If you’re a cheese lover, then there are chances you’ll surely have a beautiful set of cheese knives in your kitchen. Using a stubby or shovel-shaped knife for chunking the cheese or a flat spade-shaped knife isn’t necessarily the only option for serving the cheese.
Though, they are good for slicing but certainly not best for breaking down large cheese pieces into bite-size ones.
So, what should a cheese lover do? Our suggestion would be to get a Cheese Knife Set for that! Furthermore, we will also share some tips on maintaining the quality of cheese knives.
Thus, without further waiting, let’s discuss something helpful for you!
Different Types of Cheese Knife Sets
Now, when it comes to the right Cheese Knives, it’s important to consider the type of cheese you’ll be serving. There are different types of knives designed for specific cheese varieties. It ensures proper serving and cutting.
1. Cheese Plane or Slicer
We consider these cheese knife sets to be perfect for the semi-hard and cutting hard cheeses. If used professionally, they can create even slices for serving.
2. Soft Cheese Knife
This type of cheese knife is ideal for soft cheese, like Camembert or Brie. These knives come with a sharp edge that cuts through the delicate interior without sticking.
If you’re planning to buy them then go for wooden cheese knives set. They make it look more appealing and also improve the cutting experience.
3. Cheese Cleaver
A cheese cleaver knife is for hard or firm cheeses such as Brick Cheese or Gouda Cheese. Mostly these types of knives are best to cut chunks or wedges.
It looks more like a mini meat cleaver, so it’s one of the reasons to add to your cheese knife drawer. It helps divide up those larger pieces of cheese without any discomfort or pressure on the hands.
4. Pronged Knife
A pronged knife, on the other hand, is like a multi-purpose cheese knife. It’s a must-have for every cheese lover. The pronged knife can typically cut anything– from firm aged cheddar to a soft feta. But, it’s not quite strong when using it against hard cheese such as Parmesan. In short, we call it the jack of all cheese knives.
Furthermore, the prolonged tip can be used for serving or just looking deeply at the beautiful cheese of your choice!
5. Flat Cheese Knife
As the name suggests, it’s also called a cheese chisel. It’s ideal for either shaving or chipping hard cheeses such as Aged Cheddar or Gouda Cheese. Now, the blade is flat and short, so, you can apply some force straight down and cut down small pieces without any trouble or crushing the surroundings.
How To Choose A Cheese Knife Set?
When choosing the right cheese knife set, it’s essential that it also enhances your cheese-serving experience. We have curated a list that’ll help you figure out the longevity of your cheese knife set.
1. Look For Quality Materials
Our recommendation is to look for knives that are made from high-quality materials.
Such as stainless steel blades and durable handles are best for kitchen use. For your information, well-constructed knives usually last longer. Moreover, they also offer a smooth cutting experience. You can also look for a custom knife set that you can change according to your kitchen needs.
2. Choose Cheese Knives With Comfortable Handles
One of the best options is to choose cheese knives that come with ergonomic handles. Besides, serving cheese may take some time. So, it’s best to have a comfortable grip for precision and also the ease of use.
3. Variety of Blades
We would recommend going for a custom kitchen knife set that comes with a variety of blades. Now, these blades are best for different types of cheese. To get a better cheese-cutting experience, you should include a soft cheese knife, cheese slicer, or hard cheese knife.
4. Versatility
Always look for a set that offers versatility whenever you use it. There are types of knives that you can use for many functions. They’re best for spreading and cutting. It will offer you more value for your investment than knives that you can use only for one purpose.
Well, these were some points you can choose from your favorite cheese knives. Now, let’s head on to the part that you have been looking forward to– how to care for your cheese knife set.
Caring For Your Cheese Knives
1. Try To Keep your Knives Clean and Sharp
Most knife experts recommend that all knives should be honed regularly at home. They can also be taken to a professional sharpener once a year. The main reason why experts say this is that it will avoid tugging or pulling the cheese apart when slicing.
Another thing is to always hand wash your knives timely after use. You can use a damp cloth to ensure your knives stay clean.
2. Avoid Using it on Hard Surfaces
It’s best advised to refrain from cutting on hard surfaces such as glass or using ceramic plates. You can prefer using a personalized cheese board with knives. This ensures the sharpness of the blades.
3. Try Using Appropriate Knives For Cutting Cheese
For best results, it is best to match the type of cheese to the appropriate knife. For example, soft cheeses might need a different type of blade than using hard or crumby ones. Doing so will ensure optimal cutting and serving.
4. Ensure You Store Your Knives in Proper Condition
To keep the condition of the knives functioning, you should store your cheese knives in a designated case. It will help prevent any major accidents and also protect the blades from any damage.
Common FAQs About Cheese Knives
Now, as you have learned how to choose and care for your cheese knives, here are some questions that most people have in mind. Don’t worry, we have also offered the best answers for that. Who knows you might clear some of your doubts through them. Let’s start.
- What Knives are Best For Cutting Cheese?
- Why are there differently-shaped cheese knives?
- Why do most cheese knives have holes in them?
- How many cheese knives are needed?
- Do cheese knives need to be sharpened regularly?
Presently, if you don’t have any cheese knives in your kitchen storage, then we suggest using a small paring knife. They are best for cutting firm and hard cheeses. Moreover, you can use a thin kitchen knife for cutting soft cheeses.
We simply explain to you. Just like in the kitchen, the chefs have different styles of knives for cutting, chopping, and slicing different types of meats, and veggies.
Cheese lovers use different cheese knives for the difference. The cheese cutting is divided into two groups. For soft cheese, people prefer using thin blades. It prevents the cheese from sticking. Hard cheese requires a stout blade that chips out the small pieces easily.
With holes, it gives less surface area for the cheese to stick to the knife. Moreover, the knife user won’t have to scrap it off with another utensil or tool.
For best results, you need a set of three knives. The reason why we’re saying this is because one knife will be used for hard cheeses, and another knife can cut semi-hard cheeses.
Lastly, a third knife to cut or slice soft cheeses. These three knives will complement your cheese knife set too.
If you need a perfectly, ready-to-slicing cheese knife set, then you should sharpen them once a week. But modern experts suggest knives be sharpened regularly at home once a year.
Penning It all down
In this blog, we tried to explain about types of cheese knives, tips to take care of them, and how you should choose them. We hope that through our FAQ section, you might have cleared some common doubts about cheese knives and how you should keep them sharp with the best slicing experiences.
If you need to buy things such as cutting boards, wooden gifts, bowls, candle holders, and more wooden kitchenware, then shop from our website today. All our products are handcrafted from olive wood that complements your kitchen!