How to Properly Chop With Your Knives (Basic Knife Skills)
Image by Tasty via YouTube
If you are just starting to learn how to cook, you need to know these basic knife skills and different cutting styles. This is a skill that you’ll be using every single day, so you need to do it the right way. Learn how to properly chop with your knives with this tutorial by Tasty.
How to Hold the Knife Properly
1 – Make sure your cutting board is secure
A wobbly cutting board may result in a knife slipping and may injure someone. To fix this, place a damp towel underneath your cutting board. You can also get a non-slip mat to put under the cutting board. You can also get a cutting board with grips.
2 – Grip the knife properly
Do not put your index finger on top of the knife, hold it too far back on the handle, and grip it loosely. Put your finger and thumb at the very back of the steel and wrap your fingers around the handle to have a firm grip.
3 – Claw form
Form a claw with your fingers, so that they go in and the knife will hit up against your knuckles as you’re chopping.
4 – Slicing motion
You want to do a rocking motion when you cut, going back and forth with the knife.
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Different Cutting Styles
1 – Dice
Cut an onion in half, and peel the outer layer with the root end still intact. With one half flat side down, hold it in a claw grip and make a few incisions horizontally. Turn the onion towards you, with the root side away, and make a few cuts vertically. Chop with a rocking motion.
2 – Mincing
Remove the root end. Place the garlic under the blade and then smash it down. Peel it and chop with a rocking motion a ton of times.
3 – Chiffonade
This is commonly used with herbs. Stack basil leaves, roll them up, hold them in a claw form, and cut into thin slices. Make sure to fully slice down.
4 – Julienne
Cut the carrot into two-inch segments. Create a flat base, then put the flat part down on the cutting board. Make 1/8 inch equal slices down. Stack them into two parts, and make equal 1/8 inch slices.
5 – Oblique cut or roll cut
Trim the end of a carrot diagonally. Rotate it so the diagonal is facing away. Make a diagonal cut to create a triangle shape. Roll it again and cut.
