Hello, culinary enthusiasts! Bruno Albouze here, your friendly French chef. Today, we’re diving into a topic that’s often overlooked but is crucial for any chef—knives. A good knife is like an extension of your hand in the kitchen. But how do you choose the right one? How do you keep it sharp? And most importantly, how do you use it like a pro? Let’s cut to the chase!
Rule #1: Keep Your Knives Sharp
A dull knife is a chef’s worst enemy. It’s not just inefficient; it’s dangerous. To keep your knives in top shape, you have two main options: a manual knife sharpener or a sharpening stone. For daily use, a honing rod (also known as a “fusil”) can help maintain that razor-sharp edge. There is also a great alternative especially when you don’t feel comfortable doing it is to have your knives sharpened by a pro. Google knife sharpening service, and you will find many options available in your neighborhood.
Rule #2: Choose the Right Knife for the Job
One size doesn’t fit all when it comes to knives. For slicing bread or citrus fruits, a serrated knife is your go-to. Need to fillet a fish? A flexible filleting knife is what you need. For deboning meat, a boning knife with a slightly flexible, narrow blade works wonders. Chef’s knives are versatile, great for chopping vegetables and slicing meat. For more delicate tasks like mincing herbs or peeling, a paring knife will offer the precision you need. Until recently, I have had tens of knives stored in my kitchen – but the truth is that you only need 3. A chef knife, paring knife, and serrated knife. What brand to choose?.. Here is my best advise here: the weight of a high quality chef knife should not exceed 240 grams. The blade should be thin and the whole thing well balanced. Needless to say that the real deal made-in Japan knives are by far the best. Always pay attention to Google and Amazon reviews anyways.
Rule #3: Maintenance is Key
Avoid putting your knives in the dishwasher. The harsh detergents and high water pressure can damage the blade and handle. Instead, wash them by hand with lukewarm water and soap. And let’s not forget about the cutting board. Whether it’s wood or plastic, make sure to clean it thoroughly to avoid cross-contamination. In that matter and throughout the years, I have worked with all type of cutting boards. My clear-cut conclusion is that the cutting board you will pick is as important as the knife. A couple of years ago, I have decided to ban all wooden cutting boards in my kitchen. I have realized that wooden cutting boards look pretty but they have too many downsides. Wooden cutting boards are hard to clean, a pain to maintain, and they do not age well. Since then, I rather use high-density polyethylene ≈101X76X0.8 inch/40X30X2cm; the best cutting board by far, and it is dishwasher safe.
Rule #4: Master the Techniques
Now that you’ve got the basics down, it’s time to put your skills to the test. Simple tasks like mincing shallots or segmenting an orange can be done in a snap with the right technique. But when it comes to more complex tasks like deboning a chicken or filleting a fish, practice makes perfect. In short, hold on to the handle of your chef knife. The next is to choke up one finger, and just grip… Great new! a new knife skills video is on the way!..
A chef is only as good as their tools, and a quality knife is one of the most essential tools in the kitchen. By choosing the right knife, keeping it sharp, and using it correctly, you’ll not only make your cooking process smoother but also elevate the quality of your dishes. Let’s get cooking!
To go further
Learn the culinary basic knife cuts such as fine brunoise, brunoise, small dice (macédoine), medium dice (Parmentier), large dice, paysanne, roll-cuts, diagonal and the tourner technique; a football-shaped seven curved sides product