Knife Skills —

a kitchen guide to using the right knife the right way

This site will give you the confidence to choose and use the knives and other nonelectric sharp tools in your kitchen. It’s also a reference site that you can use as you improve your skills and acquire the tools that will make you a better cook!

Slip sliding away

The most important thing I learned on my first day in cooking school was to put a damp cloth underneath my cutting board. This keeps your board from slipping and sliding on the counter. A damp piece of paper towel also works well. This is crucial because it’s a safety issue: if your cutting board is moving, even a little bit, then your knife will move too. And if your knife, food, and cutting surface are all moving, then you’ve greatly increased your chance of cutting yourself. This little step will help.

Some boards have small suction cups or rubber feet on one side, which also help keep the board from sliding. I don’t like these as much because this means that you can only use one side of the board. If you have a board that’s smooth on both sides, then you have twice as much cutting board as the other ones. And if the board starts to warp, then you can turn it over to help it flatten out again.

How to Choose and Use Your Knives

How to Choose and Use Your Knives

How to Buy a Knife

How to Buy a Knife

Caring for Your Knives

Caring for Your Knives

Nonknife, Nonmotorized Sharp Kitchen Tools

Nonknife, Nonmotorized Sharp Kitchen Tools


A hunter’s knife cannot carve its own handle. Korean proverb

A hunter’s knife cannot carve its own handle.

Korean proverb


Man must be sharpened on man, like knife on stone. African proverb

Man must be sharpened on man, like knife on stone.

African proverb


The fool cuts himself with his own knife. Kikuyu proverb

The fool cuts himself with his own knife.

Kikuyu proverb

Langenhoven

God created the world just like a knife and left it up to us to take it by the handle or the blade.

The Holy Bible

Put a knife to thy throat, if you’re a man given to appetite.

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The information in this site is true and complete to the best of our knowledge.
The author disclaims any liability in connection with the use of this information.
All recommendations are made without guarantee.