You’ve probably heard it before that you should always visit the store to test out different chef knives before buying one. Perhaps it’s last-minute and you’re planning a Christmas feast and you just can’t make it through another year using a cheap-o chef knife, or maybe you’re too far away from a knife shop to justify the drive, or maybe you just aren’t looking forward to dealing with a grumpy salesperson. It’s fine, it’s normal.
If you’re planning to purchase a kitchen knife online, here are a few tips!
1. Look at the knife’s image and take note of the handle. Does it feel ergonomic? Be aware of sharp edges. These could cause calluses or even break the skin. You can sand the corners later on if you are unsure if it is hurtful. You can simply protect the blade of the knife with paper or a thick cloth and then put it in an angle vice to sand down the edges. It may not look very attractive, but it’ll at least not get cut or cut on your hands!
2. Now is the time to look over the statistics. Check the knife’s weight. What is the weight you would prefer? It’s entirely up to you. A lighter knife isn’t always the best option for small hands, but it is a popular choice for arthritis-prone fingers. If you have kitchen knives or heavier steak knives, use them with your hands, and then slice up some mushrooms or cucumbers to gauge how much you’d like to apply. A larger knife is likely to weigh around one pound. A lighter knife will usually weigh about half a pound. If you can’t find the weight of the knife anywhere, here’s a general guideline – German knives are generally heavier, while Japanese knives are typically lighter.