Sunday, February 28, 2010

THE ULTIMATE KITCHEN KNIFE


For years I have used a variety of kitchen knives, most costing around $10 or less apiece for the usual henckel's vegetable or paring knives.  For a carving or bread knife, I might purchase a knife in the $20 or $30 range.  Watching the food shows on the food network opened up our world to cooking pots, various dutch ovens, gadgets, graters, dishes and knives.  

Ree Drummond, who has one of my favorite blog sites - www.the pioneerwoman.com, has blogged about her favorite knife.  It is a 'Santoku' knife by Wusthof.  She has said that this is the only knife she needs in her kitchen and it is the ultimate kitchen tool.  She has photos on her site showing her dicing and slicing a tomato, onion and other vegetables using this knife.  The knife and what it does is probably like having a Maserati car in your garage though it does cost much much less than this car.   

The Santoku knife is a Japanese style of cooking knife.  It chops, slices and dices.  It has hollows on the blade's side which prevents food from clinging.  I got to test drive a Santoku knife while visiting my sister-in-law and it is a pretty slick knife.   There are a number of companies who make a Santoku knife and probably the best made knife is by Wusthof, a German company.   In making a Wusthof knife, a single piece of high carbon 18/10 stainless steel is used.    

The DH asked me what I wanted for my recent birthday and I said a Santoku knife.  Specifically a Wusthof.  If I can get a Maserati in my kitchen, why not!  Forget the jewellery, clothes, fine china or shoes.  Having a good knife would be the ultimate.   This is the type of knife you store in a slot in a butcher block and not in a drawer where it will bang against other knives or cutlery.  It is also the kind of knife you hand wash after each use and not put in the dishwasher.   If you are looking for a wonderful kitchen tool, buy a Santoku knife, you will have no regrets.


No comments:

Post a Comment