A knife is simply irreplaceable in the kitchen. We cannot imagine cooking without this attribute. In order for the cooking process to bring only joy to the hostess, it is necessary to know how to choose and use them.
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Types of Kitchen Knives
As a rule, at home we use several basic types of knives.
And stores offer a wide range of this kitchen attribute, usually sets of four or five items. For a home kitchen, this is quite enough to quickly and effortlessly prepare food.
The main types of knives in our kitchen:
- Chef's. A universal tool that is suitable for cutting almost all products: from frozen meat to fruits and vegetables. Blade length 18-30 cm. Very convenient, but quite heavy and not intended for long-term work. Not suitable for cutting bread.
- Universal. The blade is 15 cm long, which is designed for peeling and cutting vegetables and fruits. There is a more compact version about 8 cm long.
- Fillet. A long thin blade up to 34 cm will easily cut meat into thin and even pieces. The blade is very flexible, which easily fillets chicken, fish and meat.
- Bread. Hard alloy and a serrated blade 25 cm long will allow you to cut bread into thin slices without crumbling.
- Cutting. Designed for cutting meat products. Hardened high-quality steel allows not only to cut, but also to chop meat into small pieces.
How to Choose a Quality Cooking Knife
The main thing when choosing a quality knife is a manufacturer that inspires confidence. High-quality blade steel that should not rust or dull quickly, which is guaranteed by global brands. German kitchen knives are especially popular on the market.
Please note that products from German manufacturers may not be cheap, but they also do not require sharpening after each use.
Main selection criteria:
- Model. If you want to optimize costs and buy quality knives, it is better to choose sets that include the main items. Sets are very convenient to store, which are attached to a magnetic strip on the wall or are released in a special stand.
- Access to the product. If the seller refuses to let you hold the product in your hands, you should refuse to buy it.
- Blade type. Visually inspect it for visible defects. There should be no scratches, chips or abrasions. A good knife blade should have a mirror surface.
- Steel alloy. Knives are made of high-strength steel, stainless steel and ceramics. Regular steel is a durable material, but is susceptible to corrosion and gives a metallic taste to products when cooked. Manufacturers coat steel with anti-corrosion compounds; if there is no such coating, the knife will rust very quickly. Ceramics do not require regular sharpening, but such a product is prone to splitting with point impacts. The optimal choice is stainless steel, which is not susceptible to water and aggressive environments.
- Blade hardness. This determines how often you will resort to sharpening. For example, a ceramic blade cannot be sharpened at home; you will have to go to a specialized workshop. The harder the metal, the less you will have to sharpen it.
- Blade sharpening type. Single-sided or double-sided. European manufacturers make double-sided sharpening, and Japanese knives have single-sided blade sharpening. The optimal choice is laser sharpening, which has the property of being renewed during use.
- Handle. It should be comfortable in the hand, non-slip and light in weight. They are made of metal, heat-resistant plastic and wood. A metal handle will serve you for a very long time, but such a knife is very heavy. Wood fits comfortably in the hand, a light material, but is subject to deformation with prolonged contact with water. Plastic is the most common material, it is more hygienic, is not affected by water and acids, but is fragile and can break quickly.
What's good about German kitchen knife sets
German manufacturers offer a wide range of sets and individual items. The advantage of sets is that you can choose specific models that you are used to using in everyday life in the optimal configuration for yourself.
Main advantages:
- Versatility. Most models have this quality, with the exception of highly specialized examples.
- Quality. All stages of production are controlled at the highest level, from the procurement of raw materials to packaging.
- Balancing. Checking each piece on high-precision equipment.
- Forging and sharpening. A special patented technology that has not changed for several centuries, only improving.
- Blade protection. A specially developed composition protects the blade metal from corrosion for many years.
Famous German Knife Brands
The most famous brands of Germany are kitchen knives Solingen and Wusthof. These brands have established themselves in the kitchen accessories market for their high quality and ease of use of products.
The following companies have also been noted for the high quality of their products:
Bekker – presents three lines of knives, which are distinguished by their original design, a variety of bright colors and beautiful patterns on the handle.
Fissler – products of this renowned corporation are distinguished by highly durable blades made of surgical steel and high-quality plastic on the handles.
Zwilling – the products of this company are famous for their high quality. The company puts its products on the market at a fairly high price. It produces sets for home and professional kitchens.
And many others that have centuries-old traditional knife production and are famous throughout the world.
German Kitchen Knives Wusthof
The oldest company that has been producing knives since the beginning of the 18th century.
German kitchen knives Wusthof are distinguished by their perfectly balanced shapes, verified to the millimeter, durability and wide functionality. All models are marked with the manufacturer's logo in the form of a trident on the knife handle. The company produces sets and single copies. Souvenir products in the form of chic copies in a case can be an excellent gift for connoisseurs of cold weapons.
Solingen Kitchen Knives
Solingen is one of the largest German manufacturers in this industry. Mirror shine and sharpness of the blade, which can easily cut a feather, are the distinctive features of these products.
Provides a large range of sets from three to ten pieces, which will provide the housewife with the necessary knives for all occasions.
The magnetic stand of the sets provides maximum convenient access to the knives. The sets include steels, with which you can quickly and easily sharpen the blade.
By choosing knives from Germany for your kitchen, you will not be mistaken, and will enjoy cooking without thinking about constant sharpening. And such an acquisition as a gift will not leave anyone indifferent.
