Sharpen Your Culinary Knowledge

The knife is the most used and indispensable item a chef has at his or her disposal. Selecting good knives and other types of cutlery is vital. What should a restaurant operator look for in good cutlery? Here are some of the basics.

Knives have developed over the years from iron to carbon steel, which is highly susceptible to corrosion, to forms of stainless steel, which are widely used today. The quality of a knife is greatly influenced by the grade of steel used.

The most important characteristics of the steel are the hardness and degree of corrosion-resistance in the blade. The exact mix of chromium, carbon and other elements in the steel, along with the heat treatment of the blade during manufacture, will determine these factors. Generally, more expensive cutlery from reputable manufacturers will use better quality raw materials, and in turn give the user more satisfactory performance over years of use.

Some things to look for in quality cutlery are as simple as how good a knife feels in your hand. The balanced weight and smooth-shaped handle of a quality knife are easy to recognize. The blade of the knife is an indicator of quality. An evenly tapered profile is usually indicative of a quality instrument as compared to a knife blade that has a hollow ground profile.

The tapered blade was shaped in the factory and can be easily resharpened to its original edge, while the hollow ground shape is easily damaged and quick to dull.

Another indicator of durability is the tang or end of the blade that is secured to the handle. A quality knife will have a full tang, which will run all the way through and be sandwiched by the handle. Some high-quality knives also may have a secured hidden tang in a plastic resin handle.

There are a wide variety of types of knives as varied as the products they are designed to cut. They differ in size, blade shape and type of cutting edge. Here are a few of the types of knives your kitchen may require.

Keeping cutlery sharp is very important. A sharp knife is safer than a blunt one because you use less pressure while cutting. Your hand does not tire easily and the knife has much more grip in the product being cut. All straight-edged knives should be regularly sharpened with a sharpening steel, which should be an essential part of any chef's knife kit.

Follow instructions when using a sharpening machine or stone because over-sharpening could damage and wear out your cutlery prematurely. Some manufacturers make ceramic sharpeners that, when used with steel, can put a final smooth sharpness on your knife.

One last but very important item is to ensure that your cutlery is always cleaned properly. It's important to remember that "stain resistant" or even stainless-steel knives are never totally rustproof. Knives will come in contact with many food acids like tomatoes or juices of fruits so it will be important to rinse the blades immediately after use. The best way to clean quality knives is by hand with mild soap and warm water. Dishwasher cleaning is usually safe but can cause damage to some items either by exposure to chemicals or as a result of their hitting other items in the load.

Always remember: if you take care of your cutlery, it will give you many years of satisfactory service.

Dan Bendall is a principal of Food-Strategy, a Maryland-based consulting firm specializing in planning foodservice facilities. He is also a member of Foodservice Consultant's Society International. He can be reached at 240-314-0660.