Types of kitchen knives and their purpose

The knife deserves the title of the oldest kitchen tool. Even in the 21st century high technology, when the kitchen can not do without a mixer, blender, electric meat grinder, etc., the object with a sharpened blade does not lose its relevance.

On the shelves of stores today you can find many kinds of kitchen knives with names and photos, but the average hostess and a novice chef they have little to say. Be confused in such a variety of models is simple. How to choose a product that fully meets the needs, and do not overpay for unnecessary functions? Answers to this and many other questions in this article.

Cooks with Michelin stars claim that there are three knives in the kitchen. And they're right ... in part. Because these three knives are different for everyone. The characteristics of the instruments are determined by the preferences in food and the ways in which it is prepared. And yet, the main types of kitchen knives from the photo will be considered first.

Chef-knife

The chef's knife, or simply "chef", is like a handle for the teacher, the steering wheel for the driver, this is the main tool of 98% of cooks. Virtually all operations for the grinding of products are carried out with his direct participation. On different continents, the instrument has distinctive features due to the unique gastronomic and cultural traditions of the population.

European Chef Knife

Got the maximum distribution in our region. The length of the blade does not exceed 30 centimeters. Finding the back of the handle and the shoe at the same level creates a comfortable clearance for the fingers between the cutting board and the handle. Thanks to this design, the instrument can be used for hours without feeling the heaviness or discomfort in the hand.

At the heart of production - 55-58 HRC - steel of medium hardness, sharpened at an angle of 20 degrees per side. The product requires frequent straightening, while it has an enviable strength and can withstand impressive loads. The described kind of kitchen knives is universal - it will crush soft products, cope with the separation of tendons and cut the bones of medium thickness. The lateral surface will perfectly cope with the crushing, the shoe will beat the meat no worse than the hammer.

The German and French types of kitchen knives are distinguished by the shape of the blade, photo and purpose is presented below.

"Germans" are equipped with a cutting edge with a prominent uniform bend.

"The French" have more smooth edges, the edge is a straight line, which slightly bends to the point. The shape of the instruments determines the cutting technique, characteristic for the national cuisine of the country - swinging or linear, respectively.

Japanese "chef-knives"

A feature of tools with more than a century of history in a narrow specialization and specific profile, which makes them not popular enough among a mass audience. After the Second World, knives of European manufacture were brought to the east, which the local population modified and adapted in its own way. Returning to the West, the updated models were received with interest and quickly gained popularity.

The following types of Japanese kitchen knives can be distinguished:

1. Gyuto. It is executed in the French manner. At the heart of its production, the steel of maximum hardness (from 60 HRC) is reduced quite thin and sharpened only 15 degrees to the side. On the performance characteristics of a simple guto will give odds to elite European knives and almost does not need sharpening. There are also weaknesses in the Japanese representative, in view of the increased fragility, it is intended solely for cutting.
2. Santoku. The blade is shortened, expanded, with a rounded back to the base. The knife is indispensable for shredding, slicing, chopping. Like gyuto, the tool is made in the national traditions of the country - high hardness steel and the minimum grinding angle.

Chef's knife hails from China

The "business card" of such a device is an expanded blade of a rectangular shape. Often it is called the "Chinese cleaver", although, as you can see in the photo, he has nothing to do with the types of kitchen knives of this type. Too light and thin blade will not allow him to cut solid products. Where it is more convenient for them to cut and shred. A wide blade often performs the function of a scapula: gently pulling the cut ingredients of the dish, you can immediately send them to a frying pan.

Recommendations for selection

With the types and purposes of kitchen knives, we understood, it became clear that the choice of "boss" - a responsible task. The rest (specialized) tools will be used less often, they will do what they are intended for. As for the "boss", he will not practically drop out of his hands. If initially mistakes were made in the selection process, in 2-3 months she will show herself, and working with a knife will be problematic.

In order not to lose your head from the types of kitchen knives, it is enough to observe a day or two. What is the preferred method of slicing? Vertical, horizontal or swinging? The answer to the question will determine the length and shape of the blade. The curved blade is suitable for slicing by swing, for cutting, the straight blade is straightforward and it is easier to stretch the movement with a straight tool of an elongated shape.

Getting acquainted with the photo types of kitchen knives and their purpose, it is worth paying attention to the volume of the handle. It must match the palm of the user. A thick device in a small hand, and vice versa, will create discomfort, deteriorate the quality and speed of cutting.

The quality of steel. Proposals of famous brands meet the price-quality ratio. The characteristics of the cut are determined by the grinding method, and the steel grade is determined only by the duration of preservation of the sharpness of the knife. For home use, there is enough "chef" of budgetary and medium-price categories, they will not quickly become dull and provide a decent quality of grinding.

For beginners, who study the types and purposes of kitchen knives, it is recommended to buy a European knife with a blade length of 20 centimeters. This is a universal option, easy to learn and undemanding to use. "Japanese" is better left for honing skill, they are "whimsical" in care and complex in sharpening.

Universal model

Such types of kitchen knives - something between the vegetable and cook tools. The length of the blade is within 12-15 centimeters, the width does not exceed 3. They can perform any operations, but this will not always be convenient. Experts agree that this is not the most useful type of cutting tools. For cooks-amators such a device can serve as a spare.

Knife for vegetables and fruits

Chef's cutting tools are excellent at quickly chopping large volumes of products, as for small jobs, problems may arise. Their weight and dimensions play against maneuverability. This explains the popularity of types of kitchen knives, and their purpose is indicated in the name - cleaning vegetables, grinding them, removing small contaminants. The blade of such a knife is 7-12 centimeters in length. The blade can be straight and concave. Such a knife is convenient to work when cutting edible decorative figurines.

Knife for bread

The main difference of this device is the servitor sharpening. The task of the tool is clear - to cut a hard bread crust without damaging the crumb. A long narrow blade will cope even with a freshly baked rich product.

Resourceful cooks use a compact knife for other similar culinary operations, for example for cutting baked duck in the oven with a crispy crust.

Sirloin and boning knives

The types and names of kitchen knives most often reflect the task assigned to them. The above two types of instruments at the highest level will cope with the separation of meat from bone, filing, skin removal, etc. Thanks to a flexible thin blade, they smoothly separate meat from ridges, bones from the most inaccessible places. The blade has a shorter blade and is stronger than a loin knife.

Cutting knife

To cut the finished dish with delicate, neat slices, a special kind of kitchen knife is used. A narrow, thin, elongated blade allows you to cut long longitudinal movements without the use of force. Beautiful slices will become a stylish presentation of any dish.

Tops and cleaver

The purpose of the cleaver is to cut pieces of meat with small and medium bones. His blade is thick and heavy, there are no high demands on his sharpness. Such a device is indispensable for owners of small farms and hunters. The point of the hatchet is made in the characteristic shape of the triangle and allows you to cut the bones larger.

Knives of special purpose

There are several dozen knives designed for one operation. The tool for cutting soft cheese is equipped with special holes in the blade. Reducing the area of contact of the knife with the product prevents the adhesion of the knife and allows you to get even thin slices.

To cut tomatoes, the device is used with a small serritorial sharpening, it easily cuts through the firm skin without deforming the flesh of the vegetable.

This group can be considered a knife for pizza, the cutting element of which is represented by a pointed disc.

Ceramic knives

Products with a blade of zirconia (ceramics) have gained serious popularity in recent years. Manufacturers produce them in the most purchased variations - universal, cook or vegetable. The advantage of such tools is in the high hardness and sharpness of the blade, which lasts for a record long time. The payment for this is fragility - bones and frozen products can not be cut by them. Sharpening is carried out on special equipment, at home is almost impossible. Most manufacturers point to the packaging: "for sharpening return to the factory."

Additional Tools

A useful attribute in the kitchen will be kitchen scissors. The assortment of strengthened versions of standard scissors and analogues of garden pruners. They are indispensable when cutting a bird, removing fish fins, etc.

Musat - a metal rod with special notches and a handle. Its main purpose is to edit the knives. The tool will effectively cope with the wrapped cutting edge without removing the metal from the blade.

Rules of operation and care

For a new knife to serve its owner for a decade, bringing pleasure from every perfect cut, it is necessary to adhere to a number of rules.

Learn the right technique of cutting. In the future, this will save hours of time, and also minimizes the likelihood of injury and cut.

Maintain sharpness of knives. Cutting a blunt instrument is much easier. Sharp obeys the cook, the dumb man lives his life. Knives of the European model need regular editing, optimally - before each start of cooking. Sharing is appropriate when editing does not help. Following this recommendation is a guarantee of a long service life of the product. "Natives of Japan" sharpen as necessary, but without fanaticism. If the blade needs to be prevented, it is enough to refresh it a little, without complex grinding with thin and coarse abrasives.

Avoid hard surfaces. Ceramic plates, glass boards and steel countertops are the main enemies of the sharpness of the knife. They instantly put out the equipment. A suitable basis for work - wooden and plastic boards.

After completing work with the knife, it must be thoroughly washed, wiped dry and put into storage. A prolonged stay in the sink and dishwasher leads to premature rust formation. Keeping in a box is not the best solution. Here they become a potential source of danger. It is better to get a special stand or a magnetic tape.