Carving Knife

Carving meat is quite an event at the dinner table. Usually it is done by whoever is at the head of the table and he/she is watched by everyone as it is done. As they wield their carving knife, everyone looks on expectantly as they wait for their meat.

This knife is also known as a slicer and it is bigger than most other knives. It has a large, flat blade and is used for slicing large joints of meat. The thinness of the blade enables the user to cut very precise, thin slices as required. The tip of the blade is very sharp to make the first slice easier and to aid when cutting around the bone. Some knives have a fluted edge to stop meat sticking to the knife. The knife is usually accompanied by a carving fork which is used to pierce deep into the joint, keeping it steady while the knife cuts through.

Before carving meat, it is important to make sure the blade is very sharp as it will cut better and is safer than using a blunt knife. You can purchase a knife sharpener, or use a stone or piece of steel. It also helps to wait for the meat to cool a little, at least 30 minutes, when the meat has become a little tenderer. This will ensure your knife lasts for a maximum time.

One of the best carving sets available is the Kershaw Shun Classic. The set includes the knife and fork and comes in a beautiful presentation box. It is made of carbon stainless steel like most good quality knives and has a lovely round, black Pakkawood handle which also has a stainless steel core. Nice to look at and nice to hold. It is easy to use, even straight from the box and needs no extra sharpening. It slices through all different foods with little effort required. Of course, for this much quality, the price is rather high.

Electric versions are on the market, and many of these have removable blades. These take out a lot of the effort involved in carving meat and make the whole process smoother and quicker. Of course, these are more expensive than standard knives but should remain sharper for longer as less pressure is put on the blade. They have a slightly different appearance to the manual version as the blade is usually serrated. An excellent electric knife is available from Cusinart. It has a removable blade and also comes with a bread knife blade. It cuts through many more cuts of meat than some cheaper knives and is easy to use and easy to clean.

When purchasing a carving knife it is worth visiting a store in which you can test lots of different knives. Although reviews can tell you which knives are supposed to be the best, using a knife is a personal preference depending on how it feels in your hands. It is important to keep your knife well maintained so that it remains in good working order.