Archive for the ‘Kitchen Knives’ Category
Properly Using Your Paring Knife
The other day I walk into the kitchen and saw my brother trying to slice open a watermelon with a paring knife. Although I have to give him kudos for eating something that wasn’t previously frozen and deep-fried, I immediately took the knife away and handed him a large butcher knife instead. Not only is using the wrong knife ineffective, it’s dangerous as well.
Because paring knives are so small and easy to wield, people often employ them for an assortment of tasks they weren’t meant for. The paring knife should actually be used quite sparingly, as it is really for detail work. Use your paring knife to peel small fruit that can fit in your hand or for preparing garnishes.
Keeping Your Knives Keen
If you’re well versed in the culinary arts, you undoubtedly have a great deal of appreciation for your equipment. And no implements are more important in the kitchen than a well-honed set of kitchen knives. But getting your knives sharp is only half the battle; keeping them that way is often the challenging part. Using a knife sharpener is obviously the best way to ensure a keen edge, but nobody wants to pull out the whetstone every time they want to cut a tomato. Here are a few tips to keep your blades razor-sharp:
~ Store your knives in knife blocks instead of the drawer
~ Always hand-wash your knives
~ Wash knives immediately after use, especially when slicing acidic foods like tomatoes
~ Use knives for their intended usage, i.e. serrated knives for slicing, paring knives for detail work
How to Filet a Fish
Once you’ve caught that slimy, scaly, wriggling fish; what do you do with it? For new fisherman catching the fish is the hard part, and if you intend to eat it then there is a simple method to cutting an excellent fish filet First lie the fish down as flat as possible, and sever its head with your filet knife. This will stop the fish from wriggling and allow you to begin to cut it. Next cut off the tail, and pull the fish into two halves, removing the spinal cord and bones from the middle as you do so (for larger fish you might have to cut down the middle). Next you will want to cut off the remaining fins and the skin.
Viola! You will have two beautiful fish filets ready to be cooked on the barbeque or in a saucepan, as for the best method on how to cook, consult an online expert!
Caring for Your Cutlery
Whether you want paper-thin slices of tomato or need to carve up a hefty pot roast, having a finely honed set of kitchen cutlery is essential for any cook. Unfortunately, many people neglect their knives, leading to subpar cuisine. Making uniform and precise slices is not only essential for aesthetics, it also ensures even cooking.
Taking proper care of your knives will help them keep their edge longer, meaning you have to sharpen them less. First and foremost, always hand wash your knives; nothing dulls a blade faster than being run through the dishwasher. It’s also important to store your knives in a knife block. When your knives are thrown haphazardly in a drawer, other implements and knives their edge.
Keys to a Succulent Steak
Most people consider prime steak an extravagant and costly luxury only to be enjoyed on special occasions. And while this is certainly the case if you go to a four-star steakhouse, preparing steaks at home won’t blow your budget. Grilling steaks, however, intimidates many home cooks, but it doesn’t have to be that way.
One of the keys to a scrumptious steak is achieving a nice sear on the meat by cooking both sides on high-heat for a minute or two. This process will create a crust, which locks in the juices and is quite tasty in itself. Once you have seared the meat, turn down the heat until it is done to your liking. Here is where most people go wrong: It may be tempting to pull out your steak knife and dig right in, but exercise some restraint. Tint the steak with tinfoil and let it rest for a few minutes; this will allow the juices to redistribute and keep them in the meat.
The Right Knife for the Job
Using the right knife can save a cook from serious medical implications in the future. A good knife set that has a knife for each particular task you would like to perform in the kitchen is so necessary for the comfort of you hand. You shouldn’t use bread knives for carving your turkey, just as you shouldn’t use a chef’s knife to slice your bread.
Like with any task, the risk for medical problems increases when the right equipment is not employed for a particular task. A comprehensive knife set will include all of the basic knives you need to achieve virtually any culinary task. The right knife set today may save you thousands of dollars in the future.
What Every Chef Needs
Any good chef will tell you that half of cooking is using the right ingredients, and the other half is using the right tools. And one of the most important pieces of cooking equipment is the right knife for the right job. That’s why it’s a good idea for a dedicated cook to have an entire set of high quality knives. Having an entire set will ensure that you have a serrated bread knife that can thinly slice warm bread, as well as one that’s ideal for paring fruit.
In order for these knife sets to be as effective as possible, always make sure they are kept very sharp. This does mean you have to be extra careful about keeping them out of the reach of children, however. For adults, though, sharp knives can actually be less dangerous. Because you won’t have to hack and saw at your food, you are actually less likely to get cut. For this reason, consider investing in a knife sharpener.
A Chef and His Tools
This admission might seem like a cliché, but just watching the show “Top Chef” has inspired me to eschew my old “cooking” habits. I use the word cooking loosely, because the only real effort I made was to warm up a microwave dinner or strain myself by making a sandwich. I had always known how unhealthy this practice was, but not until watching that merit-based reality show did I stop to think of all the delicious dishes I was missing out on.
Recognizing that a chef is only as good as his tools, I immediately went about tracking down a high-quality cutlery set and some serrated steak knives online. I also found a sharpener that would keep the knives perfectly honed. I plan to start simple with a few classic Italian recipes. It will probably be a while before I attempt something as complicated and nuanced as French cooking, but that’s definitely the ultimate goal.
A Paring Knife
A paring knife is a small knife that is perfect for peeling and other jobs that could not be completed with a standard size kitchen knife. It is also, normally in between 2 to 4 long (6 to10 cm). Paring knives are used in a variety of ways to cut and shape foods into the perfect meals. They are easier to control than other knives on skins and peels. The paring knife has many benefits.
Kitchen Necessity
Everyone needs kitchen knives. They enable us to do so much more with our meals. They allow us to speed up the process of preparation. In addition, if you are using the best knives they can even create an enjoyable experience in the kitchen.
Kitchen knives come in many shapes, sizes, colors, and qualities. They are a necessity in many recipes. Kitchen knives are a required item in the kitchen and you can’t afford to be without a good set.
