Kitchen knives are something every chef and home cook use. Are you using the right tools for the job, and do you know how to care for them?
Never underestimate the importance of having the right tool for the right job! I was recently reminded of this when we went on vacation and rented a townhouse.The kitchen was fully equipped, and I brought plenty of supplies, but I forgot to bring my favorite kitchen knives!
Each night, our group of 70 + shared dinner, with each family bringing a dish to share with the group. I made a simple Greek salad on the first night. It had tomatoes, cucumbers, bell peppers, feta cheese, Kalamata olives, and salami.
Trying to hack through everything with a dull knife was a real chore! While it was certainly tasty, the salad did not look as pretty as I would have liked.
John, a former chef and Pasadena restaurant owner brought his knife roll. We spent Saturday night drinking an excellent bottle of wine. Oh, and talking about cooking, food, restaurants, and of course, the importance of a sharp knife.
Good kitchen knives are a big investment, but they pay for themselves in the long run.
Some popular top of the line kitchen knife brands are Wusthof, Trident, and Henckles. But John also recommends Dexter Russell, which he considers an excellent value for the price. Choose your knives based on how they feel in your hand. Care for them, too. I hone mine each time I use them.
Here is what is in John’s knife roll:
Counter-clockwise from left to right:
a zester, a Dexter Russell flexible filet knife, (for de-boning fish) vegetable peeler (Zyllis), 2 1/2″ paring knife(an essential knife) Wusthof 10″ thin slicer, Deba Japanese 8″ chef’s knife (This puppy was super heavy and I would not be able to use it on a regular basis!) a 10″ chef’s knife (an essential knife!), Wusthof 6″ boning knife, instant read thermometer, micro-plane, tasting spoon, oyster shucker,(if you’ve never shucked oysters, don’t try it at home! John told me that he’s had to take more chefs to the emergency room for oyster shucking injuries than any other!) and a second flexible filet knife.
Coming soon to a blog near you: What’s in MY Drawers?
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