Source: Annhall Norris, extension specialist

A good set of kitchen knives is important to have, and when they are properly taken care of, can last a long time.

It’s vital for any home chef to know about different types of knives and their functions. This ensures ease of cutting foods and knife longevity. Below are some common knives that you should have in your kitchen along with their uses.

• Chef’s Knife – 6-14 inches long. This knife does everything from slicing to mincing and should be your go-to knife for all kinds of meal prep. Since you are going to use it a lot, make sure you try out the knife for comfort before purchasing and keep it sharp to avoid accidents.
• Paring Knife – 2.5-4 inches long. This knife is used for peeling, cutting and deseeding small fruits and vegetables.
• Utility Knife – longer than a paring knife but shorter than a chef’s knife. Use this knife for chopping vegetables, slicing breads and bagels, slicing meats and cheeses and cutting sandwiches.
• Slicing Knife – has a long thin blade. Usually reserved for special occasions, this knife makes slicing meats easy.
• Boning Knife – As its name would suggest, this knife is used to break down foods like a whole chicken or removing the skin off seafood or meat.
• Serrated Knife – The blade resembles a saw. This knife can help you easily slice through food with thick or tough outer surfaces like crusty bread and tomatoes.

Proper care of knives is very important. After using a knife, promptly clean it and return it to storage. Handwashing and towel drying are recommended. Putting knives into a dishwasher can cause them to discolor, crack or separate from the blade. Storing knives wet and dirty will cause rust. Keep your knife blade and yourself protected by making sure the blade is not exposed during storage. You can store knives by covering the blades with plastic sheathes and placing them in a utensil drawer or storing them in wooden blocks or with magnetic strips on the wall. Make sure the knives are out of reach of children or not in a place where someone can get hurt easily.

More information is available at the (COUNTY NAME) office of the University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service.

Educational programs of the Cooperative Extension Service serve all people regardless of economic or social status and will not discriminate on the basis of race, color, ethnic origin, national origin, creed, religion, political belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expressions, pregnancy, marital status, genetic information, age, veteran status, or physical or mental disability.

-30-

---

FCS