GET TO KNOW YOUR KNIVES

CHEF’S KNIFE

Chef's knives are the basic all-purpose knives used for chopping, slicing and mincing. They have broad blades and are typically about 20-30cm (7-11in) in length. They should be rigid, somewhat heavy in your hand and durable. Opt for knives where the blades are forged (a piece of steel is heated and then pounded into shape) rather than stamped (cut out of a sheet of metal).

PARING KNIFE

Paring knives are small, rigid knives with pointed tips that are used for small cutting tasks, such as peeling, trimming and paring. Despite its small size, a good paring knife can be quite expensive. They are perfect for any delicate work where a chef's knife would be difficult to use. They are typically only about 5-10cm (2-4in) in length and have quite narrow blades.