For you, one knife does it all, from peeling apples to deboning a chicken – hopefully not at the same time. If you’re not a professional chef or an avid cook, buying a butcher’s block would leave you stumped. Once you decide to upgrade, however, we have no doubt that you’ll enjoy how much easier it will be to do what you need to do in the kitchen. Once you understand how the many types of kitchen knives are used, you’ll probably even enjoy cooking more often!

Let’s go over some of the most common types of kitchen knives.

11 Common Types of Kitchen Knives

1. Chef’s Knife

This one you can use for a variety of purposes, including chopping and dicing.

2. Utility Knife

It’s smaller than a chef’s knife but can be used for general purposes as well.

3. Paring Knife

Perhaps the most useful yet neglected, a paring knife will make peeling fruits and vegetables a breeze.

4. Boning Knife

A boning knife can be used to remove meat and poultry from the bone. It is narrow, long and has a sharp tip. The sharp tip makes getting into the meats easier.

Some boning knives are slightly flexible, allowing you to maneuver around the bone when using tender meats. Others are more rigid, which can be safer for larger or tougher cuts of meat.

5. Fillet Knife

A fillet knife is similar to a boning knife, but it is thinner and more flexible, making it ideal for removing bones from fish.

6. Bread Knife

The last thing you want is to smash a loaf of bread trying to use the wrong knife to slice it. A bread knife is serrated, making it easy to cut through the crust without damaging the slices.

7. Steak Knife

The steak knife that you use at the dinner table isn’t ideal for preparing food. But it sure makes eating the meal easier!

8. Meat Cleaver

This one is big and heavy, ideal for cutting meats in a downward motion rather than a slicing motion, as described on the Williams Sonoma website.

9. Carving Knife

A carving knife is all about the art of cutting meat and vegetables. You can use it to cut with precision to serve an attractive and appetizing meal.

10. Cheese Knife

A cheese knife will make you think of Swiss cheese, but those holes are there for a greater purpose. They help the knife cut through the cheese in a smoother motion.

11. Tomato Slicer

While there are different varieties, the best tomato slicer is serrated and has a forked tip. It’s very sharp, allowing you to cut through a tomato cleanly. The double tips help users move the tomato slices after they have been cut.

Include Knife Storage in your Kitchen Design

Whether you are buying a new house or redesigning your kitchen, consider asking your kitchen designer to set up a special area to store the various types of kitchen knives and other accessories. The best kitchen will be easy to use and efficient. With the right designer, you can have it all.

For more information or to schedule a consultation to have your kitchen remodeled, contact JK Cabinets & Design online or by phone at 480-219-9580.