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!

Why cutting boards matter

When choosing among the many types of available cutting boards, remember just one crucial thing: do not use a cutting board that has an extremely hard surface. This includes stone, glass, and boards made from manufactured countertop surfaces. Why manufactured countertop surfaces? This doesn’t seem as obvious, but many people like to have cutting boards made from leftover scraps when they have new countertops installed in their kitchen. The problem with using these hard surfaces as cutting boards is that they’ll quickly dull your knives’ blades. You want a cutting board that has a little give to it.

The best materials for cutting boards are wood and polyethylene (usually called a poly board), which is a type of plastic. Both are solid, but not so hard that they’ll dull your knives. They’re porous, which also means they can be thoroughly cleaned. Although both types are very good, I prefer, and recommend, poly cutting boards over wooden ones because of how I like to clean them.

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 knife does not fear thorns, a woman fears man. Mongo proverb

A knife does not fear thorns, a woman fears man.

Mongo proverb


If your mouth turns into a knife, it will cut off your lips. African proverb

If your mouth turns into a knife, it will cut off your lips.

African proverb


Whether the knife falls on the melon or the melon on the knife, the melon suffers. Spanish proverb

Whether the knife falls on the melon or the melon on the knife, the melon suffers.

Spanish proverb

Sam Snead

If a lot of people gripped a knife and fork the way they do a golf club, they’d starve to death.

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.