How to slice properly, or learn slicing techniques

Not only knowledge of recipes and cooking techniques are important in the kitchen. Knowing the correct slicing techniques should be the foundation of every cook. Using a chef’s knife is an art that every chef must master with confidence and ease. Your skills with a knife can set you apart from the beginner and prepare you for a path to a professional career. If cooking is just your passion in the home kitchen, you can take your hobby to the next level. It’s never too late to learn something new.

The basis for every cutting operation

Do you always need your work to be efficient, safe and not too strenuous for your hands? It is essential to focus on the selection of quality knives. Cutting meat, vegetables, fruit or pastries requires, above all, the right kind of knife. Kitchen knives made of the finest materials will be reliable helpers in your kitchen every day and will serve you for many years with the right care.

Choose a quality knife

Home kitchens make do with fewer knives, professional chefs make use of knives for multiple focuses. Be clear about what you expect from your knives and for what purpose you are purchasing the knives. Will they help you in your daily workload or will you occasionally use them to conjure up the perfect menu in your kitchen at home? There is a huge variety of kitchen knives on the market today, from the cheapest to premium quality knives. This is also matched by the price, which usually goes hand in hand with the quality of the material.

What to look for when choosing knives?

How much do you want to invest?

It depends on whether you are choosing knives for home or professional use. Tools for professional kitchens above all require maximum durability and the best quality for all-day use. On the other hand, there is no rule that prevents cooking enthusiasts from getting really good quality gear. Whether you’re a chef, a budding chef or just a passionate cook in your household, choose knives according to your capabilities and expectations.

What will you use the knives for?

Do you need knives for everyday, undemanding use and prefer versatility? Then the best choice for you is to equip yourself with the basic types of functional knives, with a quality chef’s knife playing one of the main roles. It can cut meat , vegetables and chop herbs equally well. If you are choosing knives to work all day in a professional kitchen, a quality set of knives for different uses may be suitable for you. A chef’s knife, boning knife or vegetable knife should certainly not be missing from any professional chef’s equipment.

Which material do you prefer?

An important indicator of quality when choosing knives is the material used. It affects the durability, sharpness and overall weight of the knife. Most often you will come across stainless steel, which is characterized by extreme durability, sharpness and perfect strength. Stainless steel knives are especially suitable for cutting meat, vegetables, fruits and can easily handle tougher textured foods. The ceramic blade is ground to stay sharp for a long time. It will not rust, absorb odours or be affected by acidic foods. Ceramic knives are suitable for cutting fruit and vegetables. The disadvantage of knives with ceramic blades is that they are more brittle and you may need a professional to sharpen the knife.

Proper knife grip

In order to make every cut you make efficient, the number one priority is to have the right knife grip. The knife should fit perfectly in your hand. So don’t forget to pay attention when choosing a handle. A plastic handle is low-maintenance, a metal handle requires a little more practice, and a wooden handle ensures comfortable use with careful maintenance. So how to grip the knife correctly? For a safe and precise cut, place the bottom three fingers around the handle and let your thumb and forefinger grip the right and left sides of the blade.

Basic slicing techniques

Every chef knows that the shape and size of the ingredients cut can greatly affect the complete flavor and appearance of a dish. The essence of the correct slicing method is sufficient information, knowledge of the recipe and practice in the hands. Sooner or later, the basic techniques of slicing will be perfectly mastered by every cook who encounters one of the main tasks in the kitchen – slicing.

Julienne noodles

Use this style of slicing especially to perfectly chop vegetables for soups, salads or Asian cuisine. Slice the vegetables lengthwise into thin slices and then into 2-3 mm noodles.

Brunoise small cubes

A slicing technique that can be used in soups, sauces, goes great in stuffing and fresh perfect to garnish a salad. It is a slicing technique made from Julienne noodles, used mainly in French cuisine.

Paysanne slices

Under this French name you can imagine vegetables sliced thinly. This kind of slicing ensures quick and even preparation of vegetables and use in soups or, for example, sautéed with pasta.

Batonnet fries

A term used in cutting vegetables into perfect fries, most commonly used in the preparation of potato fries. It is a common treatment of celery or carrots when serving raw vegetables with a dip.

Principles of proper meat slicing

Important for cutting meat is the type of meat and the subsequent processing. How to cut meat perfectly? For example, poultry meat is cut along the grain, whereas beef is cut essentially through the grain. Otherwise, you could easily end up serving a tough, inedible piece of meat. For cooking, cut the meat along the grain into equal sized pieces for even cooking. Cut smaller cubes of meat for braising and noodles for various meat mixes.

Perfectly chopped onions

The food that is the basis of almost every dish and can bring tears to your eyes can be cut in several ways. Use the slicing technique for salads or for decoration. For safe slicing, the thumb always stays behind the onion. When slicing, always work from the end towards the palm of the hand, resting the blade of the knife on the knuckles of the bent fingers holding the onion . For meat and various bases, it is best to prepare the onion in larger pieces; for spreads, salads and delicate sauces, cut the onion into the finest possible cubes.

Worldwide brands guaranteeing quality

Every flawless cut will be guided by one of the quality knives you choose for your daily work in the kitchen. You have the opportunity to choose from a large number of the highest quality knives from the best manufacturers. Swiss perfection is offered to you by Victorinox, a company that produces knives with high durability and clean design. The precision kitchen knives from IVO, Wusthof or Giesser Messer fit every hand thanks to their perfectly ergonomic handles, and the high-quality knives with anti-corrosion treatment from Stalgast are guaranteed to make your day’s work easier.

Important knife maintenance

Quality knives do a perfect job in the kitchen every day and are reliable helpers. To last as long as possible, they need proper care. Wash and dry your knives thoroughly after each use. Even if your knives are dishwasher safe, we recommend hand-treating your knives to maintain their sharpness longer. You can also prevent rapid dulling of the blade by using a plastic cutting board and storing your knives safely in special containers made of durable material. Knife bags protect your cooking utensils during travel.

How to sharpen your knives efficiently

If you have to put more effort into working with your knife, they clearly need sharpening and it’s time to reach for the right tools to revive the blade. One option is to use a quality sharpener. Always choose a new sharpener longer than the longest knife in your kit. Sharpening your knives with a sharpener will be safer and easier to handle. The sharpener can smooth out unevenness and after a few strokes at a 20 degree angle, the knife is ready for a flawless cut again. Grinding with a hand or electric grinder is much faster and easier. Just a few gentle strokes towards each other and your knife blades can do precise work again.