Knives & Cutting Boards

Having a good and sharp knife is one of the most important tools in the kitchen. This is not just for productivity, but also for safety (see section “Knife Handling and Cutting Techniques” here). Knives need to be your best buddies in the kitchen, and this is why it is vital to carefully select what knife to use and to take good care of them (clean them beforehand, keep them sharp, etc.).

It is important to not have a million different kinds of knives, but to have a few really good ones, which can help you to do a job great. Having fewer knives is actually also safer since you will have to clean them more often during cooking and you will have a better idea where they are located. It also helps you to not leave them in potentially harmful locations, such as the kitchen sink.

Do not follow crazy advertising and spend too much money on your kitchen knives. I personally have had the best experience with Victorinox knives (manufactured in Switzerland and is most famous for producing Swiss Army knives) since they are very affordable. I have found that these knives are high quality and long-lasting professional knives.

Knife Handle

Before you start making a decision about the exact knives you are going to buy, decide the type handle of your future knives:

• Wooden handle knives have much more character than plastic handle ones (fibrox handles) and are usually more expensive. A disadvantage of a wooden handle is that it is more sensitive so you should never leave the knife in water. Also, because it is more sensitive it will lose its’ shine over time and the knife can split.
• A plastic handle does not look as upscale as a wooden handle, but it keeps its’ look much longer and can sit in water.
• Another option is a stainless handle, but these knives are less common and don’t often provide as good of a grip.
• Plastic and stainless knives may be placed in a dishwasher, but I would not recommend this since washing them in a dishwasher dulls the knife.

There are many kinds of knives, but these are the most common kinds that will cover what you need for your household:

1.   Chef’s Knife
   – Simply the most needed and useful knife that is pretty much irreplaceable.
   – More specific info about chef’s knives below this section or here.
2.   Paring Knife
   – Very useful for detailed cutting and peeling.
   – More specific info about paring knives below this section or here.
3.   Flexible Fillet Knife
   – Great for filleting meat and slicing through meat.
   – More specific info about flexible fillet knives below this section or here.
4.   Serrated Bread Knife
   – Makes cutting bread easier – especially for soft fresh bread,
   – More specific info about flexible fillet knives below this section or here.

Read about all other kinds of knives below this section.

How to select the best knife?

• Wooden handle knives have much more character than plastic handle ones (fibrox handles) and are usually more expensive. A disadvantage of a wooden handle is that it is more sensitive so you should never leave the knife in water. Also, because it is more sensitive it will lose its’ shine over time and the knife can split.
• A plastic handle does not look as upscale as a wooden handle, but it keeps its’ look much longer and can sit in water.
• Another option is a stainless handle, but these knives are less common and don’t often provide as good of a grip.
• Plastic and stainless knives may be placed in a dishwasher, but I would not recommend this since washing them in a dishwasher dulls the knife.

What kinds of knives should you select for your household?

• If you are on a tight budget and/or space, make sure to have at least one chef’s knife and one paring knife.
• If your budget and space allow you, it is best to have a set that includes at least 1 chef’s knife, one flexible fillet knife, two pairing knives, and one serrated bread knife.
• It is important to also own a sharpener – read more about sharpeners here.

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Read more about specific use and functions of each knife in the section below.

Read more about knife handling, knife safety, and cutting techniques here.

The mandoline slicer. This kitchen tool, with its sharp blade and adjustable settings, might seem a bit intimidating at first. But if you’re looking for perfectly even slices, juliennes, and even waffle cuts, the mandoline is a true kitchen hero. Let’s explore this versatile slicer, its many uses, how to stay safe, and how to pick the right one for you.

A Look Back

While no one knows exactly when the mandoline first appeared, its simple design – a flat surface with a sharp blade – has been around for a very long time. Early versions were basic wooden frames with a single blade, mainly used for slicing vegetables. Later on, the design was improved with adjustable blades, leading to the mandoline we use today.

So Many Uses

The best thing about the mandoline is how versatile it is. It’s not just for slicing potatoes! Here are some of its many uses:

• Perfect Slices: Get perfectly even slices of vegetables for salads, stir-fries, gratins, and anything else you can imagine. No more unevenly cooked veggies!
• Juliennes and Matchsticks: Create thin strips of vegetables for fancy garnishes, salads, or stir-fries.
• Fun Shapes: Make your dishes look amazing with waffle-cut potatoes, cucumbers, or other vegetables.
• Fruit Platters: Wow your friends and family with beautifully sliced fruits.
• Homemade Chips: Make your own potato or vegetable chips easily.

Safety is Key

The mandoline has a very sharp blade, so you need to be careful. Here are some important safety tips:

• Use the Guard: Always use the hand guard that comes with the mandoline to protect your fingers.
• Take it Slow: Don’t rush! Slice slowly and carefully.
• Keep Fingers Away: When you’re getting to the end of the vegetable, use the hand guard or a special glove to protect your fingers.
• Clean with Care: Be very careful when washing the mandoline, especially around the blade.
• Store Safely: When you’re not using the mandoline, keep the blade covered or put it away safely.

Picking the Perfect Mandoline

Mandoline slicers come in many different styles, from simple handheld ones to bigger ones that sit on your countertop. Here’s what to think about when choosing a mandoline:

• Adjustable Blades: Look for a mandoline where you can change the thickness of the slices and use different blades.
• Safety Features: Choose a model with a strong hand guard and feet that keep it from slipping.
• Easy to Clean: Make sure the mandoline is easy to take apart and clean.
• Storage Space: Think about where you’ll store the mandoline and how much space you have.

Extra Features

Some mandolines have extra features, like:

• Folding Blades: These are great for saving space.
• Different Blades: Some come with blades for julienning and dicing.
• Built-in Stands: These help keep the mandoline stable while you’re using it.

The mandoline slicer is a tool that can make your cooking more precise and creative. It can help you make beautiful, evenly sliced dishes. With proper care and technique, this kitchen helper will become your favorite tool for slicing and dicing!

It is a great knife for cutting small objects, carving or peeling fruit and vegetables.

Similar to other knives, these come in multiple lengths. I would recommend selecting 3 ¼” to 4”. I also recommend that each household have about 2 – 3 of them.

How to select great knives as well as general info about knives here.

You can simply replace this with a chef’s knife, but I would recommend that you consider purchasing a pizza cutter since it is very expensive and will make cutting pizza very easy and can even do even much more. I love mine for cutting low profile dough, such as for dough filled dumplings and other similar uses since it is gentler (does not squish the dough too much). I would recommend a pizza cutter with a blade of about 4″ since this size will be most convenient and versatile.

A razor is very important to score your bread, buns, and other baked goods if the recipe calls for it. You can use any regular razor which you may have at home or buy a special scoring knife. Another option is to use a very sharp knife.

Serrated bread knives make cutting bread easier — especially soft fresh bread that you cut right after baking.

I prefer bread knives with a finer serration that includes a part of the blade without serration. The combination of a serrated and non-serrated section on a single blade works great together.

If you have a really sharp regular chef’s knife, you don’t have to buy a specialized serrated bread knife, but a serrated knife will always make it a little easier.

The best blade length is 8 – 10″.

How to select great knives as well as general info about knives here.

To make sharpening easier, you should own a special knife sharpener. A knife sharpener will help you to sharpen dull knives and, most importantly, keep your knives sharp for better performance and safety.

Some knife sets come with a sharpening steel, which is hard to use and makes a knife sharper for only a temporary time. For that reason, I would propose to use specialized sharpeners that will be easy to use, perform better, and extend the lifetime of your knives by being gentler.

Basically, there are two kinds of sharpeners:

• Mechanical
  • These are commonly with two slots, one more coarse and the other less coarse.
  • o Fairly inexpensive

• Electrical
  • These are often with one extra slot, which can even repair some damaged knives.
  • They are more expensive than mechanical.
  • They perform better and more consistently than mechanical.
  • Usage of both is fairly similar since you have to perform the sharpening motion either way.

Read about how to sharpen your knives here.