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Equipping yourself with the proper kitchen knives is key to culinary success. › By Laurel Gillum
Paring Knife
Paring knives are smaller and shorter than chef’s knives. Do you fancy your apples peeled and your mushrooms diced? A paring knife will come in handy for cutting up fruit and small vegetables as well as anything you may want to peel. NOVICE: Reo 3-Inch Paring Knife with Sheath, $5 INTERMEDIATE: Ginsu Koden 3.5-Inch Paring Knife, $10 GURU: Zwilling J.A. Henckels Twin Signature 4-Inch Parer, $20
Serrated Knife
This knife sports a long, thin blade with a jagged edge to make it easier to cut through softer food. Most people use a serrated knife to slice bread, making this knife the best thing since before sliced bread— talk about a kitchen essential. Other uses include slicing tomatoes, melon and cake. NOVICE: OXO Good Grips 8-Inch Bread Knife, $10 INTERMEDIATE: Wusthof PRO 11-Inch Serrated Slicing Knife, $50 GURU: Viking Professional 8.5-Inch Bread Knife, $110
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Carving Knife
The knife of a carnivore’s dreams, this knife typically has a long, thin blade with a sharp tip, ranging from 8 to 16 inches in length. Carving knives are perfect for slicing through large meats. NOVICE: OXO Good Grips 8-Inch Carving Knife, $10 INTERMEDIATE: Cuisinart Electric Knife, $43 GURU: Zwilling J.A. Henckels Pro 8-Inch Carver, $120
Chef Knife
Have you ever watched the Food Network? If so, this is the knife Emeril Lagasse uses to crush the garlic clove right before he yells “BAM!” Less cultured foodies would recognize this knife from its large, smooth blade, often used for chopping vegetables, most types of meat prep and just about anything else you need to slice and dice. NOVICE: Ginsu Koden 6-Inch Chef Knife in Silver, $10 INTERMEDIATE: Michael Symon 9-Inch Chef’s Knife, $52 GURU: Zwilling J.A. Henckels Pro 8-Inch Chef Knife, $160
Filleting Knife
If something smells fishy, chances are there is a filleting knife laying nearby. Fillet knives have thin, sharp, flexible blades 4 to 10 inches in length. They are ideal for various seafood dishes and grilled fish. NOVICE: BergHOFF ProSafe 5-Inch Fillet Knife, $11 INTERMEDIATE: Wusthof 8-Inch Flexible Fillet Knife, $30 GURU: Zwilling J.A. Henckels Pro 7-Inch Fillet Knife, $110
Sharpening Steel
A dull knife is a safety hazard and can cause any chef to lose control of the blade. Keep a sharpening stick or stone close at hand. The same utensil will work with an array of knives. NOVICE: KitchenIQ 9-Inch Sharpening Steel, $10 INTERMEDIATE: Chef ’sChoice Diamond Hone Hybrid 220 Knife Sharpener, $40 GURU: Chef ’sChoice Hybrid AngleSelect Diamond Hone M290 Knife Sharpener, $100
Sources: bedbathandbeyond.com, thekitchn.com
Whether you’re slicing an avocado for toast or carving a honey-baked ham, knowing and using the proper knife is critical for kitchen safety.