Steak knives are essential for cutting through fibrous cuts of meat efficiently. The serrated blades allow for easy carving against the grain, while the handles keep fingers safe. Every kitchen should have at least one set of steak knives, with some having pointed and sharp blades, and others having rounded edges. Careful washing and storage is important to avoid losing them.
Enjoying a good steak or other hearty piece of cooked meat can be a challenge without the assistance of quality steak knives. Steak knives are designed to cut through fibrous cuts of meat much more efficiently than serrated butter knives or plain-bladed paring knives. The serrated blades of the steak knives allow the diner to carve out a bite-sized portion of meat with just a few strokes, while the handles keep the diner’s fingers safely away from the blade itself.
The main challenge of cutting steak or other thick meat is getting through the grain. Muscle tissue could be thought of as the bristles of a broom. The grain of the flesh runs in one direction, like the individual bristles on a broom. If a smooth-bladed knife is positioned in the same direction or grain as the muscles, carving is relatively easy as individual muscles are either split or moved off the blade as it cuts.
If a smooth-edged knife blade is placed against the grain or individual “bristles,” it can only successfully cut a few strands at a time, and it can slip or slide as it does. A serrated knife, on the other hand, can cut through the grain and cut through all the “bristles” as it saws through the flesh. This ability to cut with or against the grain is what gives steak knives their appeal as cutlery.
Every kitchen should have at least one good set of steak knives, if not more. Other types of knives may be able to carve softer meats, but steak knives are designed to handle the demands of cutting stringy meat and fat without slipping or dulling from the process. Using a serrated butter knife can be an exercise in futility, and standard kitchen knives can be too dangerous for younger children to use at the dining room table.
Some steak knives can be very pointed and sharp, while others can have rounded edges and smaller serrations. Steakhouses that cater largely to families may offer their customers large, rounded steak knives, while more upscale cutting boards and steakhouses generally rely on their clientele with sharper cutlery. Be very careful when washing and storing steak knives, as they can get lost in the general population of silverware and cause serious problems for your dishwasher.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
