Early Man’s greatest invention after the fire was probably the discovery that a rock could be shaped, carved and used to make hunting and cooking easier. Today, a kitchen without knives is an oxymoron; it simply wouldn’t be possible. Knives are what come to define a chef and his work in many cases. Of no surprise, then, that sometimes the selection of kitchen knives while planning a commercial kitchen can be daunting. But we’re here to give you the lowdown as commercial kitchen planners. Here’s a rather sharp guide to everything you need to know about kitchen knives.
History:
Knives were originally more spear-like in the days of early man and were primarily used as hunting tools. With the invention of knives, the early man went from the near bottom of the food chain to becoming apex predators. Man still used to eat with his hands at the table, however, and there wasn’t much that they cooked.
It was many many years after early man, with the advent of early civilizations, that knives started to become smaller, easier to use, and a common household object. The discovery of metals also contributed significantly to easier production of knives in early industrial kitchens and blacksmith workshops. Handles were developed so that one could grip the knife without effort. These handles would often dictate the class of knife used and the person it was being made for.
And from here onwards, different styles of blades and points were developed for different styles of cooking. Knives silently became synonymous with the kitchen, the paintbrush of every great chef that stepped into those tiled floors.
The parts of a knife:
One might see this instrument as a simple blade and handle, but there’s a lot that goes into a knife. Some knives actually take days of work before being finally assembled into a sharp instrument of glory. The average time to make a professional Santoku knife can be anywhere from 15 to 20 hours, getting all parts of the knife right. In the case of Damascus Steel, the highly sought after steel specially for blades, forging, and crafting takes up to a week.
Image Credits: FoodFireFriends
Here’s a rundown on all the parts of a knife:
Now that you have a basic idea of what goes into all knives, here’s a broad selection of knives you cannot do without in a commercial kitchen. These are the same recommendations that a commercial kitchen planner could help you with.
Whether it’s simple kitchen equipment or large scale commercial kitchen planning, HPG can help you get on the right path to growing a successful commercial kitchen operation.