Knife definition - What it is, Meaning and Concept

The Latin word cultellus came to our language as knife .The term refers to a tool used to cut , consisting of a handle and a metal blade with a sharp edge.

The knife usually has a unique sharp edge , which can be smooth or serrated.according to the use to which it will be destined, this instrument can end in tip or not, and have a straight or curved shape.

For example: "I have the fork but I am missing the knife: could I get one?" , "Before preparing the meat, I will sharpen the knife" , "With the help of a knife, the man managed to cut the rope and escape" .

The handle of the knife can be made of wood, plastic , bones or other materials.The blade, for its part, is made of stainless steel, ceramic or plastic.There are knives that, due to their characteristics , are considered disposable: they can be used once and then lose their usefulness.

In the kitchen field, you can differentiate between the table knife , the spread knife , the bread knife and others.Knives are not only used to cut the food : they are also used to remove parts that are not edibles (fat, bones, husks, etc.).

Various trades and professions require the use of these tools .Carpenters, electricians, surgeons and barbers, to name a few cases, use knives in their daily work.

It should be noted that knives, finally, are often used as a weapon , both by members of a security force and by criminals or aggressive people in general.

Types of knives used in cooking

Although it is not necessary to have a wide variety of knives and other utensils to cook rich and varied, nor to eat different dishes, having them helps to move more easily and skillfully.Let's see below some of the various types of knives that are used in the kitchen , both to prepare the dishes and to chop and present them:

* chef knife : its blade is wide and has an edge of great strength and stability.This tool is used for many tasks, such as cutting and chopping different foods, which can be vegetables or animal origin;

* ham knife : as the name implies, its main purpose is to cut the ham, but also the pieces of meat of great size.At first glance, its blade is very long and thin, with a smooth edge and great flexibility ;

* boning knife : it serves to remove the bone from the pieces of meat.Its edge also it is smooth and its blade is thin;

* chuletero knife : although its blade is thin, it has great rigidity, which allows us to use it to cut different types of roasted meats;

* Santoku knife : it has a wide blade and non-stick cavities with the characteristics necessary to fulfill different functions, such as the preparation of dishes of meat, fish and vegetables;

* knife vegetables : it serves to peel and cut many kinds of vegetables and fruits.Its blade is strong and its edge, smooth;

* bread knife : it has a wavy edge and a long but strong blade, ideal for cutting bread with crusts of varying degrees of hardness, in addition to certain similar desserts, without deforming them;

* knife knife : its most apparent feature is its short blade, which serves to facilitate its handling when peeling fruits, tubers and vegetables .

Keeping knives in good condition is an easy task but that many people overlook.First of all, it is necessary to wash them as soon as we stop using them, to prevent food debris from drying out and sticking to cutting edge .A neutral detergent is recommended, without components such as chlorine, as these can deteriorate the steel.It is also important to dry them once washed, so that they do not remain wet for a long time.