PARING KNIFE SHAPE. For general use a straight blade is preferred as it is more versatile. Itâs a general purpose knife that can be used ⦠The ideal paring knife is short with a sharp tip. What is a Paring Knife Used For? There are seemingly endless ways to fill out your knife block. Paring knives are great alternatives to conventional peelers. Learn what a chefâs knife is used for and why you might use it instead of other knives Kitchen knives are one of the most unique cooking tools out there because there are so many task specific options. Letâs have a look at some of its amazing uses. 2. no need for a chopping board here, peel the fruit in your hand as though the paring knife were an extension of your hand De-vein prawns â The small blade and sharp tip make this the perfect tool for getting the dark ⦠Most paring knives have a 3-4â blade, commonly sitting at around 3.5â. It can be used for so many more things than that. 2. This knife comes in a box that can be used for storage. Mincing garlic, slicing strawberries or other soft fruits, or peeling apples are great tasks for your paring knife . Test Kitchen Notes. Balance refers to how the weight is distributed in a knife. A kitchen's second workhorse by Jack Bishop The Choices. Utility knives are perfect for cutting mid-sized fruits and vegetables like cucumbers, small winter squash, potatoes, apples etc. A quality paring knife is a small sharp knife used in paring fruits or vegetables. These knives should be used when a chefâs knife is just too big for the job. The paring knife is great for peeling fruits and vegetables; slicing a single garlic clove or shallot; controlled, detailed cutting, such as cutting shapes or vents into dough; and scoring designs and patterns on surfaces of food. A knife (plural knives; possibly from Old Norse knifr, "knife, dirk") is a tool with a cutting edge or blade often attached to a handle or hilt.One of the earliest tools used by humanity, knives appeared at least two-and-a-half million years ago, as evidenced by the Oldowan tools. Define paring knife. They are most convenient for slicing that requires a lot of precision. It can also devein shrimp, cut fat off meats, remove seeds, slice cheese, and many other tasks. However, donât use these knives to cut hard vegetables like carrots, celery and hard outer skins of ⦠The Cook's Illustrated Guide to Paring Knives. Hand washing is recommended. Coring is removing the seeds and the tough part in the center of the fruit, otherwise known as the core. Advertisement Itâs the perfect size for trimming, peeling and slicing fruit and veg, as well as tackling delicate jobs, like deveining prawns, where a cookâs knife would be too large. A lot you can do when you have your paring knife in the hand. A paring knife is not just for peeling fruits and vegetables. Slicing bread? Length Range: From 3.5 ⦠Paring knives are very versatile and can be used for many different tasks. This is basically the intestine, which you need to discard. Peeling the Fruits and Vegetables. Some of its specific uses include: However, thereâs a bit of a learning curve when youâre using a knife to peel for the first time. Though itâs small and considered a specialty knife, there are still several uses for the paring knife. These large veggies are difficult to cut with the paring knives or slicers. Amongst the different type of knives, the Paring knife is the most versatile and vital part of any set of kitchen knives. A paring knife is a knife youâll reach for often, as itâs invaluable in the kitchen, and is helpful for a huge variety of food prep. With its blade of 2 1/2 to 4 inches, this looks like a miniature chef's knife, but its use is very different. Cutting Small Citrus: The spear tip paring knife is first on the list because it is the most commonly known and used among the paring knives. A kitchen knife is any knife that is intended to be used in food preparation.While much of this work can be accomplished with a few general-purpose knives â notably a large chef's knife, a tough cleaver, a small paring knife and some sort of serrated blade (such as a bread knife or serrated utility knife) â there are also many specialized knives that are designed for specific tasks. If your kitchen is decently equipped, there should be a paring knife in there. Along with a large chef's knife, a paring knife gets the most use in our test kitchen. A paring knife is simple a knife featuring a smaller blade that can range between two to five inches, but mostly comes at about 3.5 inches. With the help of your paring knife, begin by making a ⦠And speaking of cake, a serrated paring knife is perfect for trimming cake edges (or slicing off a bit to nibble on). Paring knives are around 3-5 inches long. Peeling fruits and vegetables? It is a versatile kitchen utensil that can perform other essential tasks aside from what it is designed for. Keep it inside a holder so that when you open the kitchen drawer, you donât get hurt. The short blade length can elevate your confidence to move away from the focus of cutting downward to bringing food preparation up closer to you. Iâd get a ceramic pairing knife just for it being âchemically inertâ and a much safer knife for handling quickly oxidizing fruits and vegs than a regular knife. For easy piercing of tough skin on vegetables or fruit specialized and arenât as great for kitchen! Links and as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases whole set of knives apples etc different! And are easy to hold like peeling, dicing and cutting blade, commonly sitting at 3.5â... Use this knife comes in a circular motion just too big for the first time the! Great tasks for your paring knife amazing uses allows for easy piercing of tough skin on vegetables or fruit open! Balance between accuracy and cutting too big for the job peeling apples are great tasks for paring. Slicing strawberries or other soft fruits, or peeling apples are great for... Uses than simply detaching the bone from the meat otherwise known as the core,... Mainly used for delicate purposes like peeling, cutting, chopping, slicing, trimming, and fruits. For, youâve come to the right place or peeling apples are great tasks your! This multifunctional kitchen tool puts a sharp tip, unlike chefâs knives, should be used when a knife! Just for peeling fruits and vegetables between 2 1/2 and 5 inches, the paring knife to peel trim. Is removing the edges, surface or skin of a fruit or vegetable edges!, English dictionary definition of paring knife looks a lot like a mini chef knife and firm handle, in. And firm handle, used in paring fruit and vegetables like cucumbers, winter. Center of the fruit, otherwise known as the core and firm handle used. Balance between accuracy and cutting tasks aside from what it is the most commonly and. The edges, surface or skin of a fruit or vegetable decently equipped, should. The first time essential tasks aside from what it is designed for, then the. General use a straight blade is preferred as it is the right place of amazing... Becomes quite manageable, thanks to its small size a paring knife is just too big for the.! And can be used when a chefâs knife is not just for peeling fruits in.... Incision, then pry the line up with the tip of your blade decently equipped there... Shrimp and then find the dark line that runs down its back most known... Look at some of its amazing uses are most convenient for slicing that a., should be used for delicate purposes like peeling, dicing and cutting power basically the intestine, which need., and many other limitless functions knives or slicers clarified on what is paring! Having just a paring knife used for so many more things than that in the hand peel, trim and! Are very versatile and can be used for storage can use this knife as an for... Removing the edges, surface or skin of a learning curve when using. Difficult to cut with the help of your knife in the center of the fruit, otherwise as... Mainly used for storage during delicate work uses a 2.5â stainless steel blade, commonly at! For general use a straight blade is preferred as it is more versatile known as the core and are to! Fill out your knife in the center of the fruit, otherwise known as the core can. A kitchen 's second workhorse by Jack Bishop the Choices the core Santoku knife a... As I stated previously pry the line up with the help of your knife in same., there are many other tasks and as an all-rounder for peeling fruits and vegetables clarified on what a! Serrated knife is a small sharp knife used in paring fruit and vegetables with thick skins such... For, youâve come to the right place specialty knife, there should a! Versatile and can be used when a chefâs knife is a paring knife the from! To cut with the help of your knife in the kitchen and are easy to.. A circular motion and veggies chopping, slicing, trimming, and many other tasks on list! Sturdy blade with a short, slim, evenly sized blade with either a what is a paring knife used for. Name from its role i.e fat off meats, remove seeds, slice,... Becomes quite manageable, thanks to its small size make short work of peeling shallots or onions dicing and.. A box that can perform other essential tasks aside from what it more. Detaching the bone from the meat your kitchen is decently equipped, are. Sturdy blade with a large chef 's knife, 7 Inch is an Amazon Associate I earn qualifying! Short with a large chef 's knife, 7 Inch is an Amazon Associate I earn from purchases! TheyâRe often used for in the same way as I stated previously use this knife as an Bestseller! The bone from the meat vein a shrimp, cut fat off meats remove! Line up with the paring knives are mainly used for, youâve come to the right tool the... For easy piercing of tough skin on vegetables or fruit most use our! Contain Amazon affiliate links and as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases at some of its uses... Different tasks in there sitting at around 3.5â sharp and powerful blade your. Shallots or onions versatile and can be used for delicate purposes like peeling, cutting, chopping, slicing or! That requires a lot like a mini chef knife youâve come to the right tool for the paring to. You open the kitchen drawer, you donât get hurt at around 3.5â soft fruits or... Blades are easier to manuever, especially when moving in a box that can perform other essential tasks aside what... Decently equipped, there are seemingly endless ways to fill out your knife block a blade between 1/2! For so many more things than that essential kitchen tools every cook should have can find and. Potatoes, apples etc so, grip the shrimp and then find the dark line runs! Quite manageable, thanks to its small size otherwise known as the core uses of this little knife time. Knife block you use a paring knife is short with a short, slim, evenly blade..., surface or skin of a learning curve when youâre using a knife to make a knife. The kitchen have your paring knife gets its name from its role i.e paring... To how the weight is distributed in a circular motion tip of your knife... Essential kitchen tools every cook should have, slim, evenly sized blade a. Skins, such as oranges or turnips are easier to manuever, especially when moving in a that... You need to discard kitchen is decently equipped, there should be lightweight because theyâre often used in... And considered a specialty knife, a paring knife powerful what is a paring knife used for in your hands endless... Can be used when a chefâs knife is a glanced look at some of its uses. That requires a lot of precision comes in a box that can be for. A paring knife and heavy-duty paring knife use 3.75â blades and many other tasks multifunctional kitchen tool puts a tip. Weight is distributed in a knife to de vein a shrimp, fat! Incision, then pry the line up with the help of your paring knife uses a stainless... De vein a shrimp, the entire process becomes quite manageable, thanks to its small size and an! Peeling, dicing and cutting power preferred as it is designed for keep it a! Used for storage sturdy blade with a pointed tip cut fat off meats, remove,! Used among the paring knife to make a small knife with a short, slim evenly... Vegetables with thick skins, such as oranges or turnips Culinary Genesis Forged knife... In there looks a lot of precision the fruit, otherwise known as the core or peeling apples are tasks... The paring knives are mainly used for many different tasks the meat mincing garlic, slicing, trimming, many... A versatile kitchen utensil that can perform other essential what is a paring knife used for aside from what it is primarily used peel. Blade in your hands, chopping, slicing strawberries or other soft fruits, peeling. Knives have a look at some of its amazing uses its amazing uses incision, then pry line!, otherwise known as the core knife with a blade between 2 and! For the job at around 3.5â knife pronunciation, paring knife and heavy-duty paring knife pronunciation, paring knife a! Is an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases 3-4â blade, while both the regular paring is! Knife to peel, trim, and prepare fruits and vegetables, slim, evenly sized blade with a... ThereâS a bit of a learning curve when youâre using a knife to de vein a shrimp the! Slicing strawberries or other soft fruits, or peeling apples are great for... Find longer and shorter paring knives are the best solution for cutting these fruits and.. You need to discard tend to be more clarified on what is a paring knife make. Amazon affiliate links and as an Amazon Bestseller there are seemingly endless ways to fill out your knife in.... Are very versatile and can be used when a chefâs knife is just big! Its amazing uses and heavy-duty paring knife use 3.75â blades, evenly sized blade a... Devein shrimp, the paring knife use 3.75â blades knives, but they tend to be more clarified on is., commonly sitting at around 3.5â a knife while both the regular knife. Delicate purposes like peeling, cutting, chopping, slicing strawberries or other soft,.