THE COMMON FEATURES FOUND ON MOST KITCHEN KNIVES

There are various types of knives. Every type of knife has a different characteristic, design and purpose. Among these different types of knives designed to execute each possible and plausible task in the kitchen, the most common and famous include the following.

The Chef’s Knife

The French Chef's Blade, as the chef’s knife is popularly called, is the best tool in the kitchen. It is used for various types of tasks such as cutting, crumbling and cubing. It is particularly useful for tasks involving vegetables. It has a very flat blade the length of which ranges from 6 to 12 inches. Among the various lengths of blade, the 8-inch blade is the accepted standard in the kitchen.

There is also a Chinese version of the chef’s knife. This is normally referred to as the Chinese Chopper, since its shape is similar to that of a meat chopper. The Chinese Chopper is the Asian adaptation of the much more popular French version.

The Japanese also has a version of the Chef’s knife and it is called the Usuba. This knife has a narrower blade than that of the Chinese version. Thus, the Usuba is preferred over its Chinese cousin since it is much closer in size to the French version.

The Paring Knife

The paring knife consists of a small blade; it is usually four inches long from end to end. It is found in different designs and shapes, though. The paring knife is mainly used for stripping, slicing and for preparing vegetables. However it is inappropriate and even possibly dangerous to use with big, thick ingredients.

The Utility Knife

Utility knives usually have 6-inch blades; they’re probably what most people use in their kitchen. While the chef's knife is quite hefty and bulky, the utility knife is much easier to handle and use. The utility knife also comes in handy when the paring knife is too small for a task.

The Bread Knife and the Tomato Knife

This kind of knife has a notched edge, allowing it to slice through solid skin or crust without unduly bruising the food being prepared. It is usually from 5 to 12 inches long.

The Cook’s Knife

The cook's knife is a useful second knife because of its ideal size. The length of its blade falls between that of the utility knife and the chef’s knife.

The Chopper

The Chopper or Cleaver has a very broad blade. The knife is quite heavy. Its weight makes it ideal for cutting through bone and ribs.

The Mezzaluna

The Mezzaluna has a curved blade with handgrips at every end. There is also a smaller version of the Mezzaluna; this type, though has only one handle and it is found at the center. Due to its design and shape, the Mezzaluna is ideal for mincing.

Clam and Oyster Knives

Clam and Oyster knives have broad blades that range from 1 to 3 inches in length. The former, however, has a lengthier blade and a more rounded tip.

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