What is the purpose of a paring knife with a blade that curves in?
My knife block came with this knife. It was labeled a paring knife, but since the blade is curved the opposite direction of most paring knifes, it really doesn’t function the same way. I keep trying to figure out why I would need a knife that curves that direction, but I haven’t come up with anything. What can this knife do that other knives cannot?
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This type of blade is best for fruit and vegetable carving and peeling in your hand. Imagine peeling an apple while holding the apple in your less dominant hand and the knife in your dominant hand. Now imagine peeling the apple toward yourself. That “birds beak curve” helps make the job easier.
I tried that. Maybe I’m just too accustomed to the other kind of knife, because it didn’t feel easier. I’ll have to try it again sometime; it bothers me to have something I don’t use.
It bothers me to have something I don’t use.
Then give it away or toss it and buy one with a traditional blade. I have one serrated one and one straight blade…I can’t live w/out either of them.
It makes it easier to peel round fruits like apples and pears.
the knife you are referring to is actually a peeling knife and it can also be used for decorating, it makes a great tool when you want to make rosettes out of vegetables, or decorating the edge of a watermelon like for a watermelon basket. Taking the tops out of strawberries with out cutting off the top of the strawberry.
Peeling mostly. Is that a Wüsthof?
From Jimmy Wales:
”Peeling or tourné knife. Also known as a Bird’s Beak Knife, a peeling knife has a pointed tip that curves downward (sometimes upward) and from side to side (towards the blade). It is often used for many of the same tasks as paring knives. It can be used to cut decorative garnishes (such as rosettes or fluted mushrooms), slice soft fruits, or to remove skins and blemishes. It is also used to make a cut known as a tourné cut in vegetables such as carrots.”
@everephebe No, it’s Farberware. Wüsthofs are nice, but not within my budget.
If it has a serrated edge, it may be to section a citrus fruit. It cuts out the little orange or grapefruit sections very neatly. (It may work even if it isn’t serrated, I suppose.)
@bobbinhood Ok that makes sense.
The handle/style kinda looks like a Wüsthof, except the blade itself. Well, the ricasso looks a little thick and clumsy for a Wüsthof. I was puzzled, I thought maybe it was an older model or something.
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