Today, in the market, you will find several knives, each designed for a specific purpose in the kitchen; you may need to purchase all of them due to kitchen tasks. However, buying many diversified ones, each with a particular utilization, can be unwise.
Save your cash by purchasing a multi-purpose knife that will meet your needs instead of getting an expensive set of several knives up of inferior materials, which you may never utilize.
A utility knife is a small, lightweight kitchen knife designed with a sharp, flexible cutting-edge, either plain or serrated, and usually between four to seven inches.
How does a utility knife look like?
You can tell this knife by looking at its blade, it is usually slim, designed as either straight (sharp continuous cutting edge) or serrated rough or saw-like cutting edge), very intense, and typically 4 to 7 inches. It is smaller than the chef’s knife but lengthy compared to the paring blade.
Is a box cutter different from the utility knife?
The answer is yes. Many people confuse these two. However, they differ in that the box cutter blade is usually long, with sections alongside its length.
The uses of a utility knife in the kitchen include:
1. Cutting tough meat and cheese
It is not easy to slice hard cheese if you do not purchase a cheese knife. However, the utility knife does this very well. Its straight edge can give a fresh, soft line on your cheese and meat. Its size is perfect for cutting your meat or fish fillets into equal cubes quickly.
2. Can chop fruits and veggies into the desired size
Its sharpness makes it easy to chop veggies and fruits into your desired dimensions. A blunt knife is risky to cut vegetables and fruits because it can easily slip on your skin and give you cuts or even harm your finger. Also, this multi-purpose kitchen tool saves your vegetables and fruits from bacteria as well as nutritional loss.
3. Can cut up citrus
With this tool, you can cut citrus for your drinks effectively. You can cut large citrus fruits into your desired sizes very well since they require a thin blade small sharp knife to slice amid the membranes to give suitable shapes.
4. For sandwiches
For sandwiches, this knife serves you best. Its blade contains an extra width to give you vertical slices smoothly and even to help best, and it is available in both serrated and straight blade style, that’s why you may have heard some people call it a sandwich knife.
5. Can be used to replace the chef and paring knives
A paring knife cannot serve you best to chop some food items like cucumbers, onions, or potatoes: Similarly, a chef- knife size is inappropriate to cut small pieces of chicken, and a paring knife is tiny and also weak.
Such cases call for a utility knife. With it, you can maneuver through diversified food requirements. Also, with limited kitchen space, its short- narrow blade is right for secure storage.
Now, from the above uses, you realize it is necessary to get this versatile equipment in your kitchen. Before purchase, look out for the characteristics to meet your needs.
Factors to consider when choosing a utility knife
1. The use
As shown earlier, this knife is multi-purpose, know why you are purchasing it. What will you use it to cut or slice? If you need it to cut sturdy items, go for the one with a durable blade to avoid breakage as well as dullness.
Consider purchasing the one you can easily take care of without it breaking into your food; check for the durable quality so that it can last long.
2. The Handle
Get a soft handle, one that is not flimsy to injure your hands in the occurrence of slips or breakages. If you do not have a pair of gloves, formulate a way to hold the knife in such a way that the blade will maintain the right angle. Choose the one without or with smooth buttons.
3. The quality
In the market today, you will find the right and low-quality knives. Go for a good quality utility knife made out of high-quality steel to stay sharp for an extended period and to last long.
You get a cheap low-quality knife, but you end up exposing your hands at risk of cuts and later realize you wasted your money because the blade may easily rust or lose its sharpness, requiring you to purchase another knife.
4. The cutting edge
This knife can have either a serrated or straight cutting-edge. The choice of your cutting edge is dependent on what you will need to cut. There are some blades made to protect the user from cuts. Go for the one whose cutting edge is covered to keep you free from injuries. Check out for the external covering (whether plastic or metal) and choose according to your work.
5. Individual protection
In everything you do, you must note that security starts with you. Before you purchase a utility knife, remember its sharpness if not correctly used can cause you injuries.
Decide on safety measures to employ on its use and protection measures from your children at home.
You can purchase it alongside a safe storage facility or look for the one with a manual to educate you on safety measures.
In conclusion, a utility knife in your kitchen is essential. You do not have to keep on looking for specific knives to do particular tasks. With it, you get to save your money and kitchen space.
Use the above information for the right choices as you go shopping because there are several market dealers, and you can end up buying one that is of low quality.
Subsequently, store this knife away from other utensils after use, preferably in a knife block. For best results, clean and sharpen it regularly to last long and effectively meet your needs.
