How to choose a steak knife? Professionals advise

A steak knife is not one of the essential tools you will find in every kitchen. But if you like to enjoy a good piece of meat, the right steak knives can make the experience even better. How do you choose a quality steak knife that will become the centrepiece of your kitchen?

Why you should get steak knives

The main advantage of quality steak knives is a well-sharpened blade. It allows you to cut your steak without having to put in a lot of effort that would spoil your enjoyment of a great meal. If you use an ordinary cutlery knife, you may end up squeezing the meat rather than cutting it. This can cause the steak to ooze the juices we want to keep inside.

Also, with a regular knife (or a poorly sharpened steak knife), you often end up tearing the meat instead of cutting it. This leads to actually pulling out individual fibres from the prepared piece of meat. These are then much more difficult to chew and can even make a well-prepared steak almost inedible.

Moreover, you don’t have to use a steak knife only for steaks, but you can easily cut any larger piece of meat, such as chicken quarters or pork medallions. Thanks to the steak knife, you and your guests will never have to chase a piece of meat around the plate again.

What material are quality steak knives made of?

When you buy a steak knife, the blade is the first thing that catches your eye. It is the central element of a steak knife and can make a big difference to the price and enjoyment of your meal.

First of all, the question of material needs to be addressed.

• Steak knives are very often made of stainless steel. The latter is corrosion resistant, easy to maintain and excels in strength. When choosing a stainless steel steak knife, also keep in mind that slicing on a plate dulls the blade, so you will need to sharpen the stainless steel more often.
• Another option is carbon steel. It is flexible, lightweight and has excellent cutting properties. It is also easier to sharpen than stainless steel and you don’t have to sharpen carbon steel blades as often. The downside is that it is not as resistant to corrosion and carbon steel steak knives require more careful maintenance.

The blade of a steak knife should be neither too wide nor too narrow to be most effective. It is also preferable if all or at least part of the blade also passes through the handle of the knife. This makes the knife stronger and prevents the blade from breaking out of the handle, as can happen with lesser knives. The same applies if you buy sets of knives for cutting ingredients in the kitchen.

With or without teeth?

Disputes are also often fought over what the blade of a steak knife should look like. There are three variants:

• Micro-teeth are the least suitable option. Their biggest disadvantage is that they are hard to grind. The maintenance is so tedious that many people don’t do it, the teeth become dull and the effect is nil – it will be the same as if you were cutting meat with a regular cutlery knife.
• Proponents of serrated blades especially point out that these meat-cutting knives stay sharp longer and are not as easy to dull. Their disadvantage is that the serrations can tear the meat during slicing, resulting in unsightly burrs on the edges of the bite, but this is not a problem when eating.
• The straight blade, on the other hand, cuts through the meat easily and leaves behind a clean, photogenic cut. The straight blade of a steak knife is easier to dull because its entire surface is in contact with the plate. On the other hand, it is very easy to re-sharpen.

The handle of a steak knife must be comfortable in the hand.

To enjoy using your steak knife, it is important that it fits your hand well. Most chef’s knives today are already at least partially ergonomically shaped, and quality steak knives are no exception. Having a knife that feels good to hold makes slicing steaks much easier.

It is also important that the handle and the whole knife in general is well balanced. It must not be difficult to handle, but at the same time it must be heavy enough for the meat knife to do its job.

The material from which the handle of the steak knife is made is also a separate issue. Traditionally, knife handles are made of wood, which is pleasant to the touch but harder to maintain. Other natural materials, such as bone or horn, can also be used. These knives tend to be more expensive and are often designer pieces.

Nowadays, plastic is a popular material. It doesn’t always have to be poor quality mouldings, today the plastic materials are of a very high standard so you will love them at first touch, Their big advantage is durability and easy maintenance, they are also hygienic and thus suitable for busy restaurant operations.

Steak knife maintenance

Like other knives for meat and cutting other ingredients, steak knives deserve attention. First and foremost is the maintenance of the blade, i.e. its sharpening. Every cook, whether professional or occasional home cook, should have the right tools for sharpening their knives. Dull knives often require more effort to use and there is a risk of injury.

Steak knives with straight blades can simply be re-sharpened with a sharpener and sharpened once in a while with a manual or electric knife sharpener. There are also special sharpeners for serrated blades that deserve maintenance as well. And because you know how to care for your knives properly, they will reward you with a longer life.

Most manufacturers do not recommend washing steak knives in the dishwasher. Be careful to dry them thoroughly, too, to avoid unsightly stains or splitting of the wooden handles. Using them can become a pleasurable ritual, which is simply the way to go with a special meal like a fine steak.

Steak knife sets are a popular gift

A quality steak knife is a pleasant and indispensable companion for all those who love a fair cut of meat. It can also make a great gift for various occasions.

If you want to treat several friends to a good steak, it is not very convenient for each of them to have a different knife. While none of the knives may be inferior or superior to the others, the guests may feel that some of them have been cheated, and this is a great offence against the rules of etiquette. If you host such steak feasts more often, a set of steak knives or a straight set of steak cutlery that includes forks in the same design in addition to the knives will come in handy.

Premium quality steak knife sets can be found, for example, at the brands Wüsthof or IVO.

A steak knife is not suitable for kitchen work

If you are a meat lover and have decided to get a premium quality steak knife, then only use it to cut finished steaks. For preparing raw meat, you should rather use chef’s knives, either with a universal shape or special Japanese santoku knives, which allow you to slice meat and vegetables even into very thin slices.

And how to cut meat properly for steak? Avoid thin slices here, as you’ll probably burn or even scorch them. On the other hand, it is advisable that the steak is 2 to 3 centimetres high and that the piece of meat is cut against the grain. It is also preferable to cut through the meat with bits of fat, which carries the flavour and makes the steak juicier.

Quality steak knives will multiply the enjoyment of the meal.

Steak knives with straight blades ensure perfect cutting of meat.

Steak knives should not be missed by any lover of good meat.

If you like to entertain friends, a set of steak knives or cutlery will come in handy.

Cut the meat for steaks into thicker slices.