By Casa de Suna
Published Sep 23
After years of living with roommates and having a kitchen full of hand-me-down essentials, we finally are at a point where we can appreciate the quality of our tools.
We quickly realized that great knives have the power to revolutionize our cooking prep. (Seriously, if you’ve ever tried to cut a spaghetti squash with a dull blade, you can relate.)
And, sure, a sharp blade really helps. But, there is also so much to be said for a comfortable grip. When equipping your kitchen, be sure to consider these need-to-have knives.
The Chef’s Knife
Also known as the cook’s knife (whatever suits your fancy), this is the most important knife in the kitchen. Typically it’s an 8-to-10 inch knife with a longer blade that makes chopping easy and efficient. You can slice and dice veggies, fish, and meats.
Pro Tip: When transferring your chopped veggies into the pan, use the spine (or back) of the knife to avoid dulling the blade.
The Paring Knife
This is the Chef’s Knife’s best friend. It’s perfect for slicing and mincing produce that’s too small for the Chef’s Knife. Think: mincing garlic, hulling strawberries, and peeling fruits and veggies.
Pro tip: Avoid using this knife on hard-to-cut veggies like carrots and celery root.
Serrated Knife
You already know this knife as the bread knife. But, it can be more versatile than that. Bread Knives are great for gripping and cutting through foods with slippery, waxy surfaces. Think: Tomatoes, pineapples, citrus fruits, and peppers. These essentials are best used for slicing, not chopping.
Pro Tip: When using this knife to cut bread, keep the blade at a 45 degree angle for a smooth, crumb-free slice.
The Boning Knife
This knife does exactly what you would expect. It’s the best blade for boning fish, meat, or poultry. Just remember: it’s not used to cut through the bones, but rather cut around them.
Pro tip: When cutting raw poultry, meat, or seafood, make sure to chop all other ingredients on a separate cutting board to keep harmful bacteria from forming.
Share your new kitchen tools with us on social media at @casadesuna.
