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Questions tagged [knives]

182 questions
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How many ceramic knives do I want?

I've heard that ceramic knives are the new thing. It's far easier, though, to find metal knives that look and feel nice. So, budget notwithstanding (within reason) and assuming that I have to buy a whole knife set (which I do), how many ceramic…
Andres Jaan Tack
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Ridges on knife steel?

Is there any functional difference (not related to things like embedded diamond grit) between a smooth-surfaced knife (or honing) steel, and one that has visible ridges? Would there be any reason to prefer one over the other? Clarification: the…
SAJ14SAJ
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How to prevent sliced vegetables/roots from sticking to the blade

This is especially problematic with garlic, but onions, roots and other vegetables are sometimes just as bad. When making thin slices, with the problem worsening as the portions are cut smaller, the garlic clings to the blade and I have to wipe it…
JWiley
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Do German or Japanese knives hold their edge longer?

I want to buy a chef's knife, but I can't sharpen, and I don't plan to learn it. I will have to send my knives for sharpening, so I obviously prefer this to happen as rarely as possible. I am leaning towards a Solingen style knife, probably a…
rumtscho
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Why does a whetstone create old paint like substance

I am new to using whetstones. As such, I purchased a cheap Whetstone (manufacturer is FULUDM) and used an old cheap knife to practice. What I've noticed is, the 1000g grit (which is a green stone) seems to generate a paint like substance. My…
MyDaftQuestions
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How to find a competent knife sharpener

I have a santoku that I will be wanting to get professionally sharpened in the next few months. This is the first knife I've owned that was reasonably expensive so I want to make sure I take care of it. Are most professional knife sharpening places…
Ryan Elkins
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Am I using my knives for the correct jobs?

I've got a limited collection of knives which I was moderately pleased to discover meet the "minimum requirements". But, recent activity on here has got me thinking - am I using them for the correct jobs? I have: Long (8 inch) flat-blade knife…
DMA57361
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How do you sharpen a serrated knife?

I have some quality serrated knives but over time they get dull. How do I sharpen them?
rbrayb
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Does this tool where a knife edge is dragged between two angled abrasive pieces hone or sharpen?

A few weeks ago I bought an awesome Global knife. I ordered this tool from Amazon: My question: Does this tool hone the knife, or does it sharpen it?
Ram Rachum
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What is this double-serrated knife good for?

I was recently given an unused knife from an elderly relative who downsized her home. It is stainless steel with a sort of "double serrated" edge. Out of curiosity I gave it a try and it more "shredded" than cut my meat and almost destroyed my…
Stephie
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How to carry a knife around a kitchen safely?

How do I carry a knife when moving between my cutting station and the sink for cleaning safely? Any way I hold it feels like I'm either endangering my fellow cooks or myself. Context: I'm not a chef, I cook at home, but my kitchen is large and…
Jordan
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How can I learn to sharpen my Japanese knives properly?

I have a couple of nice Japanese kitchen knives, and a whetstone in two grades. I can sharpen them reasonably well using the stone, but does anyone have any good tips for improving my sharpening skills?
Joel in Gö
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When honing with a ceramic rod, why alternate edges of your knife? Why not hone each edge separately?

Starting at 0:58, Owen in Vancouver counsels you to alternate the knife's edges. Each time Owen pulls the knife, he alternates as he advised. But why? Why not hone one side with 15 consecutive strokes first, then switch to the other side? Bob…
user91594
12
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4 answers

How sharp should a paring knife be?

Recent bought a chef's knive and a paring knife, both are high carbon stainless steel. The chef's knife is quite sharp and can cut a piece of butcher's twine just by touching it, with little or no pressure. The paring knife cannot. In fact, I can…
AfterWorkGuinness
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Knife chopping through bone or coconut

Is it ok to use a chef knife to chop through bones (not too big, like chicken or pork ribs) or a coconut or will it ruin the knife permanently? I've done that on occasion and it did not seem to suffer damages but may be it's just that I haven't done…
huynhjl
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