Let’s talk knives a minute. Over the years, I’ve had a number of knife sets. Some have been good…some have been not so good. And I’ve learned – in my personal experiences – that the knife set can have surprising impact on the quality of the meal.
Why The Knives Matter
Now you may be thinking a knife is a knife. I used to think that way as well – just ask my wife. When we met, I’d use a meat cleaver for almost everything. Why? Because it works well and I can sharpen it easily.
Knives play an important part in what you make – a serrated knife is better suited for cutting bread than it is for that nice pork tenderloin. A paring knife is better suited to cut strawberries than a chef’s knife. Hopefully you get the idea. Nothing worse than mangling your meal using the wrong knife (or a cheap knife that dulls quickly).
When my wife and I met, we each had our knife sets. What I liked about the set I owned was that it came with a meat cleaver, which I used a LOT. Again you may wonder why. Being away from home a lot, many times I would (and still do) prep from the freezer. The cleaver was really good for cutting through partially thawed meat. Plus it has a straight blade (the other knives in the set had a slightly serrated blade). Ultimately I “retired” that set in favor of her block of knives – but that cleaver is still in reach if I need it.
So What Makes a Good Knife?
That is a good question – and I ask myself that every time I see some new knife advertised. I think in the end that it is matter of preference and need. Are you looking for just general purpose around the kitchen? Or are you looking to be a professional culinary expert? I go for my ceramic set that my wife got me (much like the ones in the picture above) – and occasionally I reach for my Santoku set. Both have higher quality blades for general purpose cooking. I wash both sets by hand and dry immediately to put away. They are so easy to sharpen, I give them a quick edge every few uses.
So the next time you reach for the kitchen knife, think to yourself “Is this the right knife for what I am about to do?” Or if you are just starting on your cooking adventures, research the knife sets and think “is this the right set for me?” You’ll find that the right set and the right knife will do wonders in the kitchen; and you will find that the wrong set or knife will make cooking a difficult chore.
Until next time, have fun and Happy cooking!
