Guide to Buying the Perfect Knives

June 1, 2017

Knives are arguably one of the most important tools in any kitchen.

Your chefs are the heartbeat of your restaurant and they deserve quality knives that ease the task of cooking great food. When buying the perfect knives for your chefs, keep in mind that the most commonly used knives are made either in Japan or Germany. These countries produce the best sets of knives. Buying the perfect knives made in these countries will save you the stress and cost of replacement. In choosing the workhorse of the kitchen, consider the following tips.

    1. Check for strength. Buying the perfect knives mean never buying a fragile one for your chef, or you will be spending double soon when you need to replace it. The blade runs through the handle; most knives get ruined due to the detaching of the handle from the blade. Look out for any risk of separation between the blade and the handle, as that will be the end of the knife. Finally, ensure the knife is not welded together at any point, as that’s where it will break in the long run.
    2. Find a knife with a comfortable handle. We’re talking about the most-used item in the kitchen. Almost every ingredient will face a knife. This is the reasons why it’s so important buying the perfect knives for your kitchen. If the handle is rough, long-term usage will take its toll on your cooks’ palms. A good knife should be comfortable to grip. When it comes to handling, a knife must feel natural in your grip.
    3. Choose durable materials when buying the perfect knives for your kitchen. If the handle is made of wood, check its durability. Is it one that will split into pieces when dropped? The material of the blade will also determine the knife’s durability. A knife made of hard steel stays sharpened for a long time, whereas soft steel needs to be sharpened frequently. That being said, hard steel is harder to sharpen. Make your choice with the advice of a specialist.
    4. Look for balance when buying the perfect knives. A chef’s knife should not be heavier on one side than the other. An unbalanced knife makes usage tedious and stressful. It’s easy to check if a knife is balanced; carefully place it on your hand. A well-balanced knife will stay balanced on your hand and not fall in any direction.
    5. Consider the weight and size. This is where you need to ask your chef what they prefer. While some prefer a knife to be light, some love the heavy feel. If you have many people working in your kitchen, consider buying the perfect knives that are both light and heavy so each cook can choose what he or she is most comfortable with.

When it comes to size, keep in mind that smaller knives are quick to maneuver but fail at cutting larger items. When buying the perfect knives for your kitchen, you should purchase a variety of smaller and larger knives to suit the needs of your kitchen.

6 Equipment Buying Tips Every Restaurant Owner Needs to Know

6 Equipment Buying Tips Every Restaurant Owner Needs to Know

If you own a restaurant, knowing how to purchase the right equipment is one of the key ingredients to the success of your company. Here’s a bit of advice to help you become a purchasing pro: Our 6 Restaurant Equipment Buying Tips 1. Consider your current situation and...

read more
5 Ways to Get the Most out of Your Dishwasher

5 Ways to Get the Most out of Your Dishwasher

Dishwashers are an incredibly helpful timesaver, and in the fast-paced restaurant industry, staff and managers are desperate for even a small amount of extra time. Although simply putting dishes into a machine seems simple, if your dishwasher is not well-maintained...

read more
How to Keep Having Fun while Running your Restaurant

How to Keep Having Fun while Running your Restaurant

Restaurant owners typically have a passion for cuisine. Opening and running a restaurant is exciting, providing the opportunity to fully explore and develop your vision. However, if you have been in the restaurant business for any length of time, you know that it is...

read more
3 Great Reasons to Maintain Your Restaurant Equipment

3 Great Reasons to Maintain Your Restaurant Equipment

As the owner of a restaurant, you want a healthy and clean business. In the hustle of everyday restaurant management, it can be easy to forget to take care of issues that don’t seem as pressing as the customer complaining that they got the wrong order or that their...

read more
3 Tips for Maintaining Your Commercial Oven

3 Tips for Maintaining Your Commercial Oven

As a restaurant owner, buying a commercial oven is an enormous investment. You will desperately want this oven to work properly and you need to make sure it does. You are responsible for your restaurant business. But what if your commercial oven stops working on the...

read more
5 Steps to Cutting Food Waste from Your Kitchen

5 Steps to Cutting Food Waste from Your Kitchen

Food waste is a problem around the world. Taking steps to prevent food waste in your kitchen doesn’t just make your restaurant more morally strong; it can also help you save money on ingredients and attract more customers. Here are some steps you can take to reduce...

read more
Planning Your Equipment Needs When Your Restaurant is Expanding

Planning Your Equipment Needs When Your Restaurant is Expanding

Your restaurant is doing great, guests are coming in, and they’re spreading the word about the culinary masterpieces your restaurant offers, as well as the exceptional service that is provided by the kitchen equipment and staff.  But with all the new business, you’ve...

read more
How to Keep Cool in the Restaurant Kitchen

How to Keep Cool in the Restaurant Kitchen

Being in the kitchen, it’s hard not to feel overheated, especially during the summer. The heat of the stoves and ovens will quickly make the restaurant kitchen somewhere you don’t want to be. How do you keep cool in the kitchen? We have brought together some of the...

read more
How and Why to Make Your Restaurant Lead-Free

How and Why to Make Your Restaurant Lead-Free

If you own a restaurant, then you already know how important water is to your operations, and that poor water quality can adversely impact the success of your business. That is why you should ensure a restaurant lead-free environment.  Water is an integral part of all...

read more
5 Unique Restaurant Concepts Guaranteed to Thrill Diners

5 Unique Restaurant Concepts Guaranteed to Thrill Diners

With restaurants on almost every block, having a unique restaurant concept can help set you apart, making your establishment stand out. These concepts may have taken a bit to catch on, but they have quickly become popular sellers. Here are 5 unique restaurant concepts...

read more
How to Run an Energy-Efficient Restaurant

How to Run an Energy-Efficient Restaurant

You probably don’t need to be reminded of the high cost of electricity in running a restaurant compared to an energy-efficient restaurant. Right now, many establishments, including restaurants, are going green and adopting eco-friendly strategies to conserve...

read more