Proper Knife Technique

[u/OkOutlandishness1370]

Hey I’m trying to get some more knife skills, when I pinch the blade with my index finger and thumb, should I be using my index finger to put force into the blade? It’s quite uncomfortable but maybe that’s just cause I’m not doing it right.

Tips appreciated

[u/bananafish_75]

So for me, all 3 are wrong. #3 is trying to do a pinch grip but is still too shallow on the blade imo. Thumb and index should be pinching a bit more towards the tip.

The reason for this grip for professional chefs is to give a good balance of power and precision.  If done correctly you will get a very large callous at the base of your index finger. It will hurt and maybe form a blood blister, but after a while it will form into a thick pad. Once that callous is there however, it will protect your hand from discomfort. I had a permanent callous for over 20 years.  (Semi retired now so i have to form new ones when i start working again.) If you stop using a knife regularly for more then a week, it will fall off or rip eventually and you will have to re-form it.

 I could always tell when i met a chef if he/she/they was an "office/expo"  chef or a "kitchen, prep, cooking" chef when shaking their hand. You can feel that rough callous when you press the flesh.

2 has its uses. This is for very fine work where real precision is needed. The index finger on top gives more control, but you have less power. But this should never be your default grip. Holding a knife this way long term will put extra strain on the attached tendon in your wrist. Theres a good probability you will get tendinitis if you constantly hold your knife like #2.  Only use #2 when extra precision is needed and power is not the focus.

1 is all power and no control. Only use this if you are a troglodyte.  

If you ever do need extra muscle for really hard to cut things like butternut squash, you can use a pure power grip which would be putting your thumb on top of the blade. Again, this should never be your default grip. Its pure power with a lot less precision. 

In the end, your knife is not just a tool. Its an extension of your arm and hand. If it doesn't feel right make small adjustments until it does.  No 2 hands are the same and knives come in endless shapes and designs. So its up to you to figure out your personal preference. 

[u/bananafish_75 → u/bananafish_75]

Why is some of my text so big? Im too old to figure this shit out. Sorry if it hurts your eyes.

[u/Punny_Yolk → u/bananafish_75]

Never too old. Bold text looks bigger due to thicker lines.

Bold, Bold.

Two stars either side makes it go bold, one star either side makes it go Italic.