Knife Skills —

a kitchen guide to using the right knife the right way

This site will give you the confidence to choose and use the knives and other nonelectric sharp tools in your kitchen. It’s also a reference site that you can use as you improve your skills and acquire the tools that will make you a better cook!

A spoon

Yes, a spoon isn’t sharp. And you can’t cut yourself with one. But a spoon can peel two foods better than a knife: fresh ginger and kiwifruit.

To peel ginger, simply scrape its skin with the side of a teaspoon. Removing the skin with a spoon is faster, easier, and results in a higher yield than when using a knife. This is because ginger always has an irregular shape. If you do use a knife, then by the time you’ve trimmed it and cut off the peel, you’ve lost quite a bit of the ginger. And in the same amount of time, you’d have finished the task with a spoon.

Kiwifruit uses a different technique and spoon. Cut off the ends of the kiwifruit. Then, slip a tablespoon between the kiwifruit’s flesh and skin. Gently rotate the spoon around the outside of the fruit. The skin will pop off, and you’ll have a round, peeled kiwifruit. If you peel a kiwifruit with a knife, you probably won’t end up with a smooth, round, peeled fruit. It’ll have straight sides where you trimmed off the skin with your knife.

Peeling kiwifruit
Peeling kiwifruit with a spoon
How to Choose and Use Your Knives

How to Choose and Use Your Knives

How to Buy a Knife

How to Buy a Knife

Caring for Your Knives

Caring for Your Knives

Nonknife, Nonmotorized Sharp Kitchen Tools

Nonknife, Nonmotorized Sharp Kitchen Tools


As the camel falls to its knees, more knives are drawn. Bedouin proverb

As the camel falls to its knees, more knives are drawn.

Bedouin proverb


It is a surprise that the cock should hold a grudge against the pot, instead of the knife that killed it. Italian proverb

It is a surprise that the cock should hold a grudge against the pot, instead of the knife that killed it.

Italian proverb


The tongue that belongs to a fake friend is sharper than a knife. Faroese proverb

The tongue that belongs to a fake friend is sharper than a knife.

Faroese proverb

Rabindranath Tagore

A mind all logic is like a knife all blade. It makes the hand bleed that uses it.

The Holy Bible

Put a knife to thy throat, if you’re a man given to appetite.

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The information in this site is true and complete to the best of our knowledge.
The author disclaims any liability in connection with the use of this information.
All recommendations are made without guarantee.