Knife Types & Knife Uses
What is a Chefs Knife?
A 6-12 inch blade, used for chopping, dicing, and mincing.
What is basic knife maintenance?
Always cut on a wood or plastic boards, avoid hard glass, granite, or metal surfaces that instantly dull edges.
Where do you properly store knives?
Keeps blades separated and protected in a wooden knife block.
What is a Julienne cut?
Long, thin, uniform matchstick strips. (Usually for vegetables like carrots, zucchini, or potatoes)
What is a Batonnet Cut?
Thick matchstick or french fry shaped cuts.
What is a Pairing Knife?
A small, short blade under 4 inches, designed for precision work, cutting, peeling, and trimming.
How do you dry a knife safely?
Fold a towel over the spine and wipe away from the blade edge in a smooth motion.
What to do when clearing a cutting board?
Use the flat, dull spine of knife - never the sharp edge - to scrape the chopped food off the cutting board.
What is a Bruniose cut?
Tiny, precise cubes cut from a julienne strips.
What is a Chiffonade cut?
Fine shreds or ribbons made by rolling leafy greens or herbs and slicing across.
What is a Bread Knife?
A long blade meant to slice through crusty bread and soft interiors without crushing them.
When should knives be cleaned?
Clean and sanitize knives right away after cutting raw meat, poultry, or fish to prevent cross-contamination.
What is the purpose of a cutting board?
This surface should always be used under food when chopping to protect both the blade and the countertop.
What is a Small Dice cut?
Neat, small square cubes.
What is a Mince cut?
Where you chop or grind an ingredient into extremely fine, tiny pieces.
What is a Utility Knife?
A mid-sized knife (4-9 inches), that bridges the gap between chef and Pairing Knives for medium ingredients.
How do you wash a knife safely?
Use warm water, dish soap, and a sponge.
What is a Medium Dice cut?
Mid-sized, balanced squared pieces often used in soups and stews.
What is a Slice cut?
Cutting an item into flat, relatively uniform pieces.
What is a Santoku Knife?
A Japanese multi-purpose knife with a flat edge, used for thin slicing, dicing, and mincing.
Anyone reaching into a soapy water or under a pile of dishes can easily get cut up by a hidden blade.
What is a Large Dice cut?
Large, heavy square cubes, used for long roasting or hearty cooking.