how to hold a knife

\u00a9 2020 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. How to hold a knife like a pro, using the pinch method. Your index finger should cover the handle from the opposite side of the knife. Once you’ve mastered the gripper and the guider, the one thing left to do is to practice your knife skills: Like us on Facebook to see similar stories, Scams likely to heat up after COVID-19 vaccine rollout, Johnson and EU Expected to Continue Negotiations: Brexit Update. Research source, Tip: Always check that you have a stable cutting surface. That way, it’s less likely to rock or move around when you try to cut it. You may want to pick up your favourite knife before watching this video to see if you know how to hold a Chef’s Knife correctly. There are two often made mistakes when holding a chef’s knife. To throw a knife, the easiest way is to use the the hammer grip, where you hold the throwing knife as you would hold a hammer.You may place your thumb on the spine (=small side) of the knife, some people find they can aim better this way. This time around: knives. 1. the guide hand) helps you make even cuts while keeping your fingers out of harm’s way. You should hold the handle between your thumb and your middle, ring, and pinky fingers, with your index finger at the end of the handle. With a bit of practice and care, you’ll stay safe while handling your knives. Raise your thumb up to the junction where the handle meets the blade, near the top of the blunt side of the knife. Place the tip of your knife on the cutting board and hold it in place with your free hand. Practice your knife skills in your free time so you get more confident handling a blade. Always curl in the fingertips of the hand not holding the knife. In the video above, we use a standard chef’s knife, but the technique will apply to most any kitchen knife. Just like the first step to fighting crime is learning how to put on a cape, the first step to perfect knife skills is learning how to hold a knife. They are the backbone of an impeccable dish, giving optimum flavor and aesthetics. How to Hold a Knife. Warning: Avoid resting your index finger along the blunt edge on top of the blade since you won’t have as much control when you’re chopping. Handle: this is the grip that the wearer uses when holding the knife. Avoid holding the blade loosely since you won’t have as much control and could hurt yourself. Advertisement. There is only one entirely incorrect and extremely dangerous way to hold a knife. The knife should be flush against your knuckle and you’ll move your hand backward as you continue to slice. Last Updated: November 17, 2020 It is very essential that anyone who intends to handle a throwing knife must be well-acquainted with the relative method(s). For reference, a forward grip is the same grip you would use if you were cutting into a steak with a steak knife. As you practice and feel more comfortable using your knife, you’ll be able to increase your speed. The Knife Grip – How to Properly Hold a Knife for Self-Defense and Military Applications – PART I. Hans Chris Andersons’s 1837 fable, The Emperor’s New Clothes is a story about an emperor who pays a fortune for magic clothes that can only be seen by wise people. If you really can’t stand to see another ad again, then please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. If you feel lost, don’t worry. This hand should grip the handle of the knife, placing the thumb on the top of the blade. Hold the handle with your middle, ring, and pinkie fingers. The claw is fairly simple: choke up on the handle and pinch between the spine and heel with your index finger and thumb. Chefs use their dominant hand to hold the knife, and if you want to do it like the pros, then you need to pay attention to how they operate in the kitchen. Learn 4 effective gripping methods, the cutting motion technique, and guide hand positioning. Use a single, fluid motion while you slice through the ingredient to make the cleanest cuts. Raise your thumb and rest it on the side of the blade, safely near the top of the blunt side of the knife. Proper knife skills will not only help you slice and dice faster—they’ll make your prep work so much safer, too. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. This will help you guide the thinner blade as you make your cuts. Put your bent pointer finger on one side of the blade and your thumb on the opposite side, like you’re pinching the blade between them. All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published. To do it, hold the ingredient like you’re imitating a cat, with your fingertips curled under and tucked away: Your knuckles will press into the ingredient and your thumb, positioned back and below, toward the cutting board, will help to stabilize it. Show full articles without "Continue Reading" button for {0} hours. For a start, holding a knife does not simply mean grabbing and clutching it with your hand. Pull your middle, ring and pink fingers around the upper third of the handle so that the fingers point upwards on the other side of the wrist. There are 14 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. X More Knife Skills This Way! Your knuckles will help keep the blade straight and protect your fingertips. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. You can wrap your index finger and thumb around the handle just behind the blade if it’s comfortable for you, but you won’t have as much control when you make precise cuts. For tips on how to guide your knife with your other hand while chopping, read on! So, you might want to know how to hold a throwing knife; otherwise, you may end up getting less from even a cutting-edge throwing knife. When learning to hold a knife, you should pay attention to both of your hands. If you want to improve your knife skills and stay safer in the kitchen, it all starts with holding your blade properly. Ask a Question. Perhaps the most natural way to hold a knife is the handle grip—you wrap all five fingers around the handle—there’s no contact with the blade. This is a common grip for people who have smaller hands, or to chefs who are new to knife work. Hold the knife at the handle using your thumb and index finger. Be careful not to lift the knife up so much that the cutting edge lifts up over your knuckle, or else you may cut yourself. Knife Grip Used By Chefs. This is NOT the best way to control the blade of the knife. Rest your index finger flat against the blade near the handle (curl the finger back toward the handle), and position your thumb on the opposite side of the blade. wikiHow's Content Management Team carefully monitors the work from our editorial staff to ensure that each article is backed by trusted research and meets our high quality standards. The hand holding the knife is your cutting hand. To hold a chef’s knife, grip the handle in your dominant hand. How to Hold a Knife. The knife leads the front at-the-ready and provides a pointed shield. TWO WAYS TO HOLD YOUR KNIFE. The better you take care of the knife… You should be gripping the knife mainly with the thumb and forefinger. To hold it in place, just keep your fingers straight and position them together on top of the spine of the knife close to the tip. A common mistake is using your index finger to steady the blade, by holding the handle and planting your index finger on the back of the blade, this is not good practice. Choke up on the knife, then tuck your fingertips under when you slice. In fact, if you didn’t go to culinary school (or haven’t watched dozens of expert advice YouTube videos shot by professional chefs), you may not know that kitchen knives are all different and require different techniques.. I see a lot of people hold the knife by the handle, putting their pointer finger on the spine (along the top) of the blade. If you have to twist or position your fingers awkwardly, then readjust your grip or try using a different knife. This article was co-authored by our trained team of editors and researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness. A fine mince requires the use of your free hand. Trustworthy Source Hold your chef knife the right way and you will be free of dangerous cuts. The best way to do this is by using a grip called “the claw.” Hold the food in place with your fingers curled, so that your finger tips are protected and the middle section of your fingers are perpendicular to the cutting board. Hold the food down with the fork by applying pressure through the index finger. Many beginners learn how to hold a knife utilizing a method known as the handle grip. If you do not catch your knife properly, you may end up with cuts. By CHOW Video Team. [12] There are two basic grips: the handle grip, and the blade grip. Rest the fingers of your non-dominant hand on the blade’s blunt edge right above the tip. Adjusting your grip on a knife will let you make more controlled and quicker cuts so you’re more efficient. It’s important to match the angle of the edge already set on the blade. Holding a knife properly will increase safety and eliminate accidental cuts and injuries. Knife skills are as important as they are intimidating. Hold the knife in what’s known as a forward or traditional grip. 2. Position the ingredient so the flattest side is on the bottom. Bring the arm that the knife is in parallel to your body, then swing your arm up and let go about the time your hand reaches your waist. We know ads can be annoying, but they’re what allow us to make all of wikiHow available for free. [4] This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. How Not to Hold your chef knife. Tuck in the tips of the fingers so that the knuckles are flat and facing forward. The correct way to hold a knife may not seem intuitive at first, but once you see how it improves mobility and efficiency, you'll find it hard to go back to your old habits. X I'm starting a new category of blog posts to address these things, "Cooking 101." I see so many of the “pro’s” on TV today still holding their knife in an unsafe way, teaching or confirming to all those inexperienced that are watching that it is ok to hold their knife … To hold a fork in the European style, keep it in your left hand and your knife in your right hand. Chefs use their dominant hand to hold the knife, and if you want to do it like the pros, then you need to pay attention to how they operate in the kitchen. The thumb rests on the inside of the knife, safely above the sharpened blade. This works great for breaking down herbs, onions, garlic, and other ingredients into small, fine pieces. It’s okay if you cut slowly when you’re first starting off. What you do with your other hand is just as important. Do not try to catch it since you could accidentally grab the blade. Rock the blade up and down to reduce herbs (or anything else) to a fine mince. The clothes don’t actually exist but the emperor won’t admit it because he wants to look smart. Hold the handle with your middle, ring, and pinkie fingers. Place the heel of the knife against the top of the rod at an approximate 15-20 degree angle. ", "Clear pictures and clear diagrams/videos.". To sharpen your knives easily, use the right sharpening stone. The correct method is to put it gently at the center of your palm and close your hand slightly. This technique gives the novice a comfortable hold on the knife with their fingers tucked behind the bolster and their thumb firmly placed on the blade to give the grip some stability. It also prevents the blade from slipping so you’re less likely to have an accident in the kitchen. With kitchen knives coming in many different shapes and sizes, figuring out how to best hold them to increase effectivity is a hassle. So be careful and take note. For the purposes of most home cooks, there are two ways you can go about doing holding the knife: The handle grip; The blade grip; These also go by myriad names but the descriptions match. These mistakes can cause injury and create fatigue when using them for a longer period of time. References Tighten your grip on the knife so it doesn’t slip or rattle around in your hands. Then slowly start to chop in a rocking motion increasing the speed as you go. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. Your other fingers should wrap around the knife’s bolster. It is usually located at the very end of the handle. If you’re holding the knife vertically in the air, your thumb is going to go in front of the bolster with your index finger on the other side, making a pinching motion on the blade. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.
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\n<\/p><\/div>"}, Leading academic medical center in the U.S. focused on clinical care and research. Do you correctly know how to hold a knife? May 31, 2011 Edit. Always curl in the fingertips of the hand not holding the knife. Reach out your index finger and bend it slightly. This article has been viewed 47,020 times. Always keep your fingertips behind your knuckles when you reposition your hand. Wrap your middle, ring, and pinky fingers around the top third of the handle so that your fingers are pointing up on the other side of your wrist. Knife holding, be it in sports or martial arts, involves basic principles. Hold the knife by the handle with your dominant hand and keep the blade parallel with the long edge of the cutting board. Use your other hand to hold and guide the food while you chop. Pretend you’re holding an imaginary baseball to get your hand in the correct position. Fold or push the food onto the tines of your fork with your knife if it is a salad or soft food. Please help us continue to provide you with our trusted how-to guides and videos for free by whitelisting wikiHow on your ad blocker. Hold it in your hand in the same closed-fist manner that you hold your fork. In this guide, we’ll dispel any doubts you have on your grip, in turn making you more comfortable in the kitchen and turning your blade into your most trusted compan The claw is fairly simple: choke up on the handle and pinch between the spine and heel with your index finger and thumb. Hold Chef Knife Perfectly Note that the thumb grips the blade at the top on one side and the index finger on the other. Point your forefinger out and bend it slightly. Pay attention to where you position your hands and fingers while using your knife so you don’t accidentally cut yourself. Don’t be a hero, be a pro! The knife should fit comfortably in your palm while you’re holding it. With the handle grip, the dominant hand is curled around the handle of the knife, almost like how you would hold the handle of a jumping rope. Thank you. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. The difference between injured amateur and suave pro rests with the play button. By using this service, some information may be shared with YouTube. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. If your cutting board rocks or shifts, try putting a towel underneath it to help keep it steady. If you're playing on a PC, then you can throw the knife by using the E key. 200 characters left . With kitchen knives coming in many different shapes and sizes, figuring out how to best hold them to increase effectivity is a hassle. Holding your food safely helps keep your fingers out of harm’s reach while using your knife. In this guide, we’ll dispel any doubts you have on your grip, in turn making you more comfortable in the kitchen and turning your blade into your most trusted compan Squeeze the handle firmly so the knife doesn’t move around. Throwing the knife in Murder Mystery 2 isn't super difficult, but it requires certain knowledge of what keys to use because it's not directly explained. The most stable and safe way to hold a chef’s knife is the pinch grip, also known as “the claw.” It’s not difficult, but can take a little bit of time to adjust if you’re used to something else. The best way to grip a knife is to hold its blade using your thumb and the index finger. To hold a thin knife, like a carving or boning knife, grip the handle near the top with your middle, ring, and pinky fingers. [9] If you've only ever been using the handle grip, give the other one a try—you may find your cuts improving dramatically. Correct knife positioning and cutting are some of the first precision skills learnt in professional culinary school. Hold the knife at a 30- or 45-degree angle so the tip touches your cutting board. For example, hold the knife in your dominant hand…see, I bet you are already doing that! The tip of the knife should be fixed on the board and kept in place with your guide hand. X This article was co-authored by our trained team of editors and researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness. It will also reduce damage to the knife, which will extend the lifetime of the knife. CHOW Tips are the shared wisdom of our community. But many culinary experts argue that there is a better way to hold a knife for heightened safety and control: the "blade grip". wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. Safely handling a Knife. Use your other hand to hold and guide the food while you chop. There are also some guidelines for the hand that is holding the food. There are also some guidelines for the hand that is holding the food. If you’re working with a round or irregularly shaped ingredient, cut it in half before you continue chopping it. Leading academic medical center in the U.S. focused on clinical care and research A knife is considered held in reverse grip when the point opposes the thumb. If you’re gripping it by the handle, you’re already doing it mostly right. Holding your knife properly is the key to working efficiently and safely in the kitchen. It’s like the difference between holding a pen or pencil in the middle versus moving your fingers very close to the tip, which will allow you to make more detailed strokes in smaller writing. Pick up knife in your right hand. To begin with, pick the right knife for food you want to cut. This maximal grip strength can only be obtained when all five digits work in this coordinated manner; the thumb wraps around and over the index/middle fingers and the ring/small fingers squeeze down tightly. The right way to hold a knife can be easily summarized in one directive: choke up on it. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. Be careful not to lift the knife up so much that the cutting edge lifts up over your knuckle, or else you may cut yourself. The index finger and thumb should be opposite each other on either side of the blade while the remaining three fingers are sort of loosely curled around the handle. 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