bread, a sharp serrated bread knife will make your life easier in the morning;
After these basics of kitchen cutlery there is no limit. There are many special knives that perform their duties much better.
Chef’s knife Gyuto
Santoku Chef’s Knife
How to choose between different brands of knives?
Brands of knives will differ in their design, aesthetics, weight, steel, sharpness and edge retention. It is important to note that different manufacturers can produce knives of completely different quality using the same steel. The virtuosity of the blade really depends on the master.
There are many cheap sets of knives that you can buy for less than 15 thousand rubles, but you will get a bunch of knives with poor fit and handling, poor balancing, durability and, undoubtedly, made of cheap steel that will never be very sharp and blunt. very fast. If you buy cheap sets, you can buy and throw them away every couple of years, or you can invest in a few good quality blades that will last more than 10 years.
Most professional chefs use only 3 knives to perform 90% of the cutting tasks, so experts recommend buying several good quality kitchen knives.
