Different Types of Kitchen Knives and Their Uses
Knives are an integral part of any kitchen. You use them to chop and slice foods, or you could use them to peel fruits or cut paper. Whatever the case may be, they are an essential part of your kitchen and their usage is not limited to just preparing food!
That being said, not all knives are made the same. There are different types of knives that will meet your needs and the tasks you plan on doing with your knife set. If you are new to owning kitchen knives and would like to know more about them before purchasing your own set, read on for our comprehensive guide on what these different types of kitchen knives are used for and how they should be stored so that they remain sharp for longer periods of time.
What are the different types of blades knives come with?
There are several different types of blade styles made from various materials, shapes and sizes. A blade is the part of a knife that makes contact with an object to cut it. Some have thicker blades that are better for chopping or cutting meat and vegetables, while others have thinner blades that are better for finer work like cutting paper or pastries.
Additionally, the blade may be made out of different materials, ranging from sharp to dull stainless steel or even ceramic. You can also choose between folding and fixed blades, which means you can decide if you want your knife to fold up into a compact size or stay open for easy use.
There are many different types of blades available when it comes to knives, so it is important to know the type that is best for the job you need it for.
What are the different types of kitchen knives?
There are many different types of knives available for purchase in the market. The most popular types of knives include chef’s knives, utility knives, and paring knives. However, there are many other options that you can choose from as well. The following is a list of the most common types of kitchen knives:
Chef’s knife
This type of knife is used for all kinds of cutting jobs (from big to small) in a kitchen. It’s a great multipurpose knife and can be used for chopping, mincing, cutting, peeling, and extracting ingredients from their shells. The chef knife is also referred to as a cook’s knife or butcher’s knife because it was originally designed for working with meat and vegetables.
Paring knife
A paring knife is typically between 3-5 inches long and has a short blade, which has an angled tip on one side that makes it easier to use when you are trimming small items like chives or garlic. This type of knife is best used when you need precision and accuracy in small spaces such as in the heart of dishes or for trimming ingredients without damaging them.
Cleaver Knife
A cleaver is a large knife that is typically shaped like a rectangular-bladed hatchet. It is primarily used as a kitchen or butcher knife, and is mostly intended for splitting up large pieces of meat.
Bread Knife
The bread knife is useful for cutting bread into slices, cutting cakes into layers, or fluting dough. It can also be used in many other ways like cutting fruit and vegetables into slices or creating paper-thin crusts on pies.
Utility Knife
A utility knife is pretty much your average chef’s knife with a few minor differences that make this tool unique from its competitors: its shape allows it to be more maneuverable than other knives, which will allow you to use it for non-cutting tasks such as peeling vegetables, prying open cans, or slicing bread faster than other models. Some utility knives may have serrated blades instead of straight ones to make them more efficient at certain tasks during cooking.
Storage Tips for Sharp Kitchen Knives
Before you start using your new kitchen knives, make sure to properly store them. This will ensure that your knives keep their sharp edge for a longer period of time.
One easy way to store your kitchen knives is in a knife block. If your knife block has slots that can be adjusted, you should place your utensils in the slots that are the most appropriate size for each type of utensil. For example, you would insert a chef’s knife into one slot and an all-purpose blade into another slot.
Another storage option is to wrap each blade with butcher paper or put them in a ziploc bag before placing them in the knife block. This prevents rust from building up on the blades and also protects against any damage caused by banging the knives on other objects in the drawer.
Which type of knife should you buy?
First, you need to make sure that you have a clear idea of what type of blade you need in your kitchen knives. There are different types of blades for different purposes.
The utility knife is the most common type of knife in kitchens and is used for slicing, dicing and chopping vegetables, fruits and meat. Utility knives are typically in easy-to-carry sizes like 6 inches or 8 inches. They’re great for anyone who doesn’t want to spend a lot of money on a set but still wants a good kitchen knife with multiple uses.
The chef’s or boning knife is normally smaller than other knives in the set and has an especially narrow point at its end where it was designed to be held while cutting. Chef’s knives can also be used as cookware due to their small size and sharp edge.
A paring knife has a very small blade (usually around three inches) that is used for peeling fruits and vegetables, such as potatoes, carrots or apples. Paring knives are also great because they allow you to create detailed designs on fruits and vegetables while preparing them without making any damage that would leave marks on the food’s surface.
A cleaver has been around since ancient times but is usually referred to as one of the most versatile types of kitchen tools today due to its large size, wide blade, and heavy weight that allows it to both chops through tough ingredients like bones and thick pieces of meat with ease, yet maintain an even thickness across the
Care and maintenance tips before storing your new knife set
Before storing your knife set, it is important to make sure that you have a sharp knife. If not, the task of slicing food becomes more difficult and more likely to cause injury.
To care for your blades, be sure to wash them immediately after finishing cutting or washing, even if they don’t seem too dirty. Use warm water and soap (or mild dish detergent) to clean your blades and rinse thoroughly. Towel dry them right away and then let them air dry on a clean towel before placing them in the designated storage area. Be careful when handling your knives while they are wet; if they slip from your hands, they could slip off their handles and cause serious harm!
Now that you are prepared with these tips, make sure to avoid storing your knives improperly by following these guidelines:
- Keep all blades away from sharp objects like spoons or forks
- Store all blades with the handle up so that their cutting edge is protected from damage
- Include any other tools like kitchen shears or serrated edges in your blade’s storage area
Conclusion
A sharp, high-quality kitchen knife can be a versatile tool that you can take with you on your camping trips, use in your garden and even use in the kitchen. With so many types of knives to choose from, it can be hard to determine which type is best for you.