Holding your knife correctly is important for getting a clean cut. It also helps prevent injury and dulling of the blade.
When chopping, you should first hold the knife with your dominant hand and make your other hand into a claw, curling your fingers under to protect your fingertips.
Hold the Knife Correctly
When you cut with a knife, it’s important to hold the blade properly. This ensures that your hands are safe from injury and also helps to ensure that your ingredients are uniformly cut.
There are two ways to hold a knife, the first is called the handle grip and the second is the blade grip. Both grips have their advantages and disadvantages, but the blade grip is preferred by most professional chefs as it provides the most control.
The handle grip involves wrapping all five fingers around the knife’s handle, while the blade grip involves placing your thumb and index finger on the bolster of the knife blade and pinching it between them. It may feel a bit awkward at first, but once you get used to it you’ll be cutting much more efficiently and accurately than with the handle grip.
Position the Knife on the Food
When you’re using a knife to cut food, it’s important that you position the knife on the food correctly. This can prevent you from getting injured and also help ensure you make clean cuts.
The knife should be placed on the food with the tip of the blade facing down and the heel of the blade touching the cutting board. You should then move the blade in a rocking motion from front to back and up and down.
You should also place your fingertips on top of the food and slightly curled in. This is known as the “claw” grip, which keeps your fingers safe and the food stable for easy chopping.
If you aren’t finished eating, place your utensils in an inverted-V to indicate that you’re taking a break. This utensil placement will prevent your waiter from removing your plate.
Make the Cut
When you cut with a knife, you need to make sure that you do it properly. This will help you avoid injuries and also make it easier for you to prepare food.
To ensure that you are able to cut correctly, you should practice the technique over and over again until you become proficient at it. It will take some time, but it will pay off in the end.
Another good way to practice cutting with a knife is to use a mandoline slicer ($19, Target). This tool allows you to make uniform slices without risking injury.
One of the most popular knife cuts is a julienne cut, which can be used for a variety of vegetables and fruits. This knife cut creates long, thin strips of food that can be used for salads or quick-cooking recipes like stir fry.
This is a basic knife cut that can be used for a wide range of ingredients and is often the foundation of other precision knife cuts. It’s important to learn how to do this because it will help you make your dishes look more appealing. It will also help your food cook evenly and more quickly.
Remove the Food
One of the most important parts of a successful cut is removing the food from your blade. A clean knife can reduce the risk of cross contamination and scalding, which is why it’s a good idea to take the time to learn how to properly handle your kitchen wares. This involves a little practice and some elbow grease. The key is to remember that you are not alone in your quest to cut and eat without breaking a sweat.