It makes no difference which knife a cook uses, caution should always be used in handling . Knives are very sharp and cause some serious cuts to your hands . Always know which way the knife is pointing. The sharp point should never be held close to the body. Knives have bolsters to keep your hand and fingers away from the blade. Know the use of your knives.

The blade of knives are made from a wide variety of materials.

Carbon Steel-is made or iron and carbon. Carbon blades are prone to rusting and becoming corroded. This can progressively destroy the blade if proper care isn't provided. This is not a recommended kitchen knife. They require plenty of maintenance.

Stainless Steel- is corrosion resistant; inexpensive; and don't taint food. Stainless steel blades are made of chromium, nickel, and molybdenum. Carbon is very little. A low grade of stainless steel can't be sharpened as well as a high grade of stainless steel.

Laminated blades are created by layering different materials . This may mean the blade has soft but tough steel as the backing material but sharper and harder but brittle material as the edge material.

Ceramic Blades keeps it's edge the longest. The disadvantage is they can become chipped or break off. Special equipment is needed for sharpening purposes. They don't have any affect on the food or taste.

Handles may be made from wood; steel; or plastic.

Chef Knives are designed to perform many task in the kitchen. The western style knife is used in chopping mincing, and slicing. It is equipped with a rocker or curve to help in chopping vegetables.

Knives do require sharpening. The tip is used in mincing. A bevel may be used to ground this blade. The center of the blade requires a sharp edge for cutting , chopping , and slicing. The back of the blade is given a thick edge for heavy duty jobs . This may include disjointing beef.

The chef knives have three purposes which include slicing; dicing; and mincing. Many knives may be recognized for the job performance they do. Everyone knows the steak knife. Do you realize that there are filet knives; paring; slicing; chopping; knives to deal with frozen meats and cake knives? Does your Kitchenware contain all the necessary knives you may need? If you are shopping for a knife set , invest in one that you can hand down to another family member. Make your knife collection a family heirloom .