Mastering the art of using a kitchen knife is a new skill that is learned over time. Every skill requires patience, time, and dedication. It is important to know some basic ways how you can use your kitchen knife to reduce the risk of injury and keep the kitchen running smoothly.
A sharp and good knife will not only save you time but also keep you safe while cooking. Consider buying the best kitchen knives in the UK as a one-time investment will be helpful in the long run. Always remember to use a wooden chopping board as it provides the necessary grip and also prevents the knives from getting blunt.
Whether you are a beginner or a seasoned cook these tips will help you in using the kitchen knife more effectively. Here we bring you five unique ways to learn the kitchen knife.
Step 1
How to hold the knife properly?
The main hand used to cut and which grips the knife has the key role to play, while the other hand is just used to support the process. It helps to stabilize the thing which is being chopped. If you are slicing or chopping an onion the other hand will hold it in place as you cut. Be careful while handling the edges as you might get hurt and always make sure you let your finger touch the edge of the knife.
Keep your knuckles in front of your fingertips at all times and prop your thumb and pinky on the chopping board for stability.
Step 2
How to chop effectively?
Chopping is one of the greatest culinary skills in the kitchen. Even if you are not a professional chopping effectively can save your cooking time so that you can spend more time on cooking. You can roughly chop the pieces keeping the size uniform. While chopping makes sure to use the other hand as your base to balance the knife. Chopping the ingredients skillfully could enhance the visual appeal of the food which looks amazing. It enhances the quality of food. For optimum control of the knife grip the blade with the thumb and the forefinger.
Tip- Keep the blade on the cutting board and imagine the handle is attached to the rim of a wheel.
Step 3
How to dice the ingredients?
Dicing is the process by which you cut the vegetables and fruits into small cubicles. When the cubes are cut into small pieces, it results in a neatly diced piece. This helps in more uniform cooking of the ingredients. Use vertical motion and apply pressure uniformly over the knife to dice precisely. For better dicing, you should keep the vegetable roots attached as you chop.
Step 4
Art of slicing and cutting
To slice any vegetables have a chef’s knife that’s super sharp and could easily be used to cut using downward strokes. If budget is a constraint then you may also choose the best quality vegetable choppers from here.
You can also use a serrated knife and use back and forth motion. You could either slice vertically or horizontally. Keep the knife blade sharp at all times and make sure you keep a damp towel underneath to prevent the board from sliding. It works wonders!
Step 5
Sharpening and storing the knife
Often we forget to sharpen the knives and don’t take them as part of everyday life. But keeping the knives sharp will not only save time in the long run but make your chopping and cutting efficient. Honing and sharpening a knife is not as difficult as you think.
Honing makes a knife straight while sharpening increases the sharpness of the blade. Don’t wait until the knife gets dull to do it as a part of the periodic maintenance of knives.
Mastering these steps slowly and with dedication will help you make your cooking more efficient and time-saving.
