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.