How to choose your kitchen knives?
6 overarching categories
How to choose your kitchen knives? Is your knowledge of the diverse range of kitchen knives and their main functions a bit lacking? Know that you are one of many to be in the dark about this subject and that it is completely understandable to be a bit lost in the vast cutlery universe!
Each kitchen knife has a specific shape, length and thickness that determine the knife’s main function. These special features inform us about each knife’s desired function. These features are brought into consideration during the design process and are also influenced by the cultural specificities that are more or less pronounced depending on where the knife is manufactured: for example, the “Made in France” knives are not designed with the same intensions as are Japanese knives. Tradition is an integral part of the spirit of a kitchen knife.
Let’s get back to our knives. They are commonly grouped into 6 main categories, covering the entire range of kitchen tasks:
- Multipurpose knives: the chef knife is appropriately labelled as a multipurpose knife. The blade, spanning 15-25 cm (approx. 6-10 in) in length, allows you to complete numerous kitchen tasks. They are ideal for chopping, slicing, dicing and mincing vegetables, herbs and meats.
- Paring knives: made for working delicately and with precision. Frame lock, slicing knives and peelers are all part of this category.
- Serrated knives were created for peeling and cutting fruits and vegetables.
- Knives specifically designed for cutting meat, fish or shellfish such as boning, fillet and oyster knifes.
- 100% professional knives: have become TB Groupe’s specialty. These knives are mainly used by butchers but may also be used in the home.
- Knives of Japanese origin: the Santoku ranks in as number one. This knife is extremely precise. TB Groupe’s highly successful Santoku knife is created using Evercut® technology.
How to choose your kitchen knives? Features to take into consideration
Once you have decided which kitchen knife suits your purpose best, it is highly advised to dwell upon the blade’s main “physical” characteristics whose performance depends on the following factors:
- Cutting capacity: a component that has a direct correlation with the manufacturer’s accumulated knowledge and the innovative techniques they employ. TB Groupe’s R&D department works daily towards making up-to-date techniques for creating kitchen knives with extremely strong and efficient blades.
- Wear resistance and durability: unfortunately cutting edges that dull rapidly are rather common amongst certain low-end and mid-range knives. How can you choose a kitchen knife with a long-lasting cutting edge? By choosing a TB Groupe product of course!
- Manufacturing materials: TB Groupe has also got this point covered by choosing raw materials that are pure and that withhold this knife manufacturer’s reputation as leader in French knife sales.
- Ease of maintenance and resistance to corrosion: one of Tarrerias-Bonjean’s trademarks.
TB Groupe knives: Professional quality adapted to home use
The blade, assembly process and handling: TB Groupe’s knowledge
Countless professionals and an ever-growing portion of the public trust TB Groupe.
It should be noted that this cutlery company from Thiers, France puts a great amount of attention into every detail of its kitchen knives manufactured in the Auvergne region.
The blade is this tool’s essential element. Its cutting edge is created with the utmost care in order to produce a quality tool with optimal cutting capacity.
Another one of TB Groupe’s kitchen knives’ features is that they have full tang blades. A very large portion of the knives we manufacture have this characteristic.
The tang is the back portion of the blade that extends or connects to the handle. Full tang blades guarantee that a high-end kitchen knife is durable and robust.
Whether they are riveted, glued or injected, TB Groupe’s kitchen knives have handles that are extremely comfortable to use. Some models are made with the latest generation synthetic materials (ABS and POM) that add to their ergonomic qualities.
Steel knives vs. ceramic knives
Tarrerias-Bonjean can be proud of the fact that it offers superior quality kitchen knives made with two of today’s most trendy materials: steel and ceramic.
Steel is an alloy of iron, chrome and carbon blended in perfect proportions to create kitchen knives with ultra-durable cutting edges. Additional elements such as titanium reinforce their intrinsic qualities.
It should be noted that stainless steel knives have a higher percentage of chrome, significantly increasing their rust-resistant qualities.
Ceramic kitchen knives are completely rust-resistant by nature. High concentrations of zirconium oxide offers them strength and a long lasting cutting edge that is guaranteed not to dull and to help you perform every kitchen task with ease.
Ceramic is an extremely hygienic material with a non-stick surface that does not absorb or spread odors. If you choose a TB Groupe ceramic kitchen knife you will never want to go back to using any other type of knife!