Do you have a dull knife?
Kitchen cutlery truly starts with a sharp set of kitchen knives. When was the last time you took out the old sharpening stone and
sharpened your cutlery set? If you're like most people, the answer is....
A resounding never!!
It's sad, however surprisingly, today most cooks do not have a true appreciation for a sharp knife.
It's true, you can get the job done quicker and with less effort if you use a properly sharpened knife.
Besides easing your cutting chores, you never know when you'll need a sharp knife.
All good cooks should have a variety of sharp knives available that will handle any task. If you've every tried to cut steak with a butter knife you know what I mean.
Did you know there are knives designed specificially for certain cutting functions? There are meat knives, cheese knives and bread knives. Some of the most common knives are listed below:
The above list contains the most common kitchen knives. But depending on your need there are plently of knives that can be used in and around your kitchen.
Chef's Knife - Also called a cook's knife is the all purpose kife whick can be used for multiple task, including chopping, dicing, mincing and slicing. Available in a variety of sizes, the chef's knife comes in standar lengths ranging 6 to 12 inches. With this knife length matters. Small hand cooks will have more control over shorter blades (6 to 8 inches) while large hand cooks will feel more comfortable using a longer blade knife.
Carving Knife - A knife ideal for carving large roasts and poultry. Standard carving knives range from 8 to 12 inches in length with either a flexible or rigid blade depending on your carving task. Carving knifes are most often sold in sets containing a fork used to hold the meat steady while you carve.
Steak Knife - This knife works a whole lot better than a butter knife when cutting steak. More than just a steak knife, this knife works well at the dinner table helping you cut chicken, pork and fish as well. Standard sizes are 4 to 6 inches.
Paring Knife - A small knife ideal for peeling and coring foods like fruit and vegetables. Standard blades range from 3 to 4 inches.
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Always remeber no kitchen is complete without cast iron cookware