chef's knife
Cook's cutting tool
A chef's knife is a large, multipurpose kitchen knife with a curved blade typically 8 to 10 inches long.
The blade's curve allows for a rocking motion when mincing herbs or chopping vegetables.
It's the workhorse of professional and home kitchens alike, used for slicing, dicing, and breaking down meat: A good chef's knife is the first thing any serious cook should own.
Boundary or sharpness
- tangSharp, biting flavor
- bolsterStrengthen or buttress
- rivetsPermanent metal fasteners
- handlePart for gripping
spine · heel · tip · bevel · grind · forged · stamped · carbon steel
Cutting into portions
- dicingCutting into cubes
- mincingAffectedly delicate in manner
- julienneCut into thin strips
- chiffonadeThin-sliced leaf ribbons
cubing · chopping · carving · filleting · paring · shredding · cross-cut · bias cut
Stone for sharpening blades
- honingGradual sharpening or refining
- steelCarbon-hardened iron alloy
- stropLeather sharpening strip
- razorBlade for removing hair
keen · grindstone · sharpening · angle · grit · burr · apex · maintenance
Pre-cooking ingredient arrangement
- prepReadiness work, abbreviated
- precisionAccuracy of measurement
- uniformityState of being identical
- claw gripBent-finger hand position
pinch grip · guide hand · speed · control · efficiency · muscle memory · wrist action · follow-through
Surface for slicing food
- prep stationSurface for ingredient assembly
- magnetic stripData-storing metallic band
- sheathProtective blade covering
- workstationTechnical computing system
butcher block · mise en place · professional kitchen · home cook · line cook · culinary school · station · countertop
edge
Boundary or sharpness
handle · spine · heel · tip · bevel · grind · forged · stamped · carbon steel · stainless
slicing
Cutting into portions
chiffonade · cubing · chopping · carving · filleting · paring · shredding · cross-cut · bias cut · scoring
whetstone
Stone for sharpening blades
razor · keen · grindstone · sharpening · angle · grit · burr · apex · maintenance · dull
mise en place
Pre-cooking ingredient arrangement
- prepReadiness work, abbreviated
- precisionAccuracy of measurement
- uniformityState of being identical
claw grip · pinch grip · guide hand · speed · control · efficiency · muscle memory · wrist action · follow-through · portion control
cutting board
Surface for slicing food
- prep stationSurface for ingredient assembly
- magnetic stripData-storing metallic band
- sheathProtective blade covering
workstation · butcher block · mise en place · professional kitchen · home cook · line cook · culinary school · station · countertop · food preparation
- knivesjackknife, penknife, stiletto, meat cleaver, cleaver
chef's knifeparing knife
Small-bladed kitchen tool
butter knife · peeler · zester · melon baller
chef's knifefood processor
Motorized chopping appliance
mandoline · kitchen shears · scissors · mezzaluna · grater
chef's knifeplastic knife
Polymer cutting utensil
safety knife · pre-cut vegetables · convenience foods · microwave meal