Guide to Buying the Perfect Knives
June 1, 2017Knives 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.
-
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
Roast: What’s Wrong With The Honeymooner’s Kitchen? Kitchen Supplies
Welcome to our new series, “Roast and Toast”! Each month we’ll feature one kitchen that we love and one that… well, could use improvements. The kitchens we feature can come from anywhere – TV, films, popular culture, you name it. We’ll talk about what we love and what...
Restaurant Supplies: The Growing Menu Role of Specialty Cheeses
As a commercial restaurant owner or manager, you might wonder what you can do to revive your menu a bit. There are a lot of fun ways to diversify your menu, but one trend you might have noticed is the growing role of specialty cheeses. We’ve all used common cheeses,...
It’s a Toast: Why We Love the “Friends” Kitchen
Welcome to our new series, “Roast and Toast!” Each month we’re going to feature one kitchen we love and one kitchen we hate. It can be from anywhere – a sitcom, a cooking show, a cartoon, a movie, or any other screen you’d see one on! We’re starting off with a toast...
Ready to Open a Second Restaurant Location?
If your current restaurant is booming, it might be time to consider a second location. Congratulations on your current success – you’ve already beaten the odds! Opening a second location can be easier than your first one – you’ve already worked out a lot of the kinks....
The One Product to Boost Convenience Store Sales
Is there one product that can single-handedly make or break the success of your convenience store? A lot of store owners would say no. When they look at their store, they see products coming from hot dish foodservice equipment, shelves, and a variety of categories...
Restaurant Equipment Spotlight: Gas vs. Electric
Does your Little Rock restaurant use gas or electric restaurant equipment? In all likelihood you made this decision a long time ago, but it’s one that can always be reconsidered. There are benefits to both. If you’re opening a new restaurant location, it’s vital to...
Restaurant Equipment: Self-Ordering Technology
One of the biggest challenges of running a restaurant is keeping up with all the technology and restaurant equipment that is available. You might have thought when you opened your location that you could run things basically the same way for decades. While they may...
Four Tips to Opening a Successful Restaurant
Have you been dreaming about bringing your food expertise to the forefront of you life? Many people have thought about opening their own restaurant. Folks don’t follow through for a variety of reasons – money, fear, or simple inertia. You can be different, though. You...
The Case for Timeless Restaurant Décor
What’s the newest trend in restaurant décor? Evidently, people are loving “Millennial pink,” and they’re using it for everything. If you’re trying to keep up with what’s hot, you better get some new restaurant supplies right away! And remember, this isn’t just any...
Deep Fry Safely & Efficiently
When it comes to kitchen equipment, knowing how to use it correctly is vital. Not only does it keep your employees safe, it ensures that the food comes out well and that your equipment last a long time in good condition. Using a deep fryer may seem pretty simple, and...
Should You Buy Closeout Restaurant Supplies?
As a restaurant owner, you, of course, want to save money in any way possible. Restaurant margins are known for being razor-thin, so every dollar counts. Because of this, you might be tempted when you see a closeout deal for restaurant supplies. After all, you can get...
Choosing Environmentally Friendly Restaurant Supplies
There’s been a lot of controversy recently about restaurant supplies and how they affect the environment. The current focus is on plastic straws, but the same conversation has been had about Styrofoam and a variety of other materials. Can you choose environmentally...
Restaurant Supplies to Prepare Your Location for Spring
In March you can begin to feel warmer weather around the corner here in Little Rock. After all, the groundhog didn’t see its shadow this year, so we’re in for an early spring, right? As you think about how to prepare your restaurant for spring, think about getting the...
Proper Use of Cutting Boards
Food safety is vital to every restaurant – consistent inspections make sure of it! Unfortunately, the day-to-day operations can sometimes mean that safety falls through the cracks. One thing that can get overlooked in a busy kitchen is the safe use of cutting boards....
Four Myths About Food Trucks
You probably know that the food truck industry is booming – it’s grown by 7.3% in the last five years and shows no signs of slowing down. That makes it an attractive industry for anyone interested in serving food – from established restaurants to new entrepreneurs....