Do you find your chopping knife makes a big difference to your food (especially vegetable) prep?

GalaxyRyder

I watch videos on youtube of vegetable prep or trimming fat from meat, and it seems super precise and the results are a lot finer that what I get.

I have a 10 year old knife I got with a wooden-block knife set.

It's perfectly fine, but does anyone use a higher quality knife for chopping, and is it a good investment?

the beer revolu

Yes, a good knife (or 2) makes a world of difference when preparing food. I'm not sure it changes the food much but it makes the experience much more pleasurable.

Perhaps your knife could be sharpened?

It's difficult recommend a knife as we don't know what you currently use/like/want or what your budget is.

I would argue that a cook only really needs 2 knives - a chef/chopper/santoku and a small veg/peeling knife.

There's a thread about buying knives, already.

I like the look of this (not current in stock, though) https://www.knivesandtools.ie/en/pt/-kai-wasabi-black-santoku-16-5cm-6716s.htm

And this: https://www.knivesandtools.ie/en/pt/-eden-elements-2001-318-santoku-19-cm.htm

And I'd highly recommend these peeling knives : https://www.knivesandtools.ie/en/pt/-robert-herder-peeling-knife-straight-classic-red-beech-stainless-steel-6-5-cm.htm

And if you aren't going to go down the road of getting stones to keep your knives sharp, you'll need something to keep an edge : https://www.knivesandtools.ie/en/pt/-kai-seki-magoroku-knife-sharpener-for-double-edged-knives.htm

It's also worth looking in Tkmax/homesense for cheap Japanese knives.

LambshankRedemption

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058405012/do-you-find-your-chopping-knife-makes-a-big-difference-to-your-food-especially-vegetable-prep

A sharp knife is essential and despite what people think is a lot safer. I have two chefs knives, one i got as a present about 20 years ago, and the other is a Japanese knife I got a couple of years ago and I keep both very sharp. If a recipe calls for something to be finely chopped, it is extremely difficult to do with a dull knife.

If you have not sharpened or used a steel on your knife in 10 years, I would recommend getting it professionally sharpened, and buying a chefs steel to keep it's edge. I'm not affiliated with this guy, but it it's who I would use: https://sharpening.ie/

magicbastarder

How much does a professional sharpening cost? I assume it's only economically worth it on gif quality knives.

pjdarcy

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123326486#Comment_123326486

If you live in the South East, sharpenup.ie charge 3 euros per knife

magicbastarder

Ah, that's far cheaper than I expected.

LambshankRedemption

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123326576#Comment_123326576

The link I quoted was about a tenner for their postal service but still very reasonable.

I wouldn't have suggested it for the OPs ten year old knife if it was going to be more than the price of a decent knife to begin with.

The Hill Billy

This Is practically the only knife I use bar a small paring knife for fiddly things like cutting broccoli florets. It is a wonderful all-rounder. I keep it sharp with a few rubs of a steel each day. I got it for £15 in the Asia Market in Dublin around 25 years ago.

GalaxyRyder

7-inch 's knife - ergonomic wood handle, stainless steel & vegetable chopper - perfect gift for cooking enthusiasts, , birthday dad mom gift | Shop Now For Limited-time Deals | Temu Ireland

Any thoughts on these Temu knives?

Dial Hard

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123337560#Comment_123337560

Yeah, don't bother. It'll probably be shíte, not the actual size advertised and likely to break after a couple of uses.

If you don't want to spend big money on a knife, just go to IKEA or Home Store and More and pick something up, they have perfectly adequate beginners' knives.

magicbastarder

or tk maxx/home sense if you've one nearby.

Rocket_GD

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123337560#Comment_123337560

As other poster said I wouldn't bother. Below is a decent starting off chef's knife for €18 that will be adequate for most home cooks. There is also a smaller 15cm one and I personally prefer that size as I've smaller hands.

https://www.homestoreandmore.ie/chopping-boards-kitchen-knives/stellar-cooks-knife-20cm/026097.html?variantId=026097

Cheap and cheerful and it'll get the job done for you.

Once you use a decent knife you'll never go back to the crap ones from the wooden blocks. My latest knife was €125 and don't regret spending that much in the slightest.

LambshankRedemption

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123337866#Comment_123337866

Yes, that'll do the job, but please OP, please also buy a steel to keep its edge.

Here's one:

https://www.homestoreandmore.ie/chopping-boards-kitchen-knives/stellar-sharpening-steel-knife-25cm/026098.html?variantId=026098

I also highly recommend getting a magnetic knife strip for the fridge. I only got mine recently but I love it.

GalaxyRyder

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123337988#Comment_123337988

4-stage professional knife sharpener with steel, diamond, and ceramic sharpening stones - ideal for kitchen knives, base, blade restoration | Shop Now For Limited-time Deals | Temu Ireland

So I'm guessing this Temu sharpener wouldn't be recommended?

Dial Hard

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123339676#Comment_123339676

Nothing from Temu is recommended! Just go to a bricks & mortar shop and buy a knife and a basic steel and you'll be off.

magicbastarder

those sort of sharpeners tend to make a knife sharp by making them jagged - and they rip the blades up doing so.

Rocket_GD

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123339676#Comment_123339676

What is the need for everything to be from Temu? Cheap crap.

We've given you some really cheap decent knife ideas and a honing rod to keep the blade straight, all in for €35, it's worth the investment.

the beer revolu

A steel won't keep a knife sharp over time. Some sort of sharpener is needed, too.

John_Rambo

The more expensive IKEA knives are excellent. But like all knives they need constant steeling, almost every time you use them.

cobham

There used to be a place on Parliament Street in Dublin where I was sent as a child with scissors and knives to be sharpened. Alas he is long gone now, a lovely old chap. I have heard it suggested to give your knives to a local butcher and have sharpened with their kit? Good thread, I would like to treat self to a decent knife. I have managed with small one with serrated edge for most jobs but very cheap from Tesco years ago.

LambshankRedemption

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123340749#Comment_123340749

You won't know yourself once you get a decent sharp knife. Cutting become effortless.

George Washington is purported as saying "If I had 6 hours to chop down a tree, I would spend 4 hours sharpening the axe".

cobham

I had a magnetic knife bar and another in wood with slots. For reasons of home security, I put on the inside of a kitchen cupboard door rather that on open display. New kitchen is all drawers at lower level and not so suitable

Hoop66

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123337575#Comment_123337575

IKEA do a fantastic knife sharpener too -

SKÄRANDE black, Knife sharpener - IKEA

Dial Hard

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123341260#Comment_123341260

I'm not mad about those pull-through sharpeners, they tend to be very hard on knives.

Best 50 quid I ever spent was on a knife sharpening course for my other half, he's a dab hand with the stones now.

Hoop66

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123341285#Comment_123341285

Does he take bookings?

Dial Hard

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123341301#Comment_123341301

My other half doesn't, but the chap he went to does 😄 It was www.hewn.ie, he's based in Clare but he does courses in Dublin every couple of months.

ETA: Next Dublin one is on the 10th of May. Not that I'm assuming you're based in Dublin!

Hoop66

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123341324#Comment_123341324

Thanks. I might go along to that.

the beer revolu

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123341285#Comment_123341285

But unless you are going to get into using stones or other (often expensive) sharpening, systems, there aren't really other options out there bar pull through units. I've used one similar to the one posted above. It has ceramic wheels, three grits and takes water. I thought it was pretty good.

I love using my stones but the only options shouldn't be, use stones or have blunt knives. People need an easy way to keep knives sharp. I'd rather have sharp knives that wear away with time over fully intact blunt knives.

LambshankRedemption

In the absence of a stone, a ceramic coffee mug, turned upside down does the job.

the beer revolu

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123341623#Comment_123341623

Kinda. I've done it. But you aren't going to put an good edge on a blunt knife with a coffee mug with any ease.

LambshankRedemption

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123341685#Comment_123341685

Well I am telling this for the OPs benefit whose knife has not even seen a steel for about a decade.