| Cooking can be a labor of love or it can be a | | | | celery or slice homemade bread? Is it useful for a |
| huge hassle. There are lots of things that can | | | | big steak or peeling a small apple? Third, are you |
| make or break this delicate balance, including not | | | | willing to wash each knife by hand or do you |
| enough storage space and too little room to | | | | want to be able to put them in a dishwasher. This |
| move around. But one of the worst things in a | | | | will determine what type of handle you buy. |
| kitchen is bad knives. | | | | For everyday use, there are several knives which |
| Have you ever tried to cut something like a | | | | are very helpful. To start with, a good chef knife |
| tomato with a dull knife? A knife that needs to be | | | | is essential. They come in various sizes, ranging |
| sharpened is about as useful as trying to cut | | | | from 6-12 inches. Those who have bigger hands |
| something with a spoon. Actually, a dull knife is | | | | may want to pick the longer blade. Another |
| worse. Every knows that spoons aren't used for | | | | essential is the paring knife. It's usually between |
| slicing. But a dull knife gives the impression of | | | | 3-5 inches long and has a straight blade. It's good |
| being useful but it really isn't. | | | | for peeling veggies or cutting up apples. It's kind |
| There are as many knives as there are uses for | | | | of an all purpose knife that can do just about any |
| them. Some are more for specialty uses and | | | | small job. If you make or eat bread often, a knife |
| others are very basic and used on an everyday | | | | with a serrated blade is a must. The tender |
| basis. When picking out knives, you have to make | | | | crumb of bread will smash if you try to cut with |
| a lot of decisions. Knowing what you will be using | | | | a chef knife. And a pairing knife isn't long enough |
| them for and what features are most important | | | | for most types of bread. One negative thing |
| to you is key. A first question to ask is: Do you | | | | about a serrated knife is that you cannot sharpen |
| need a whole set or just one new knife? Knives | | | | it. So if the day comes that it's dull, you have to |
| are sold both ways. Second, what are you looking | | | | buy a new one. |
| to do with this new knife? Will you use it to chop | | | | |