Many good cheese knives have holes in the blade to prevent binding from dense objects like cheese and cut more smoothly. This is less important if you’re making shallow cuts where objects do not come in contact with the edge of the knife blade.
Why do chef knives have holes in the blade?
If you look at some cheese or high-end chef knives, you will probably notice that many of them have holes in the blade of the knife. The reason for this is to reduce the friction created between the knife blade and the material being cut by simply removing some of the blade material.
What is a cheese knife used for?
We also go through how they are used and some cheeses you can pair them with. A soft cheese knife, also known as an open work blade knife, features holes in the blade to keep soft cheeses from sticking due to the minimal surface area. You can also use the holes to push a piece off of the knife.
What are the different types of cheese knives?
Types of Cheese Knives. 1 Soft Cheese Knife. A soft cheese knife, also known as an open work blade knife, features holes in the blade to keep soft cheeses from sticking due to ... 2 Cheese Spreader. 3 Gorgonzola Knife. 4 Pronged Cheese Knife. 5 Slim Blade Cheese Knife. More items
Can you hang a knife with a hole in it?
Hanging a knife on the wall by the hole in the blade is commonly done with butcher knives, but can be done with pocket knives as well. 5. Aesthetics It cannot be denied, a hole in the blade of a pocket knife adds an elegant look to many knife designs.
Why does my cheese knife have holes?
Soft cheese knives The blades of cheese knives are usually made of a material such as stainless steel, which is resistant to the stickiness of cheese. Another design feature often found is the presence of holes in the blade to help to prevent the cheese from sticking to it.
Why do some knives have holes in the blade?
Holes on the knife are a special feature, which serves various benefits, including minimizing cutting friction, making knives less weighty, ease in storage, anti-stickiness, brand recognition, ease in opening a knife, and beautifying the knife.
What is the hook on a cheese knife for?
The hook on the end of the cheese knife is used to serve cheese slices without touching them with your fingers. While not all cheese knives will have this feature, this particular cheese knife is versatile and suitable for serving many types of cheeses, particularly semi-firm to firm cheeses.
Why do chefs knives have holes?
Most knives have a smooth side, but there also are kitchen knives with clefts available. Wüsthof even has a chef's knife with holes in the blade. This not only looks nice, but also has a function. The air in the clefts and the holes act as an anti-stick coating between the knife and the food.
Why does a tomato knife have holes in it?
Tomato knife Very small serrations on the tomato knife's blade grip the skin of the tomato and reduce tears, allowing you to slice through easily.
What are knives with finger holes called?
Modern knives with finger holes have their beginning in a centuries-old blade called the karambit that was designed by people in Indonesia who took inspiration from a tiger's claw. This colorful history has added to the attraction of these special blades that continues today.
Why is a cheese knife curved?
Cheese knives are curved to increase surface area for spreading soft cheeses. Unlike a butter knife, a cheese knife must be somewhat sharp for hard cheeses, as well as the cheese rind. A curved blade is a compromise between usefulness as a cutting and spreading utensil.
How do you use a forked cheese knife?
0:101:10Know your Cheese Knives - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd if you look at the edge and has a nonstick surface to help the cheese come off then also it hasMoreAnd if you look at the edge and has a nonstick surface to help the cheese come off then also it has this forked end but that's for easy to take slices. And move them about your cheese tray.
Should cheese knives be sharp?
“You need a sharp, wide blade to easily cut into a hard cheese,” he says. “This knife is great to use when cutting Asiago, Manchego, and Parmesan cheeses.” “A cheese wire is perfect for blue cheeses because it will not drag through or break off the fragile blue cheese,” Brazel says. “It will make nice little slices.”
Why do Japanese knives have dents?
These depressions, called kullenschliff or a Granton edge, reduce friction and help prevent food from sticking to the blade. As a result of the santoku's popularity, manufacturers have started adding the dimpled edge to other knives, too.
Do knife dimples work?
They help with friction and sticking Fine Cooking shares that the dimples of Santoku knives are called "kullenschliff" or a "Granton edge," and they help decrease friction so as you are slicing and dicing all your onions and bell peppers don't stick to your knife.
Are knives with dimples better?
There are no significant differences between the use of either style and the only stand-out benefit of using a knife with dimples is if you need a clean cut when cutting large meats or vegetables.
What the Holes in Cheese Knives Are For
The next time you see holes in cheese knives, they are not just there for the aesthetics.
What Are the Prongs on The End of a Cheese Knife Used For?
Besides having holes, other design elements on cheese knives contribute to how well they are used.
Why do knives have holes in the blade?
Some knives have holes in the blade because it’s ergonomically efficient. Meat cleavers, machetes, and other large knives usually have holes on the top edge of the blade so they can be hung from a rack or hook when not in use.
Why do kitchen knives have holes?
This is the most common reason most chef and kitchen blades have holes in them. When a cut is made with a knife, the edge of the blade causes friction with the item being cut.
What happens when a Spyderco knife is closed?
When a Spyderco pocket knife is closed, the hole in the blade sits elevated which makes it easy to open with your thumb. This is important for those times when you might not have both hands available and still need to open your knife. It’s important to note that most pocket knives do not have holes in their blades similar to kitchen knives. ...
What is a hole cut in a knife blade called?
Holes cut into knife blades come in many different diameters and are often referred to as being “aerated”. Typically holes are drilled in a line and parallel with the blade and extend from the base to the tip of the knife. Meat cleavers usually have one hole in the upper tip for conveniently hanging it when not in use.
Why are pocket knives lighter than blades?
They help pocket knives with assisted one handed opening. They can be hung from racks or hooks for easy use, and are lighter than blades without them. All of these reasons provide a purpose more than just aesthetics. They serve real life situations that can make the job easier and more ergonomically friendly.
What are the indentions on knives called?
Even the knives that do not have holes have what are called “clefts” on the blades. These are indention’s that help to serve the same friction reducing function without having to drill through the blade itself.
Why do you drill holes in a knife blade?
Drilling holes in the blade of a knife can help reduce the overall weight by removing material, while still retaining strength and durability needed to function properly and easily over a wide range of uses.
Weight Reduction
A knife’s blade, especially on a well-made knife, will be one of the heaviest parts of the knife.
Managing Friction Better
Some food items are so starchy that they will naturally cause some friction when you are cutting them.
Storage
Some knife manufacturers keep the knife holes in there so that you have another knife storage option to explore.
Ease of Use
If you have a folding knife with a hole in the blade, there is a high chance it is there to aid opening.
Style
I cannot rule out the fact that having holes in the knife blade is also an element of style.
Self-defense
Some theories suggest that knife blades with holes are easier to withdraw from a stab than those full blades.
Cost Savings
Maybe, just maybe, the knife manufacturer wants to bring you a great knife but the price point doesn’t seem quite right.
What is the ultimate guide to cheese knives?
The Ultimate Guide to Cheese Knives. You may have a cheese knife set in your home but may not exactly know what task each one of those knives was made to perform. Just as a chef will use various types of knives in a day to increase their efficiency, each cheese knife type has a purpose to improve the user experience.
What knife is used to cut cheese?
A flat cheese knife, or a chisel knife, is used to cut slices off of aged cheeses by holding the blade vertically over the cheese and pushing downward. You can then use the sharp end to cut the pieces down even further.
What is a soft cheese knife?
A soft cheese knife, also known as an open work blade knife, features holes in the blade to keep soft cheeses from sticking due to the minimal surface area. You can also use the holes to push a piece off of the knife. Features: Sharp edge, holes in blade. Cheese Hardness: Soft to Semi-Soft.
What is a gorgonzola knife?
Gorgonzola Knife. Similar to a cheese spreader, a gorgonzola cheese knife is made for spreading creamy cheeses. However, the gorgonzola knife has a sharp blade to cut through cheese rinds. Features: Rounded blade with one sharp edge. Cheese Hardness: Soft, Semi-Soft, and Crumbly. Ideal Cheeses: Gorgonzola, Bleu Cheese.
What is a prong knife?
The pronged cheese knife, or forked-tipped spear, is a multipurpose tool that allows you to cut a piece of cheese and then pick it up with the prongs at the end for serving or plating. The narrow blade offers a minimal surface area so soft cheeses don’t stick.
What is a slim blade knife?
A slim blade knife features very little surface area to prevent soft cheeses from sticking to the blade. It is typically offset from the handle to provide room for the user’s hand to keep the knuckles from hitting the board.
What is a narrow plane knife?
A narrow plane cheese knife, also known as a trapezium knife, is made for cutting cheese as well as chipping away at the block. It is similar to the flat cheese knife but tends to be more rectangular in shape and features two sharp sides as opposed to one.
Why do chefs use holes in their knives?
Reduce Friction. If you look at some cheese or high-end chef knives, you will probably notice that many of them have holes in the blade of the knife. The reason for this is to reduce the friction created between the knife blade and the material being cut by simply removing some of the blade material. The same concept can be applied ...
Why do pocket knives have holes?
Some of the top reasons that a knife company would put a hole in the blade of their pocket knives is to cut down on the weight of the knife, use the hole to replace the thumb stud for opening the knife, as well as to make the design stand out when placed alongside other pocket knives. After a bit more research, ...
What is a hole in a pocket knife?
A hole in the blade of a pocket knife opens up a world of possible uses that aren’t commonly thought of. Using a hole in the blade, a pocket knife could be attached to the end of a stick and used as a primitive hunting spear. The possibilities are endless if you just think outside of the box.
What is a pocket knife with a hole in the blade?
Pioneered by Spyderco —a high-quality knife company—the hole in the blade of a pocket knife that acts and replaces the thumb stud is becoming increasingly popular. A pocket knife that has a hole in the blade instead of a thumb stud is able to be opened with one hand and there is no part of the blade that projects out and will get in the way of cutting and using the knife.
What is a knife without a hole in the blade?
A standard knife without a hole in the blade is an awesome tool that can complete many tasks, but a knife that has a hole in the blade can do everything that a standard knife can and more. A hole in the blade makes the knife lighter, easier to open, cut with less resistance, and makes it stand out from the crowd.
What happens if you hit a knife with a hole in the back?
Any hit or pressure on the back of the knife could possibly cave the top of the whole in if that area becomes too weak.
Can you hang a pocket knife on the wall?
Hanging. While not a common use for the hole that many pocket knives have in the blade, the hole can be used to hang on the wall or attach a cord for easy carry. Hanging a knife on the wall by the hole in the blade is commonly done with butcher knives, but can be done with pocket knives as well. 5. Aesthetics.
