Chef’s Knives

Do you often enjoy being in the kitchen? Then a chef’s knife is a real must-have. There are many kitchen knives and chef’s knives available, so it is important to find the right one for you. Below you will find more information about what to look for when buying a good knife, such as different blade types and how to store your knives properly.

What is a chef's knife?

In every knife set, you will find a real chef's knife. There are numerous types of kitchen knives, ranging from a damascus knife to a santoku knife, but the chef's knife is one of the most well known. Often a chef's knife has a non-flexible blade that is affixed to a sturdy handle. The blade of a good chef's knife is often four to five centimeters broad. This is relatively high in relation to its length which averages twenty centimeters. This allows you to rest the fingers you are using to hold the ingredient against the knife. This is a well-known cutting technique among (professional) cooks because it is safe and fast.

Chef's knife, a true all-rounder

The chef's knife is considered the basic tool of every chef. While some kitchen knives have a very specific function, the chef's knife is very versatile. It is suitable for cutting vegetables, herbs, meat and fish. You can also crush a clove of garlic by striking it with the side of the blade and grind peppercorns with the handle. This makes the knife a real all-rounder, whether you are looking for a professional chef's knife or simply a good one for your kitchen knife collection.

A chef's knife blade

Without a good blade, a knife is nothing. The quality of the blade therefore says a lot about the overall quality of the knife. The blade of a chef's knife often has a length ranging from 15 to 35 centimeters, becomes progressively thinner towards the edge and protrudes at the cutting edge so that you can use the knife on a cutting board without the knuckles getting in the way. The blade is usually made of steel, whereby the hardness of the material - expressed in Rockwell C - determines the quality and price class. In general, the higher the hardness, the more expensive the knife is, but also the longer it stays sharp.

Blades with notches

In addition to the different sizes and types of blades, you can also buy a chef's knife with notches in the blade. This type of knife is called a santo knife. Whereas a smooth blade may cause the cut product to stick to the knife, the risk of this happening is considerably smaller with a dimpled blade. The dimples therefore act as a kind of non-stick layer between the ingredient and the knife.

Safely storing a chef's knife

When you have found your perfect chef's knife, it is very important to take good care of your trusty kitchen knives. To make the knife sharp again and keep it well maintained, you can sharpen it with a whetstone or a knife sharpener. You also protect your chef's knife by storing it properly. This can be done in a knife protector, knife bag or drawer insert, but you can also put your knives in sight and use them as an eye-catcher. In such cases, you might want to consider a knife magnet or magnetic knife block to make your knives a permanent fixture in your kitchen.