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Steak Knives

We all have our favorite way of eating steak, some like it pink, some like it to bleed all over their plate like roadkill, some cook steak within an inch of its life . . . but we all agree that it’s important that it is tender so can be cut like a “knife through butter”. Well, choosing the right steak knife will ensure that you’ll be able to cut through your steak easily, but that’s no excuse for not buying a decent piece of steak and cooking it properly.

So, how do you go about choosing the best steak knives. If you like to cook and eat steak regularly then it’s important that you have a great set of steak knives so that you can eat your succulent, juicy steak hot from the grill cutting through the meat quickly and easily.

Choosing Steak Knives

Steak knives differ from ordinary table knives because they have a serrated edge to make it easier to cut through the meat. The best materials for steak knives is generally regarded to be stainless steel because it’s rust and stain resistant, but the handles are usually made of wood, they need to be comfortable to hold as well as sturdy. The price of a set of steak knives varies a lot, depending on the;

• quality of materials
• workmanship
• manufacturing processes
• place where you buy them

but if you invest in a good set of top quality steak knives they’ll happily cut through your steak for many years to come.

Image by inju via Flickr

Choosing Steak Knives

You can buy steak knives in many different stores, just head down to the nearest mall if you don’t believe me, but if you don’t choose and care for your knives properly they might not look quite so nice and shiny for long. Stuff to think about when you’re buying new steak knives include;

• how big (or small) are your hands – a small knife won’t be comfortable for big hands, but on the other hand . . . a large steak knife might be difficult for small hands to manage
• what about the handles. Wooden handled steak knives have the traditional look, but in reality wood is not the longest lasting option . . . plywood steak knives have handles which are made from a wood and polyurethane blend, so it still looks like wood but lasts much longer. Some steak knives are completely made from stainless steel – handles and everything – they look great and can last for a long time, but watch out ‘cos the handle can get mighty hot.

• Wash and dry your steak knives well after you’ve used them, particularly if your steak knives have had contact with acidic ingredients like lemon juice or vinegar which can cause your steak knives to discolor.
• Don’t put wooden handled steak knives into the dishwasher – you might get away with it at first but eventually the handles will become damaged due to prolonged exposure to very hot water.
• Dry your steak knives well before you put them away, moisture can cause mold – moldy steak knives . . . yuk!
• Keep your steak knives in a knife block if possible, that’s the best place for them.
• If you don’t have a knife block then pop your steak knives into plastic covers (paper ones will do) . . . don’t just throw them into the back of the kitchen drawer, this can damage your steak knife as well as cause accidents for people searching in the kitchen drawer for something.
• Try to store your steak knives on a soft surface, a hard one like metal or ceramic can make the blades blunt if they strike the surface with any force.

Great, looks like you can win some pretty neat steak knives playing poker!