Choosing a Chefs Knife

8" Chefs Knife from Amazon

When you are looking to buy a new knife or knife set for the kitchen you might be a little confused when you are confronted with a massive array of different types of knives.

Each is designed with a specific purpose in mind. Of all the different types of knife though, the most diverse is the chef’s knife.

What is a Chefs Knife?

Utilty, paring, and 6" Chefs Knife set from Amazon

A chefs knife usually measures between 6 and 12 inches in length. Most top chefs rate the 8 inch knife as the one of choice. What sets it apart from other knives is its flat broad blade – this makes it very versatile. It  is great for chopping, mincing, and slicing and is perfect for all cutting tasks. Just place the food on your chopping board and let the natural shape and weight of the knife take over and rock it back and forth to cut what you need.

So,  for some reason you are only going to buy one kitchen knife, make it a chef’s knife. A good one can be used for chopping up fruits and vegetables, slicing cooked or raw meat, slicing cheese and other general tasks like slicing sandwiches up. And you reduce the need to keep changing knives – and the amount of washing up!

Buying Considerations

OK, so we’ve narrowed down the kitchen knife section to the chefs knives, but you’re still probably a little dumbfounded at how many different chefs knives there still are. Well, like with most other kitchen items, this is because different peoples’ hands as well as their cooking styles will affect how well they get on with a particular chefs knife. There are two things in particular which you need to think about which will help you make the right choice.

The Size of your Hands

Larger (10") Chefs Knife from Amazon

Believe it or not, one of the most important things to think about when you buy one is the size of your hands. If you only have small, slim hands then you are probably not going to work well with a large, heavy chefs knife. If on the other hand you have hands like a bear then you will probably find a small, light one a little flimsy and you might find it more difficult to get enough force on the knife to chop things. You should then look at both the dimensions of the knives and the weight of the knives to decide which is going to work best for you.

The other reason that the size of your hands may be important is due to the grips which are on most chef’s knives’ handles. If you have large hands you will probably be able to accommodate any moulded grip the knife has. If however you have small hands you may be better selecting a flattened handle rather than one with a moulded grip.

The Range of Tasks You Need the Knife For

The second important thing to think about is the different tasks which you will use the knife for. If you have a whole host of knives and you will only use your chefs knife for chopping up smaller vegetables and slicing meat then a short blade may be sufficient. If you are going to regularly perform tasks such as slicing open melons then a longer blade will be necessary. Also, if you are always having to prepare food quickly it may be better to buy a longer-bladed chefs knife which will allow you to chop more at once than using a knife with a smaller blade.

Chefs Knives – How to keep them as New

Chef’s knives are one of the most important tools in the kitchen for any chef, whether amateur or professional. Here we give you our top tips for how to look after and prolong the life of your new chef’s knives.
Chef’s Knives – 5 Tips to Prolong Their Life
If you have invested in a new set of chef’s knives then you will most probably be looking to protect them as much as possible. Here are our top five tips to look after them and prolong their life.
#1 – Protect Your Chef’s Knives by Keeping them Clean and Dry
Always make sure that you wash and dry your chef’s knives straight after use. This will help to keep them sharp and is also the best way to maintain high levels of hygiene in your kitchen.
Keeping your knives sharp not only makes it much easier to cut through food if your chef’s knife is sharp, but believe it or not you are actually less likely to hurt yourself.
When we use blunt knives in the kitchen, we generally have to put a lot more force into what we are doing, and this is when you are putting yourself at serious risk of losing a finger (or three!). Keeping your chef’s knives sharp will reduce this risk as long as you are careful not to touch the sharp side of the blade.
#2 – Use a Steel Each Time Before You Put Your Chef’s Knives Away
If you purchase your chef’s knives as part of a knife set, there will probably be a steel included in the set. If you are unsure what a steel is, it is the long, rounded metal item which is clearly not a knife! You should always give your chef’s knives a quick sharpen with this each time before you put them away to keep them nice and sharp.
#3 – Sharpen Your Knives Regularly
Even if you use a steel every time you use your chef’s knives, they will still become blunt over time. Ideally, chef’s knives should be sharpened every few months using a proper knife sharpener.
#4 – Don’t Use Your Chef’s Knives to Cut Anything Other Than Food
If you use your chef’s knives to cut things such as packaging, you can not only blunt the edges, but risk breaking the blade. Use a separate knife or a pair of scissors for anything non-food related in the kitchen.
#5 – Don’t Put Your Knives in the Dishwasher
Dishwashers tend to rattle items around, which puts your new chef’s knives at risk of breaking. Detergents may also harm the metal and cause your knives to become blunt.

Posts about Kitchen Knives as of March 16, 2009

Posts about Knives for Cooking as of March 16, 2009

Amazon Chefs Knives

The great selection of good value Chefs Knives from Amazon UK:

Buying Guide for Chefs Knives

Design Considerations

Forged Knives

Fully forged  knives are made from one block of steel and are the best quality knives. The blade and the tang (which attaches the handle to the blade) are all in one piece. Unless money is very limited, avoid stamped knives – which are machine cut. A stamped knife is not as strong or durable as a fully forged knife but offers  value for money.

Taper ground blades

These blades are the best quality. Taper ground means that the whole blade is ground, from the tip to the  handle and from the back of the blade to the cutting edge. This type of blade has a very fine sharp and strong cutting edge. Again, avoid hollow ground blades if possible.  With these, only the bottom part of the blade is ground to form a cutting edge. These chefs knives are not as strong as those with taper ground blades.

Materials

Carbon steel

The best cutting edges are made from carbon steel, but this type of blade does rust and discolour unless looked after very well, including keeping it dry, and is not popular or common as a result.

High carbon stainless steel

High carbon stainless steel is a good second choice. It will keep an edge very well, and needs virtually no maintenance save for an occasional sharpening.

Why consider buying a Chefs Knife?

A good, basic set of knives is a one of the most important tools available to a chef.

A good knife will make food preparation easier and faster and the best will last for many years.