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!

Mezzaluna

A mezzaluna is a mostly single-purpose tool. Its use is for chopping herbs. With its rounded blade, it just needs a rocking motion, back and forth, to chop the herbs as finely as you’d like. Mezzalunas are available with either one or two blades. As a professional chef, I’ve never felt the need to use one. Herbs chop quite easily with a chef’s knife. The main reason to buy a mezzaluna is if you’re chopping a mountain of herbs every day. It will make your task easier and faster.

Meat cleaver

Oyster, clam, and scallop knives

How to Choose and Use Your Knives

How to Buy a Knife

Caring for Your Knives

Nonknife, Nonmotorized Sharp Kitchen Tools

Be careful of what you say as it can hurt more than a knife.

One knife whets another.

Whether the knife falls on the melon or the melon on the knife, the melon suffers.

Javier Perez De Cuellar

I am like a doctor. I have written a prescription to help the patient. If the patient doesn’t want all the pills I’ve recommended, that’s up to him. But I must warn that next time I will have to come as a surgeon with a knife.

Charles Buxton

The rule in carving holds good as to criticism; never cut with a knife what you can cut with a spoon.

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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.