Knives for fruits and vegetables

Experienced housewives and professional chefs know how good it is to have a variety of knives on hand. Each of them is intended for a specific type of work. And if even you do not consider it necessary to buy a whole set of professional knives for each type of cutting, then it is simply necessary to have several copies. Indeed, for slicing vegetables, meat or bread, there must be individual tools. This rule is dictated by basic hygiene standards.

It is very difficult to give a single description of all existing types of knives for cutting vegetables and fruits. They differ in shape, size and intended use. This is their main feature.

In addition, any vegetable or fruit knife should have the following parameters.

• Small size. A large bulky item will be very inconvenient to cut small fruits. The exception is only large vegetables (pumpkin, zucchini). Also, short knives become unsuitable for slicing watermelon or melon.
• Sharp thin blade. This requirement applies to almost all vegetable knives. These products do not have such a dense structure as meat, and we do not cut them frozen.

Like any other knife, this kitchen assistant consists of two parts - a blade and a handle. In this case, the materials of the first and second components can be completely different. Manufacturers offer various options and combinations of materials in one product.

Traditionally, a manual knife for cutting vegetables was made of metal. As raw materials, zinc or stainless steel is used.Today, ceramic models have become very popular. They have their own advantages and disadvantages.

Ceramics do not have the same flexibility as metal. It will be convenient for them to make straight slices (when slicing onions, potatoes, apples). If you need to maneuver when cutting or cut a rough skin from an irregularly shaped vegetable, it is better to use a metal one. Of the advantages of ceramics, the sharpness of the blade and antibacterial properties can be noted. Odors are not absorbed into it and the risk of bacteria multiplying on the surface is minimal.

But many housewives, having tried ceramic knives, still return to their usual metal tools. This is also explained by the fact that there is a high probability of damage to the object during impacts.

The service life of any kitchen item is largely dependent on how it was used.

The following parameters belong to this concept.

• Frequency of use. Obviously, in a family where there are 2-3 children, they cook much more often than in the bachelor’s kitchen. Therefore, with frequent use, it is more advisable to purchase several items at once for different types of work with vegetables. Each of them will serve you longer than one, if you do all the work only for them.
• Use as directed. This type of knife has thin and sharp blades and is not suitable for rough work. When slicing frozen or just very hard foods, it will quickly become dull and become unusable.
• It is important to hold the knife correctly when working. Especially this rule applies to ceramic models. If they work on a break, then the plane of the blade may break. This is due to the low flexibility of the material. But the metal knife must be used correctly. Do not strike, and do not force him.
• It is better to cut the products on a wooden or plastic cutting board. A sharp blade can become dull quickly from contact with hard surfaces such as glass and marble. Today, manufacturers also offer flexible silicone cutting boards. They are very convenient, after cutting, you can bend the edges and easily move the vegetables into the container.
• If you want to surprise guests not only with the taste of their dishes, but also with their beauty, then purchase special knives. For example, a core remover knife will help rid apples and pears of seeds, and the appearance will remain attractive.
• A beautiful cut is obtained using curly knives. Their blades may be wavy, have denticles or another pattern on the blade. With their help, you can create real masterpieces from simple vegetables and fruits. Kids will appreciate such creativity. They with great pleasure will eat a beautiful slice of fruit than the one that is sliced ​​in the usual way.

Kitchen knives should be stored in a separate place. At the same time, do not forget about safety measures if there are small children in the house. They should not have access to these dangerous items.

You can put knives in a special compartment in the organizer for kitchen utensils. In this case, it is desirable that the blades (especially metal) of the knives are not in contact with each other. Another option may be a magnetic board, to which the whole set of knives you have will be attached.

The universal option will be a special stand. It made separate holes for each item. The blade is placed in one of the compartments, and the handle sticks out from above. This is the safest and most convenient way to store. The entire set will be freely available, while not interfering. The risk of getting cuts is also minimal, because in order to get an object, you take it by the handle. It is also important that the blades will not come into contact, which means that scratches and nicks will not appear on them.

Knives must be washed after each use.

There are many types of vegetables knives. They differ in shape, size, purpose and materials. But at the same time they can be divided into several groups.

• For cleaning. They can also be divided into several subspecies. The first looks very much like a razor, only the blades are longer. It is worth noting that they are located parallel to each other and are very thin and sharp. With this tool, you can easily peel carrots, beets and other round root crops. But not all housewives are comfortable peeling potatoes with them because of its irregular shape. Often a potato knife has the appearance of an ordinary one, only with a shorter blade.

Today, you can often see peelers with blades on both ends. One is for cleaning, while the other can be cut into curly slices. In the middle, the item is equipped with a small plastic grater. Most often it is used for lemon zest. Therefore, it can be argued that this product is 3 in 1.

There is a more classic model of a knife for cleaning. In English, it is called a peeling knife. It has a rather short blade, up to 10 cm. Moreover, it is curved, which facilitates the process of skinning vegetables and fruits.

Currently, you can find electric peelers. They greatly simplify the whole process.

• Universal. Such a knife is always useful in the kitchen. It has a medium-length blade, sharpened on both sides. This aspect makes it universal for use both for lefties and righties. The knife has a thin sharp blade, so it is very easy for them to cut both soft and harder fruits. It is worth noting that for vegetables such as tomato, it is better to use specimens with small cloves.

• Santoku. This Japanese knife won the hearts of not only housewives, but also professional chefs. In addition to external attractiveness, it has excellent characteristics. The blade and handle are perfectly balanced, so they are very comfortable to work with. The weight of the blade does most of the work for you, with little or no effort. Another undoubted advantage is its versatility.

• For cutting out the cavity. Everyone knows how difficult it is to cut the core of an apple or pear with an ordinary chef's knife. Then these little helpers come to the rescue. They have a cylindrical shape with pointed edges. You only need to attach the apple to the ponytail and press down. As a result, the entire core will remain inside the cylinder. It can also be used to create beautiful compositions on the festive table. Currently, not every housewife in the kitchen can see such a knife. In the kitchens of public catering points, it has long been appreciated and used, since cooking time is of great importance there.

• Slicer. They can be represented as a single object, or as a whole set of devices (multi-slicer). Outwardly, it may resemble a grater. Some models are equipped with a container for collecting cut products. These devices provide truly unlimited opportunities for working with vegetables. With their help, you can beautifully chop vegetables for serving. Very quickly and effortlessly cut the fruit into cubes. There are also separate elements with which you grate or slice potatoes and other vegetables.

Before you go to the store for a knife, decide on the parameters, which are important when choosing.

• Destination Will this knife be used specifically for slicing or do you need a peeler.
• The size. This parameter can be determined directly in the store. Hold the goods in your hands, imagine how you use them in your kitchen. Choose the model that seemed most convenient.
• Material. The choice will have to be made between ceramic and metal blades.

Knives for fruits and vegetables have various shapes and sizes. They are indispensable in the kitchen and greatly facilitate the cooking process.

You can find out how to sharpen a vegetable knife by watching the video a little lower.