what are the different cheese knives for

You can of course use regular knives, but there is just something about having the right tools for the job!

• 1. Cheese knives for soft cheese Soft cheeses like brie or Double Crème have a soft interior and could easily stick to the knife. ...
• 2. Cheese knives for slicing The cheese planes or slicers are used for shaving even slices of semi-hard or hard cheeses.
• 3. Cheese cleavers for hard and firm cheese ...
• 4. Cheese forks

Full Answer

What is the best cheese knife?

When choosing your set, look for at least the following basics:

• Chisel knife
• Cheese fork
• Parm knife (or heart knife)
• Soft cheese knife — these knives are recognizable due to their cutouts, which are designed for ease of slicing soft cheese

What are the different types of cheese knives?

Types of Cheese Knives

• Soft Cheese Knife. A soft cheese knife, also known as an open work blade knife, features holes in the blade to keep soft cheeses from sticking due to the minimal ...
• Cheese Spreader. ...
• Gorgonzola Knife. ...
• Pronged Cheese Knife. ...
• Slim Blade Cheese Knife. ...
• Flat Cheese Knife. ...
• Narrow Plane Knife. ...
• Cheddar Cheese Knife. ...
• Parmesan Knife. ...
• Hard Cheese Knife. ...

How to choose the right cheese knife?

• Don’t buy knife sets
• Make sure you buy knives that fit your size and hands
• Up keep the maintenance of your knives
• Use the right knife for the right job
• Please handle things properly and carefully when knives are around your little fingers

What do different cheese Kives do?

Just like chefs in the kitchen have different knives for cutting different fruits, veggies, or meats, cheese lovers use different knives for different cheeses. Soft cheeses require perforated or thin blades to prevent the cheese from sticking, while hard cheeses like parmesan require a stout blade to chip away small pieces.

What are the knives in a cheese set for?

The pronged cheese knife, or forked-tipped spear, is a multipurpose tool that allows you to cut a piece of cheese and then pick it up with the prongs at the end for serving or plating. The narrow blade offers a minimal surface area so soft cheeses don't stick.

What kind of knife is best for cutting cheese?

What knife is best for cutting cheese? If you don't have any cheese knives on hand, we'd recommend using a small paring knife for cutting firm-to-hard cheeses and a thin kitchen knife or butter knife for soft cheeses.

What is special about cheese knives?

These knives' very thin blades, sometimes paired with holes on the blades, help make cutting soft cheeses a smooth, "stick-free" process, he adds. One stellar example is this narrow Boska knife. The stainless steel blade, which has a nonstick coating, allows for minimal contact with your cheese to prevent sticking.

What is the cheese knife with holes for?

soft cheesesSince soft cheeses are often sticky, the soft cheese knife (sometimes called the open blade knife) is filled with holes to reduce the space for soft and semi-soft cheeses to stick to. Yet, its blade is sharp for slicing into gooey cheeses with bloomy rinds, like Brie, Camembert or chevre.

Are cheese knives worth it?

With the right cheese knife, you can slice off a piece of cheese more easily than you can with a regular knife. Hard cheeses fare best with one kind of knife, while soft cheeses require a different approach. In addition to making it easier to slice, cheese knives also give you more aesthetically-pleasing slices.

What are Santoku knives good for?

The best uses for a Santoku knife Best used for: Cutting meat. Slicing cheese. Slicing, chopping or dicing fruits, vegetables and nuts.

Is a cheese slicer necessary?

Though any blade is capable of cutting cheese, this gadget solves many of the pitfalls you might encounter with a regular knife, like pieces sticking to the blade, or slices turning out uneven (leaving you with a grilled cheese that's molten in some parts and still cold in others).

Why do some knives have holes in the blade?

Holes on the knife are a special feature, which serves various benefits, including minimizing cutting friction, making knives less weighty, ease in storage, anti-stickiness, brand recognition, ease in opening a knife, and beautifying the knife. The holes show that you cannot take anything for granted.

How do you cut Brie for crackers?

How to Cut Brie Cheese for a CheeseboardLet the brie cheese reach room temperature. ... Place your brie on a cutting board. ... Gather your tools. ... Trim the rind. ... Cut the wheel in half. ... Slice the cut half into small wedges. ... Place the brie on your cheese platter. ... Mix in other cheeses.

How do you use a forked cheese knife?

0:101:10Know your Cheese Knives - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd if you look at the edge and has a nonstick surface to help the cheese come off then also it hasMoreAnd if you look at the edge and has a nonstick surface to help the cheese come off then also it has this forked end but that's for easy to take slices. And move them about your cheese tray.

What is a cheese spade for?

Small Spade Small spade is a knife that can be used to cut hard cheeses into wedges; and, then spear the cheese with the tip to pick it off the cutting board and into your mouth.

What is a fish knife used for?

The knife's sharp point is excellent at cutting through the fish's skin, while its wide, flat spatula blade makes short work of separating the skin from the flesh. You can use a fish knife to make strategic cuts that simplify skin removal, then turn it and use the blade to lift the meat from the bones onto the fork.

How do you cut cheese?

0:3542:03How To Cut Every Cheese | Method Mastery | Epicurious - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipYou don't have to worry about creating smooth even slices you can see these little white crystallineMoreYou don't have to worry about creating smooth even slices you can see these little white crystalline bits and these crystals are actually clusters of proteins or amino acids that recalcified.

How do you cut block cheese?

Luckily, breaking down blocks of cheese is easy to do with a chef's knife or skeleton knife. Simply slice the cheese into eighth-inch-thick planks, cutting those planks into smaller rectangles as needed. You can also cut rectangular-shaped slices diagonally in half to create triangles.

How do you use cheese cutting tools?

0:171:10Know your Cheese Knives - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo when you get the parmesan in a wheel you can actually use this straight down to break off pieces.MoreSo when you get the parmesan in a wheel you can actually use this straight down to break off pieces. And then you can come back and use it like a chef's knife to break it up.

How do you cut brie cheese?

How to Cut Brie Cheese for a CheeseboardLet the brie cheese reach room temperature. ... Place your brie on a cutting board. ... Gather your tools. ... Trim the rind. ... Cut the wheel in half. ... Slice the cut half into small wedges. ... Place the brie on your cheese platter. ... Mix in other cheeses.

What is a cheese plane?

The cheese planes or slicers are used for shaving even slices of semi-hard or hard cheeses. 3. Cheese cleavers for hard and firm cheese. Cheese cleavers or cheese spades are excellent for cutting hard or firm cheese into both wedges and chunks. 4.

What knife to use for soft cheese?

1. Cheese knives for soft cheese. Soft cheeses like brie or Double Crème have a soft interior and could easily stick to the knife. To make a cleaner cut and keep the shape of the delicate interior you can use a knife with a very thin straight blade or a cheese knife with holes.

Do you need a separate knife for cheese?

When you serve cheese remember to provide a separate cheese knife for each cheese, and encourage guests not to mix the knives to avoid mixing the flavors of the cheese.

What is a chisel knife made of?

Many chisel knives are made entirely out of stainless steel. Chisel knives are less useful than cheese spreaders and plane knives because they usually offer more cutting surfaces than most homeowners need. However, you should always keep a chisel knife in your kitchen arsenal if you often have guests over and prepare cheese boards.

Why do cheese knives have holes?

Soft cheese knives have holes to prevent sticking and minimize a mess when you cut cheese. The holes make it easier to serve individual slices of soft cheese without having to touch the sharp end of the knife. Holes also reduce friction and allow the blade to glide through the cheese for an easier cut.

What type of knives are used for cheese?

Cheese spreaders, plane knives, chisel knives, and open work blades are the main types of cheese knives. Specialty cheese knives include gorgonzola knives, hard cheese knives, parmesan knives, and cheddar knives, and they are ideal for hard cheeses. Cheese spreaders, gorgonzola knives, and cheese wire are perfect for cutting and serving soft cheese.

What is a parmesan knife?

As the name suggests, parmesan knives are a must-have utensil for fans of parmesan cheese. The pointed tip that parmesan knives have make it easy to serve parmesan or put it away at the end of the night. One edge of a parmesan knife is sharp enough to easily slice through chunks of parmesan.

Why do you need a cheese knife?

Whether you prefer soft cheese like brie or hard cheese like cheddar, you likely need a cheese knife to make them easier to serve. With that said, what are the types of cheese knives and what kind of cheese are they ideal for?

What are plane knives used for?

Plane knives are sharp on both sides at the tip and are ideal for hard cheeses such as Colby, cheddar, and pepper jack. They are completely flat, so you can use the side to tamp down semi-soft cheeses, or to make it easier to cut. Plane knives make it easy to serve cheese, and you can use the tip similar to a fork.

What is an open work knife?

Also known as soft cheese knives, open work blades are the most distinct-looking cheese knives. They are easy to recognize because open work blades have holes in them. Open work blades are ideal for soft cheeses that can create a mess if you use a regular cheese spreader or plane knife.

What kind of knife do you use for cheese?

Just like chefs in the kitchen have different knives for cutting different fruits, veggies, or meats, cheese lovers use different knives for different cheeses. Soft cheeses require perforated or thin blades to prevent the cheese from sticking, while hard cheeses like parmesan require a stout blade to chip away small pieces. Each shape has a specific purpose!

What are cheese knives?

Cheese knives come in an incredible number of varieties. Short, long, pointy, rounded—whatever you’re looking for, there’s probably a cheese knife out there for you. As a beginner, it can be hard to know which cheese knives are used for what. That’s why we put this guide together so you can wrap your mind around the different options and the cheeses they match with.

What is a soft cheese knife?

Soft Cheese Knife#N#Whether you’re enjoying a fresh mozzarella or slicing off a piece of gorgonzola, the soft cheese knife is the right tool for the job . Soft cheeses naturally stick to your utensils, so soft cheese knives are strategically built to minimize the surface area that cheese can stick to. By being extremely thin or having holes—not unlike Swiss cheese—these knives are key to a smooth, stick-free cheese cutting experience. Your days of having to use a second knife to scrape cheese off the first knife are over!

How to get razor thin slices?

The best way to get consistent, razor-thin slices is a cheese plane. Although many four-sided cheese graters have one built-in, having a hand-held cheese plane can be a great addition to your cheese tool arsenal when you want the convenience of a smaller, more specialized tool.

How many recipes are there for Wisconsin cheese?

If all this talk of cheese has you feeling hungry, try our selection of over 300 handcrafted recipes featuring Wisconsin Cheese. Share your creation with us on Instagram or Facebook and become part of the largest cheese community in the world.

Can you order Wisconsin cheese online?

Try out your new cheese knives by getting your favorite Wisconsin cheeses delivered right to your door with our continuously updated list of cheesemakers and retailers that allow you to order cheese online. Award-winning Wisconsin cheese is just a click away.

Can cheese wire be used on cheese board?

For ultra-delicate cheeses that might get squished with a knife, the cheese wire can be a great way to make cuts without crushing your precious ball of mozzarella. Many cheeseboards even have attachments so your cheese wire can attach directly to the board itself!

1. Soft Cheese Knife

A soft cheese knife is a specific type of knife that is used to cut softer cheeses. The blade is usually serrated and has a sharp point. The blade is also usually shorter than that of other knives.

2. Cheese Spreader

A cheese spreader is another type of knife that you may want to consider purchasing. A cheese spreader has many uses, including spreading soft cheeses onto crackers or bread. It can also be used for cutting harder cheeses into slices and shredding hard cheeses as well.

3. Gorgonzola Knife

This is a multipurpose knife that can be used for cutting soft cheeses and hard cheeses like cheddar and parmesan. It has a semi-sharp edge and is designed to hold its edge well. This model features a blade that has been hardened by quenching or tempering.

4. Pronged Cheese Knife

This type of knife has several prongs on it that help keep the cheese from slipping while you cut it. The prongs also help prevent cross-contamination by keeping the blade clean while you work with other types of food items such as bread or fruits.

5. Slim Blade Cheese Knife

The slim blade cheese knife is a specialized tool for cutting small pieces of soft cheese and other products. The blade of this knife is not very wide, so it can cut through small pieces of cheese. Usually, it has a blade length of 6 inches (15cm). The handle is made of wood or plastic and has a round shape.

6. Flat Cheese Knife

This kind of cheese knife has a flat blade that allows you to cut bigger blocks of cheese easily without any problems. They are usually made from stainless steel and have a wooden handle that provides comfort while using them.

7. Narrow Plane Knife

This type of cheese knife has a narrow blade that is usually about 7 inches long. It is made from stainless steel or carbon steel with a smooth handle.

What is a Gorgonzola knife?

The Gorgonzola knife is specially used for Gorgonzola or Bleu cheese, but one can use it for any variety of soft cheese. Using this knife, cheese can be cut into wedges and rounds. This knife can also be used to spread cheese easily on bread and crackers.

What is the knife used to cut hard cheese?

Many of the knives used for cutting hard cheese, resemble a meat cleaver. The knives used for cutting soft cheese are often angular, and have a forked blade. This helps in making cleaner cuts and precise actions. There are some cheese cutters that are not exactly knives, but are still considered as knives, as they help slice cheese into very thin strips. Certain varieties of hard cheese cannot be cut by regular cheese knives, and hence, a device called the Girolle is used. This device makes scrapings of cheese.

How to cut chunks of cheese with a spade?

To cut chunks of cheese using this knife, all you have to do is insert the tip first, and then slice the blade down, to cut off a chunk. If you are having trouble cutting Parmesan or Mozzarella, this knife is the best choice.

What are cheese knives made of?

Knives that are used to cut cheese are generally made of stainless steel, ...

What is a forked tip knife?

The forked-tipped spear is a two-in-one knife, which is specifically used for cutting hard cheese. The blade is used for dicing the cheese, and the forked tip is used for serving.

What is a cheese slicer?

A cheese slicer is used for obtaining thin slices of semi-hard and hard cheese. The design of the slicer resembles that of a carpenter’s plane, and this knife can even be used to cut hard butter, or peel cucumbers and zucchinis.

What do cheese forks do?

Cheese forks help is cutting cheese, and also serving. Some even use them to hold the cheese in place, while cutting with a different knife. It is used for cutting hard as well as soft cheese, but it works best for cutting hard, aged cheese.

3. What Cheese Knives should You choose?

Do not get overwhelmed by the number of knives available for cheese lovers. This article will help you determine which three are essential and cover all your needs while still having enough overlap to ensure no waiting around during prep time.

4. Where to Buy It?

You can easily find the cheese knife directly on their websites or your local groceries. Besides, like most other kitchen tools, you can find it on Amazon or other e-commerce sites. They always give you such a good deal.

Conclusion about cheese knife types

Now, you know all of the Cheese Knife types and its uses. Hopefully, you get your best one!

Why Trust The Spruce Eats?

Writer and professional cheese eater Christine Clark teaches cheese and pairing classes throughout the United States and is dedicated to helping people expertly get their fill of cheese. Her cheese adoration is so strong that she has a whole podcast dedicated to it. She is a Certified Cheese Professional through the American Cheese Society.

What is a cheese wire?

Instead, you’ll see them reach for a cheese wire, sometimes called a cheese harp. This unassuming little tool makes clean cuts in even the ooziest, crumbliest cheeses with minimal mess. For cheese lovers who like to assemble intricately designed boards or simply want to portion their Brie in exact pieces, a cheese wire will change your life. They’re lightweight, incredibly functional, and will last forever. The wire is pretty durable, but if it happens to break, it’s easy and inexpensive to find a replacement.

What is a Boska knife?

If you ever peek in a cheesemonger’s knife drawer, you will almost certainly see tools by Boska. This Dutch company, which has been around since 1896, designs classic and functional cheese tools that can’t be beaten. The stainless steel soft cheese knife, with its slim blade, is designed to slice an elegant portion of your favorite soft cheeses without sticking or creating friction that will make blue cheeses crumble. The blade is sharp enough to cut into your harder cheeses if you’re in a pinch, but it really shines with the softies. And, it comes with a 10-year guarantee!

What is cheese board art?

Expertly arranged cheese board s are their own art form. If you’re the kind of person whose cheeseboard features edible flowers as garnishes, expert drizzles of honey, jams in jewel tones, and cheese pieces arranged in precise, geometric patterns, you’ll need an eye-catching set of knives to bring everything together.

Why is cheese good in caves?

While age is not synonymous with quality in cheese (or wine or people), well-made cheese can benefit from time spent in a cave to bring out its complexity and concentrate its flavor. For those special cheeses, this is the knife that will serve you best.

What is the storage compartment on a stainless steel tool?

The beautiful set of stainless steel tools gets its very own storage compartment, which happens to be a cheese board.

What is a Japanese knife?

Japanese knives are beloved among food lovers for their functionality and precise, modern design. Santoku-style knives, in particular, are quickly replacing the classic chef’s knives in modern kitchens, thanks to their lighter weight and thinner blade for more precise cutting.

What knife do you use to cut cheese?

Small spade is a knife that can be used to cut hard cheeses into wedges; and, then spear the cheese with the tip to pick it off the cutting board and into your mouth. Additionally, having a sharp tips let you stab directly into a cheese like parmesan and continue cutting with the long end for added strength when cheeses are just too hard. In fact, you find that any cheese knife with a point will be used in a similar fashion.

What is a fork tip spear?

The fork-tipped spear is both a fork and a spear: discuss amongst yourselves. No really, this is one of the most versatile knives you can purchase because it can cut firm cheeses, and then you can pick up cheese to serve yourself or someone else.

Can you use Swiss cheese knives on cheese?

Although this knife looks like Swiss cheese, you’ll only want to use it on soft, sticky cheeses. The holes in the knife keep the gooey cheese from sticking to the blade and ultimately making a huge mess of your cheese service.

Is a cheese fork a knife?

Since a cheese fork is not technically a knife, it seems like an odd addition to this list; however, if you have a cheese knife set, or are looking to invest in one, you’ll probably want to get one of these. The point of a cheese fork is to hold one piece of hard cheese while you go at it with another cheese knife.

Can you use a palette knife on Gorgonzola?

This knife is long and flimsy like a palette knife, and is built to spread soft cheeses. You’re probably asking yourself, “John, but can I use it on Gorgonzola?” Sure can.

What knife is used for chipping cheese?

Of course, judging by the name, you can probably guess what cheese it works best on: Parmesan. The parm knife is great for chipping away at heard cheese blocks of all kinds, not just Parmesan.

What is a cheese knife?

This knife is wide and flat with a sharp edge at the top. This cheese knife is used to break off pieces of softer, crumbly cheeses like a gorgonzola or blue cheese. The wide, flat surface of the knife can then be used to spread those pieces across your bread or crackers. The chisel knife can also be used to cut into semi-soft cheeses like provolone.

What cheeses can you cut with a flat knife?

However, it’s also a very versatile knife that can slice through a large variety of semi-firm cheeses such as cheddar, gouda, and pepper jack. The top can even be pressed into harder cheeses in order to cut them.

Do you need a cheese knife to cut cheese?

Not only do you have to get the pairings right in terms of food items that accompany the cheese, but you also need to be able to properly slice your cheese. That is where a cheese knife comes in handy in order to get a clean cut.

Can you use a cheeseboard spreader on brie?

If you prefer the softer cheese varieties, like goat cheese or Boursin, then this will probably be your go-to item. The spreader also can be used on creamy cheese varieties like brie or Camembert.

The Basics of Cheese Knives

What Cheese Knives Should You get?

Other Cheese Tools to Know

Conclusion

FAQs

• What are the differently shaped cheese knives for? Just like chefs in the kitchen have different knives for cutting different fruits, veggies, or meats, cheese lovers use different knives for different cheeses. Soft cheeses require perforated or thin blades to prevent the cheese from sticking, while hard cheeses like parmesan require a stout blade ...

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