The Edge of Knife
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PLAYING
Introduction & Knife History: Although modern knives have a basis in the past, much about them is less than 50 years old. What we often assume is quite old is, in fact, quite modern. [3:39]
PLAY Knife Anatomy: There’s more to a knife than just a handle and a blade. Understanding knife anatomy is the first part of understanding knife use. [2:55]
PLAY Materials & Processes: Modern knife marketing is full of much gobbledygook about how knives are made and what they are made of. Unfortunately, much of the information is untrue, misleading, or unimportant. [5:40]
PLAY Edges & Bevels: Understanding the variations in knife edges and bevels, and how they effect the knife’s ability to cut, is important. This understanding can also help each of us keep your knives sharper longer. [7:10]
PLAY Handles: In some markets, the appearance of the handle is the most important knife feature considered when making a purchase decision. In reality, handle feel is more important than handle appearance when choosing a knife. [3:36]
PLAY The Chef’s Knife: If you can only have one knife, the chef’s knife is the one to have. It is the most versatile of all the knives in your drawer. [5:22]
PLAY The Santoku: Despite the fact that it is often proposed as an alternative to the chef’s knife, a santoku is limited in many ways. There’s also a large difference between Japanese and German santokus. [1:49]
PLAY The Paring Knife: Even though the paring knife is often thought of as Grandma’s knife, it can be quite useful in the modern kitchen. [3:12]
PLAY The Slicer: When cutting cooked proteins, the slicer excels over other knives because its limited contact area produces less drag. [2:03]
PLAY The Serrated Knife: Serrated blades have been around for more than a hundred years, but they no longer work as well as a chef’s knife for most applications. Now if only people would understand that. [1:22]
PLAY Other Knives: There’s another hundred or so styles of knives available to the cook, and here is all you need to know about them! [4:34]
PLAY The Test Drive: Before buying a knife, it is important to take it for a “test drive”. You wouldn’t buy a pair of socks that were the wrong size just because it is on sale or you like the color. So why purchase a knife without at least picking it up? [1:09]
PLAY Knife Skills Review: Sometimes, a little reminder as to how to use a knife is helpful. [5:57]
PLAY Knife Care: Learning how to care for a knife is as important as learning how to use it to cut. [4:07]
PLAY Knife Edge Renewal & Wrap-up: Sooner or later, your knife will dull. This is about what to do then. [7:28]
Knives are the most important tools in our kitchens. Since the earliest days of food preparation, some form of knife has aided getting food ready to eat. Yet today, most people preparing food have little understanding about the knives they use.
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