So can you chop....

[Judy from Boise]

Like they do on Food network, with the chef knife, the knuckles, and the up down motion?


I have never tried, but I think that will be my project for the new year!

 

[FSUDisneyGirl]

It makes me soooo nervous! I feel like I'm gonna chop the ends of my knuckles off!

 

[Angelhalo]

I am really good with a knife. my husband likes to just stand there and watch me. But, I had training. My college minor is in food and nutrition, so it was something I had to learn. I had to take a lot of different cooking classes but my favorite was quantity food production like what Robert Irvine does without the insane time limit! LOL!

 

[nmmom95]

I'm no Iron Chef, but I'm getting better at it. I like to smash garlic cloves with a chef's knife. I learned that from Rachael Ray.

 

[kathie859]

I love to cook and, like you, decided to really work on my knife skills. Good grief--having decent knives and knowing how to use them really makes cooking so much easier! After buying really decent pots and pans, good knives and cutting skills are good to have.

OP--good luck! You'll be so happy you learned good knife technique.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Not even close. I feel like I can't control what I'm cutting and I still cut too slow. So I just usually hack at things. I'm so bad. And I have that chopper thing from pampered chef and I'm satisfied with the speed of cutting in that manner.

It cracks me up during the onion scene in Julie and Julia when Meryl Streep is striving to cut those onions like crazy.

 

[Judy from Boise]

I have recently upgraded my pots and skillets, and will now work on knives.......I have a full set of Chicago cutlery, if I got them sharpened would you consider them good? I also ordered some new Rachel Ray bakeware for my DH to give me for Christmas!

 

[Judy from Boise]

I am really good with a knife. my husband likes to just stand there and watch me. But, I had training. My college minor is in food and nutrition, so it was something I had to learn. I had to take a lot of different cooking classes but my favorite was quantity food production like what Robert Irvine does without the insane time limit! LOL!

I love that show but it breaks my heart when he thrown away pans of food cause it isn't perfect!

 

[Angelhalo]

I love that show but it breaks my heart when he thrown away pans of food cause it isn't perfect!

Me too! Donate it to a shelter or something for goodness sakes!

 

[Eeyores Butterfly]

Yep! I used to work in a Hy-Vee kitchen and learned how to very quickly. It did take a little time to get comfortable with it and not feel like I was going to kill myself or an innocent bystander, we use some pretty big (and sharp) knives. But now it's so easy.

 

[Judy from Boise]

Me too! Donate it to a shelter or something for goodness sakes!

my thought exactly....like the huge platter of slightly charred chicken breast.....that could have been a feast for a shelter....heck I would of pureed it for southwest soup, and said the char was on purpose



I'm inspired by you that are good....I am gong to get there.

 

[Angelhalo]

my thought exactly....like the huge platter of slightly charred chicken breast.....that could have been a feast for a shelter....heck I would of pureed it for southwest soup, and said the char was on purpose



I'm inspired by you that are good....I am gong to get there.

You can do it! It is awkward at first but it gets more natural the more you do it. Alton Brown had a whole episode about knives and how to hold them and sharpen them etc etc. Maybe check Youtube and see if you can find it. If not, I'm sure there are other videos on youtube about chopping!

 

[diznygirl]

I can sort of do it. But I don't have a good set of knives. My brother is a cook and I've used his knives so that's how I know mine are bad! Mine are like cutting with a spoon compared to his. I feel a lot safer with mine!

 

[denisem]

No, and that's one of many skills I'd like to master.

Guess it takes regular practice as I have a decent set of knives (Wusthoff) that sharpen like a dream, but I still tend to draw blood when I'm rushing.

 

[charming23]

I am working on it. I have been teaching myself for a few months and hope to have it down by next year.

 

[snarlingcoyote]

I guess I never thought about it before. The recipe says chop or dice, I chop or dice - under cold running water for onions, mind you.

I learned to cook as a child, starting at a bout 3ish, I guess. Knives are just part of cooking. I think I was 6 or 7 or so before I was entrusted with really sharp knives, and then only for peeling apples and such. Maybe 4th grade when I was allowed to start to seriously chop ingredients? I was in junior high when I mastered the art of it, I guess.

And yes, yes, I do still have a lot of odd little scars on my fingers, why do you ask?

 

[ilovepcot]

I could never do it until I bought a santoku knife made by Wusthof. It's the kind you see the chefs use on the cooking shows to dice with speed. Had to practice *very slowly* until I got the hang of it...you can cut a finger slam off with one of those knives but they're worth every cent you pay for them.

 

[lacrosse_lady72]

I'm pretty good with a knife. I think the most important thing is that you have a good set of knives to do anything like the chefs do... you're not going to cut anything with dull knives and you'll risk injuring yourself more than you would with a good knife.

 

[powellrj]

NO, but I really don't have any good knives. I tend to use cheap on because my kids tend to ruin them. Once they leave home, thats on my list of things to buy!

The skill I have that I am proud of is I can crack an egg with one hand!