Kitchen Cutlery Every Cook Should Have
There’s an appliance for every step in cooking nowadays, but knives remain the most important tool in our kitchen. While professional knife sets can include up to 18 different knives, there are about four or five essential kitchen knives every cooking enthusiast should have.
Chef’s knife
The long, smooth blade of a chef’s knife is perfect for slicing and chopping most fruits, vegetables, and meats. When turned on its side, its flat surface can be used to crush ingredients. A chef’s knife is the most versatile knife in your knife drawer, so it will see the most use out of all your knives.
When shopping for a chef’s knife, look for one with a stainless steel blade and durable handle. The 6-inch chef’s knife from Zwilling J.A. Henckels Twin Pro S Collection is a good choice for cooks of every level.
Paring Knife
Mushrooms, berries, small cuts of meat, and anything else requiring a 4-inch blade or less can be tackled with a paring knife. Paring knives can also be used to peel skin from ingredients like apples and potatoes. If you’re looking for a quality paring knife, try the paring/boning knife from the Henckels Twin Pro S Series.
Bread/serrated knife
A bread knife will have a long, serrated blade that tears rather than cuts.
Not just for bread, bread knives can be useful for cutting other soft-fleshed ingredients like tomatoes. The 8-inch bread knife from JA Henckels Twin Pro S Series is a good choice for those looking to add one to their collection.
Carving fork
Though arguably not a knife, a carving fork is an irreplaceable tool for anyone who makes a lot of roasts, hams, and turkeys. They have one unique purpose, which is to hold meat in place during the carving process. Although its design is simple, quality is important when selecting a carving fork. The Four Star Series carving fork is strong enough to hold every roast that comes out of your oven.
With so much variety to choose from these days, knives don’t have to be expensive, but they do have to be well-made. Look for quality first when shopping for your next knife, and remember to sharpen your knives regularly to get the most out of your new favorite tools.