So, you’ve taken an interest in chef knives, not knowing whether you’re entitled to use such tools for home cooking purposes or if you will quickly learn how to operate them. The best chef knives may suit all purposes, as experts say, but can they meet your expectations?
Both cooking specialists and amateurs widely use the best chef knives. They use these precise tools to cut meat, vegetables, root plants, herbs, and fruit. They are meat enthusiasts, vegetarians or vegans. However, you are looking for a product to satisfy your own cooking needs, concerning how often and what you usually prepare. This article is a guide that helps you track down the best chef knives not just for anyone, but for yourself.
Where to Find the Best
Before we begin, you should know that chef knives are professionally-made products which sometimes include handcrafting techniques. Any product you find and costs too little for its promised quality is probably an imitation that turns out to be more harmful than beneficial. That being said, let’s see where you can find the best chef knives:
- Review websites: These resources are used for both the purchase itself and research process. Regardless of your purposes, you should consult review websites to discover users’ opinions after at least a test at home. According to buyer feedback, the best chef knife is the ZELITE INFINITY Alpha-Royal Series product, made of Japanese premium steel. Before purchasing any product, check more options to see what characteristics they share.
- Stores for chefs: Cooking specialists should purchase their tools from somewhere, right? There are stores where you can find chef knives and informed personnel who can show you options depending on your style.
- Online stores: Online chain stores include technical specs, Q&A sections and user opinions alto which can show you insightful information about the products.
Features of the Best Chef Knife
There are two types of chef knives – German and Japanese. European or German ones are heavier and have a thicker blade than Japanese products. They work well with large volumes and hard materials. You recognize German knives by their simple and slightly rounded blade.
Japanese chef knives are lighter and come with a thinner blade. They have a considerable precision and work exceptionally well for plating-related tasks. These knives are easy to recognize thanks to their dozens of layers on the blade.
Chef knives usually have an 8 – 12-inch blade. Most experts recommend using an 8-inch blade for safe and balanced operation.
Blades are usually made of:
- Titanium: Lighter than steel and wear-resistant.
- High-carbon stainless steel: This is the best material a blade can be made of. Steel is resistant, while carbon is strong.
- Stainless steel: It is resistant against usage and alterations, although a bit challenging to maintain.
- Carbon steel: It’s tough and has a sharp edge. Although it loses color in time and thanks to acidic fruit and vegetables, it’s easy to maintain.
What to Look for in a Chef Knife
The best chef knife for you should cut with perfect precision and have a steady grip in your hands. The handle needs to feel secure, while the blade should slip and make straight lines while cutting. Usually, getting used to a knife requires a few days of use. However, you should feel that you should have a good hold of the tool. Here’s what to consider:
- Weight is up to you. Try a few knives to determine the ideal weight, as there is no standard recipe.
- Perfect balance lies in your palm. By gripping the knife, you should feel comfortable and in full control. This also includes side-to-side balance which should be stable.
- The 10-inch blades cut more volume than others, while the 6-inch blades provide users with agility. Test the two, together with an 8-inch knife to see which feels comfortable.
- The cutting process shouldn’t require additional strength from your side. You cut by moving the knife forward and backward, instead of pressing on it.
- Knives are made using two techniques – forging or stamping. Forged knives are durable and balanced, while stamped knives are made through exact laser cuts.
How to Test a Chef Knife
Grab the knife you plan to purchase and take some or all of the below actions to see how they feel like.
- Cut through a sheet of paper and see if the line you draw is straight.
- Mince parsley.
- Dice an onion.
- Cut carrots into small pieces of different shapes, including strips.
- Carve a melon and try to create a piece of art. You don’t need talent for this; it’s just a task to see how you handle the knife.
Facts You Will Discover Using the Best Chef Knife
- Each knife comes with an instruction manual which teaches you how to sharpen it after a while. Also, you will learn how to store it. Usually, you can keep the knife in its original box.
- There are also ceramic chef knives which may not work well with meat or root; they do impressive work with vegetables, fruit, herbs, and fish.
- You can do so many things with the dull side of the blade. Use the apparently useless side of the knife to crack a coconut, scale fish, milk ear of popcorn or crush cucumbers.
Wrapping Up the Best Chef Knife
Chefs use such knives and even claim that you only need two or three cutting tools in your kitchen – including a chef knife and a pairing one. There is a product that users prefer, as you might have seen above. The choice is made considering quality, manufacturer reputation, feedback after usage and budget. However, feel free to try any product with your own hands.
The best chef knife should, above all, feel fit for your hands and stay sharp. Your cutting precision evolves as time passes and you get used to your new favorite cooking product. The more you cut, the tastier and good looking your recipes will be. Explore the world of chef knives and find the best!
Images Source: Pixabay.com, Pxhere.com.
Loves home. I am here to provide how to make your home a much better place. 🙂 Blogging about HomeDecor, Home Improvements and more.
