Knife Skills Explained

Enhance your kitchen skills with our guide on knife preparation techniques. Learn essential knife skills using simple steps. Our step-by-step instructions ensure you master these techniques, making your cooking experience smoother and more efficient.

Equipment Needed:

Knife
Cutting board

Step-by-Step Instructions for Knife Preparation Techniques:

Butterflying a Chicken Breast: First, slice a chicken breast partially in half horizontally and open it like a book. You might stuff this cavity with cream cheese or garlic butter.
Chiffonade: To chiffonade means to slice leafy vegetables such as spinach into very thin strips. Roll the leaves up together, like a cigar, and slice the ends off very finely. You might want to do this for salads and stir-fries.
Coring: You can core apples or pears by cutting the fruit in quarters and chopping out the seeds and woody center. You can also core vegetables such as cabbage or fennel that have a woody center but no seeds.
Cubing: If a recipe requires you to cube an ingredient, cut them into around ½ inch cubes, like large dice. You can cube vegetables such as carrots and potatoes, fruit such as apples and pears, but also meat and fish. You might do this when making recipes such as a curry or pie.
Dicing: Dicing is similar to cubing but smaller. Chop ingredients into the shape of small dice. This works well for pasty fillings and chunky soups.
Julienne Slicing: Julienne is when you slice ingredients, such as carrots and cucumber, into matchstick shapes. They are thin and long with straight ends. You might do this for salads, sandwiches, and stir-fries.
Mincing Garlic or Onions: If a recipe asks you to mince garlic or onions, chop them very finely. Some people find it easiest to chop into slices lengthways and then slice horizontally until tiny dice. Others find it easier to use a grater.
Scoring: Scoring means to partially cut through in lines. You can score pastry, such as the top of a pie for decoration, or pork skin to make crackling. Scoring can also create more surface area for marinades or help fat render.

Understanding these common knife skills can greatly improve your cooking techniques. Knowing what these terms mean and how to apply them will make following recipes much easier and more enjoyable.

Helpful Hint:

Keep your knives sharp for better control and safety while cutting.

Alternative Uses for Knife Skills:

Cooking Classes: Use this guide as a reference in cooking classes to help students learn essential knife skills.
Recipe Development: Refer to these terms when developing new recipes to ensure clear and accurate instructions.
Culinary Education: Incorporate these knife skills into culinary education materials for beginner chefs.