Kitchen Knife Selection Guide: Choosing the Right Tool for the Job

A chef's knife is a versatile tool, but there are also specialty knives for specific tasks. Always consciously try to use the right knife for the Job.

Knife Selection Cheat Sheet

Here's a quick cheat sheet for knives to use for specific purposes. You can scroll below for extra information on each type of knife

 

Chef’s Knife

The workhorse of the kitchen; large, all-purpose knife

Ideal for chopping, slicing, dicing a variety of fruits, vegetables, herbs, and some meats

 

Serrated Bread Knife

Long, serrated blade

Slicing bread (including crusty loaves), cakes, and tomatoes

 

Paring Knife

Small, maneuverable blade

Peeling fruits and vegetables, trimming meat, mincing garlic

 

Slicing Knife

Long, thin, straight blade

Slicing thin cuts of meat (roast beef, deli meats), fish

 

Cleaver

Heavy, wide blade

Chopping vegetables, breaking down large cuts of meat, crushing garlic