Few kitchen tools are used as much as a knife. Almost every meal involves some kind of cutting need. Whether it’s chopping an onion to throw in your dinner, or slicing a bit of cheese off a block for a quick snack, there’s one thing for sure… We need a knife! When looking for kitchen knives, it can feel overwhelming and confusing to know which ones are truly necessary. Luckily, we’ve got your back. We’ve narrowed all the options down to three must-have knives that are essential in every kitchen: a chef’s knife, a bread knife, and a paring knife.
The Chef’s Knife
This knife does it all. A chef’s knife can slice, dice, mince, and even carve. It’s the most popular knife and every chef has one in their kitchen arsenal. The blade is typically 8-10 inches long and has a slightly round edge. Its large blade can feel intimidating, but once you start using it, you’ll get comfortable with it in no time. It makes prepping large amounts of food much easier. With regular sharpening, a quality chef’s knife can last you a lifetime.
The Bread Knife
A bread knife is a baker’s best friend. After going through a long labor of love to create a beautiful bread with a golden crust, the last thing you want to do is cut it with a dull knife that’s going to compress and smash your delicate loaf. A bread knife ensures that won’t happen to you. Combined with a sawing action, the serrated edges (the small teeth on the edge of the blade) catch the food’s surface, then follow through to slice the food without the need of downward pressure resulting in a clean cut. It can be difficult to sharpen the blades of a serrated bread knife. A high-quality, forged knife stays sharp for longer compared to a thinner, stamped blade. Buying a better quality bread knife means that you’ll get more longevity and cuts out of it compared to a cheaper version. If your bread knife isn’t doing its job right, we have lots of great options to help you out.
The Paring Knife
Perfect for small tasks, like slicing a lemon or cutting an apple, a paring knife will quickly become one of your favorite kitchen tools. It has a smaller blade that ranges from 3-4 inches long. It’s not the best choice if you have a lot of chopping, but it is great for quick tasks. The paring knife is almost like an “odds and ends” kitchen tool. It can be used to check the doneness of cakes and other foods without leaving an obvious mark. It can even be used for peeling vegetables and fruits. If there is a task a chef’s or bread knife can’t do, a paring knife is sure to do the job! If your paring knife isn’t cutting it anymore, check out our selection here.
Picking out the right kitchen gear can be a daunting task. It can be confusing trying to figure out what is actually necessary versus what is simply nice to have. Luckily with knives, less is more. Not everyone needs 15 different knives. These three knives can make a huge difference in prepping meals and snacks. Using the right one helps you get through your chopping and slicing quicker and results in more precise cuts. If you can only afford one kitchen tool, we highly suggest investing in at least one of these knives.
Craving Something More?
Check out our post all about cutting boards a.k.a the knife’s best friend.
