Knives & knife blocks

Sharpen your skills with a new IKEA kitchen knife

Quality kitchen knives are not just something for professional kitchens. No matter what level of home cook you are, using quality, affordable kitchen knives makes for better safety, control and precision cutting for whatever you’re preparing. A sharp knife with a handle that fits snugly in your hand not only prevents slippage by providing more control, it also helps you to express your creativity with more consistent cuts. While a good chef’s knife can handle many tasks, there are specialized knives and peelers tailored to help you quickly and efficiently handle any step in meal preparation—from peeling potatoes to carving meat, slicing bread or dicing vegetables.

How to choose the right kitchen knife

Any professional chef or line cook has an arsenal of knives and peelers meant for tackling specific tasks. Just like the pros, any serious or novice home cook can benefit from the efficiency and convenience of tools built for specific jobs in the kitchen.

• Chef's knife. Consider this the jack-of-all-trades in the kitchen. As with any chef or line cook at your favourite restaurant, you can use a chef's knife with its sturdy blade to easily break down fish or whole animal cuts, dice vegetables or finely chop herbs for an omelette. The durable blade is easy to clean and balanced since it’s made from one piece of steel.
• Carving knife. Carving knives are the perfect tool for slicing through thick, dense roasts or large cuts of meat with precision. Featuring a narrow, pointed blade, these knives glide effortlessly through slow-cooked holiday roasts, offering clean, uniform slices every time. Think of it as the conductor’s baton at your dining table, orchestrating the perfect meal as your family gathers, eager to savour every bite.·       Paring knife. This small and handy kitchen knife is great at handling the fine details—from peeling and trimming fruit and vegetables to any job that requires the deft turning, handling and sharpness of a smaller knife.
• Filet knife. Easily filet showpiece cuts of salmon or tuna as well as delicious slow-cooked braised short rib and other meats with the narrow and smooth blades of Ikea cooks knives or chef’s knives built to ably handle the job of any filet knife.
• Bread knife. Cruise through bread or soft vegetables like tomatoes with a long, serrated edge that makes cutting easy.

Caring for your kitchen knives

Care is easy for chef’s knives, paring knives, bread knives and other kitchen knives that should be washed before first use. Whether made of stainless steel, an alloy blend or ceramic composite, it’s best to wash your knives by hand instead of placing them in the dishwasher. Kitchen knives are best stored in knife blocks or attached to magnetized holders that can be wiped clean with a damp cloth. And keep your knife at its safest by keeping it sharp. Use a honing steel to sharpen by hand, go with an electric sharpener or take your knives to a local kitchen store for sharpening.