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KITCHEN KNIVES
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Choosing the Appropriate Knife |
How
do I choose a quality kitchen knife?
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At first glance it may seem difficult to distinguish a
high-quality
kitchen knife from an inferior one because
often the important
factors show up only in daily use.
You can be sure of this fact; we at SharpKnives.com
guarantee the highest possible quality
in all our cutlery. |
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The
illustration above is of a Messermeister knife. It is our choice
of cutlery but the features described will apply to all knives. |
| When choosing your new knives, look for
these traits: 1. Precision Craftsmanship;
The parts of the knife are assembled without the slightest gap
at the joint. This is particularly important for hygienic reasons.
Neither the blade nor the handle have any irregularities or burrs. |
2. Surface finish;
See that the blade has a finely ground surface - a sure sign
of high-quality workmanship.
(chromed and shiny doesn't
mean anything) |
3. Comfort and safety;
The handle and bolster are designed to provide a secure grip from
which the hand cannot slip. An ergonomically designed handle and
the
proper weight, will permit years of safe, comfortable use. |
4. Balance;
Quality knives are properly balanced; they lie comfortably in the hand.
Balanced weight distribution facilitates working with the knife. |
5. Cutting edge retention;
Retention of the cutting edge is important to extend the time
needed between sharpening. A good knife keeps its sharpness
for a prolonged period.
Using your steel often will help also. |
6. Corrosion resistance;
The chemical composition of the steel is a major factor. For
example, the Chromium content has an effect upon the stain
resistance but then can compromise other desirable factors
such as hardness. Also, the more finely the surface of the blade
is ground or polished, the more rust resistant it will be. |
7. Dishwasher compatibility;
Quality knives should never be put in a dishwasher.
(Although many manufacturers will tell you it is ok to put their
knives in the dishwasher, we at Sharpknives.com recommend
carefully washing your fine cutlery by hand.) |
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USING
YOUR STEEL |
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