How many knives are needed in the kitchen?

Cutting and cutting food is the basis of culinary art. Therefore, the knife has become an indispensable tool in the kitchen. But you can’t do it with just a knife! Products such as bread, cheese, meat, vegetables require different types of knives. How many of them should the housewife have on hand? Let's try to figure it out together.

For any occasion

First, let's clarify which knives are intended for the kitchen.

Reference! To have products for any occasion, you will have to assemble a collection that will include nine knives. Despite the simplicity of each, they will all differ from each other in the size and shape of the blade, as well as the dimensions of the handle.

Cleaver

The peculiarity of the cleaver is the presence of a large rectangular blade. It is perhaps the widest among other blades. In general, this object resembles a hatchet.

He indispensable for those who often cut meat. With a cleaver, the cook has no problem cutting (or chopping) the joint that connects the bones. But the cleaver is used not only for this. In skillful hands, it will quickly and easily chop other products.

Sirloin

Quite narrow and quite long - this is how the fillet is characterized. The name itself suggests its purpose.

With its help, the housewife will be able to divide the meat tenderloin, fish carcass or poultry breast into fillets - thin strips.

Boning

It took separate the flesh from the bones − take out the boning knife.

Its main feature is its incredibly thin and flexible blade. Thanks to it, the cook penetrates into those places that are inaccessible for other types of knives. Such a blade is capable repeat each curve of the ridge of a meat or fish carcass.

Chef's knife

It is considered one of the main kitchen items. The handle is large and comfortable, and the blade is long, wide at the junction with the handle and tapering to the tip.

Thanks to this, an impressive working area appears for slicing or chopping products.

Chef's knife capabilities

• Fast chop vegetables, herbs etc.

Advice! To chop really quickly, the housewife will have to master the skills of professionals. They lower the blade from the tip to the handle, without lifting the tip of the knife from the cutting board.

• Use the blade as a garlic press.
• Use a handle instead of a hammer to pound meat.

Bread

An item that housewives consider not particularly necessary. And this immediately reveals that they are unprofessional. After all, a real specialist will say that such a blade cuts bread accurately, without crushing the crust and leaving the pulp without crumbs or tears.

Reference! A distinctive feature is the blade; it is long and wavy on the cutting side.

Slicing

A very interesting subject! The name suggests that it is intended for slicing. Moreover, this blade is used to cut ready-made meat.

The blade is quite long and wide. Along the entire length, closer to the cutting edge, there are oval indentations on the metal. Therefore, when cutting meat, it does not stick to the blade, and the cut piece is easily separated from the metal.

Santoku

A very interesting knife with a Japanese name. And its shape is curious: it resembles a leg of lamb.

Professional chefs perform three main actions using santoku:

• cut;
• crumble;
• chop.

And its wide blade also has oval grooves that make slicing easier.

For vegetables

It is immediately noticeable among others by its size - it is small! The length of such a blade usually does not exceed 8 cm. This knife is incredibly convenient for peeling and cutting vegetables and fruits.

Universal

It has absorbed all the best qualities of each of the above knives. An indispensable assistant in any kitchen.

Important! The myth that a knife is a gift for trouble exists only in our country. In both Eastern and Western Europe, it is customary to give knives as gifts for the most significant events in life: weddings, births, housewarmings. And all because they symbolize renewal, new life.

Real housewife set

Obviously, most of the types of knives described are necessary only for a professional chef. It is rare to see a complete set in an ordinary kitchen.

Minimum set

In order not to experience problems during the cooking process, experts recommend having three knives:

• universal. Medium in size, with a straight and narrow blade, it is quite convenient to use. Any vegetables, meat, fish, various products - this tool can do a lot.
• Bread the knife will carefully and aesthetically (which is important!) cut not only bread products, but also cheese and tomatoes.
• Knife for peeling vegetables − an indispensable item in every kitchen.

This set will be quite enough for those who cook little.

What to add

If food has become a real cult in a family, and the housewife loves and knows how to cook delicious food, then you definitely need to purchase chef knife.

The width of its blade should fluctuate around 2-4 cm, and the length should be 15-20 cm.This is the kind of “chef” that most often works in various television culinary shows.

Reference! A qualified restaurant chef performs almost all (90%) operations with such a knife.

And if you like to receive guests, purchase slicer or knife for thin slicing. With it you will always be able to serve a cut of meat no worse than in a restaurant.

By choosing your own set of knives, you will make the process of daily cooking more comfortable. And this will certainly affect the taste of the prepared dishes, which your loved ones will appreciate.