Taylor Morris Eyewear
Home NEWS What Should You Look For When Buying A Kitchen Knife?

What Should You Look For When Buying A Kitchen Knife?

0
What Should You Look For When Buying A Kitchen Knife?

Most people spend regular amounts of time every day preparing their food. It’s a given that having quality tools can drastically improve the experience. It would be odd to discover a home that did not possess at least one kitchen knife, and most will own several. They can prove indispensable when it comes to such things as chopping and cutting and other cooking-related activities.

Sadly nothing lasts forever, and there inevitably comes a time when new utensils are needed. If knives are to be the next purchase, it’s important to know what to look for – and that’s what this article is all about. 

Quality

It’s a fact of life that we get what we pay for: the better it is, the longer it will last. People do need to consider their budget, however. If someone doesn’t do much cooking, they may buy one decent knife and succeed with that. Others may be cooking every day and need several different types. 

Some people will want an element of luxury when they make their next purchase. If they are looking for the finest Damascus kitchen knife, they may be searching online to view the products. Many people enjoy knives that have been crafted from Japanese steel and then layered with Damascus steel on both sides. Such products are likely to be sharp, long-lasting, and corrosion-resistant. 

How They Are Made

Stamped knives are made by machine and can be light and flexible. Forged knives will be better in quality, but they are more expensive. They are strong, well-balanced, and heavy. Having said that, they may need to be sharpened and replaced more often than stamped knives. 

If a knife is made of one piece of hand-forged steel, it won’t be as breakable as a welded product. In the latter case, the join can be a weak spot. It’s not hard for carbon steel knives to rust over time, although high carbon versions will endure longer. It’s also possible to buy ceramic blades, but they can become damaged and chipped.    

Key Types 

A chef’s knife will be very versatile and useful for the majority of cooking tasks. It will range from 15 to 36cm in length and is perfect for processing both meat and vegetables. People can use its large, smooth blade for their slicing and dicing activities. 

They say there’s no need to use a sledgehammer to crack a nut. Paring (vegetable, utility) knives are smaller and are perfect for more delicate tasks. They may include cutting mushrooms and peppers, seeding chilies, or trimming the fat. 

Serrated knives have jagged blades that don’t need sharpening. They are designed for cutting bread and removing crusts. People can also cut sandwiches and cakes into squares using them or slice soft fruit (e.g., tomatoes). It’s also worth researching santoku, carving, boning, and filleting knives for more specialized tasks. 

Sharpness

Blunt blades can be more of medical risk than sharp ones. This is because they require more effort when being used. The more we struggle to chop things, the more likely we are to have an accident. 

Busy people may specifically choose knives that won’t often need sharpening. The best way to find out is to read the product descriptions and Amazon reviews. 

knives

Balance

When a knife is correctly balanced, it will be easier to cut with. Unfortunately, some knives tend to lean in one direction whilst being used. 

It’s hard to test a knife if it is being sold in its packaging. Once again, people can check the Amazon details and even ask previous customers. 

A Comfortable Handle

When you are chopping and cutting things, you will be pushing on the handle, so it needs to be comfy to use. 

They can be made from plastic, metal, composites, or wood. In the latter case, some wood can become degraded through water absorption and become warped and cracked. High-quality wooden handles are designed to absorb less moisture, however. At the end of the day, personal taste will also be an aspect of your final choice.

Maintenance  

It’s wise to decide upfront whether you are happy to keep drying the knife to avoid corrosion. The same thing applies to the need for regular sharpening, as we have already discussed. Either way, a knife sharpener would certainly be an advisable purchase. 

It’s always wise to research the most affordable and quality knives before you buy them. Once you have them, they should serve your cooking needs for many years to come.