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Knife Type – Which Type of Knife Do You Need?
A kitchen knife is any basic knife designed to be used in all food preparation activities. Although much of the work can easily be done with some common, general-use knives such as a large kitchen chef’s knife or a butter knife, there are times when tasks must be performed with tools that aren’t ordinary. When this happens, it’s time to turn to specialized knives. The question is, what is a chefs-knife-what-is-a-chefs-knife?
The chef is a person who cooks for others. There are many different types of chefs, from the professional baker to the family-recipe author who loves to whip up top-quality meals from scratch. No matter how talented a cook is, there are things that may prevent her or him from reaching the highest levels of success. That’s when their skill for cutting and dicing comes into play.
While many cooks can quickly master chopping and dicing tasks by flipping through a cookbook, many others have no such patience. Whether it’s preparing a meal, prepping a dish, or slicing open a package of bread, being able to master the basics of kitchen cutlery is essential for the chef. For example, if a chef is preparing a roast, it’s important to know the blade will do the job. Most professional chefs own a three-bladed chef’s knife set, which allows them to perform tasks such as slicing and chopping.
Some kitchen utensils are used solely for paring
But some are also used for santokus, which is a Japanese technique of coiling the yarn of rice into a spiral. In the santokus technique, the chef loops a looped piece of string around a metal handle or through a slot in a drawer. Because of its intricate design, the use of kitchen knives for santokus is limited only to tasks requiring fine control of movement and the distance between the blade and the food.
Another popular Japanese knife is the santoku knife. Unlike the chef’s knife or paring knife, which can be used for both tasks, the santoku has a single blade that acts as the knife for carving. Like the paring knife, the handle of the santoku is much heavier than other kitchen knives, allowing it to offer a more solid feel while cutting.
The bread knife is another essential tool for Japanese cooking
Unlike most bread knives, a bread knife can be bought as an individual item rather than as a part of a set. A Japanese bread knife differs from traditional bread knives in that it has a thin, heavy blade that offers precise cutting for delicate work like coiled dough or rice. Japanese bread knives are eight inches long, although there are models available in other sizes. Because bread knives are so valuable to chefs, they are often accompanied by rice knives–a longer, thinner knife with a thin blade that also performs well for cutting thicker grains.
One third of the kitchen knives used in Japan are rice cookers
These little machines can come in many different styles and provide even cooking for those who have little or no experience with Japanese cooking. Japanese rice cookers are typically constructed of copper or brass, but depending on the design, can also be made of steel or cast iron. A rice cooker can make your whole meal ready in just a few minutes.
Whether you are looking for
A knife to use for slicing, bread cutting, or other food preparation tasks, Japanese, Italian, or Western kitchen knives can provide you with the edge you need. But no matter which blade type you choose, making sure that you purchase a knife that meets your sharpening requirements will ensure the durability and performance you desire. Visit a local kitchen supply store today to find the perfect Japanese steel, Italian steel, or European steel knife that will meet your needs.
