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Inventor of $399 Vibrating Chef's Knife Says It Requires '50% Less Force to Cut'

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If you've ever looked down at a humble chef's knife and wondered why there wasn't more vibration, the tide is turning. Seattle Ultrasonics just dropped the C-200 and says it's the world's first ultrasonic chef's knife made for the average at-home cook

With the push of a button, the $399 rechargeable knife buzzes more than 40,000 times per second, which, according to the brand, results in less friction, smoother cuts and 50% less force needed to make them.

Seattle Ultrasonics says its vibrating knife can slice through citrus and tomatoes with the greatest of ease. Seattle Ultrasonics

They basically took tech from industrial kitchens and shrunk it down for your countertop. Whether you're dealing with slippery tomatoes or dense rutabaga, this knife promises to transform kitchen prep from workout to leisure activity.

Is it overkill? Maybe. Will it make you feel like you're living in the future whenever you prep mirepoix for dinner? We'll have to wait until the C-200 becomes available for testing.

What even is an ultrasonic chef's knife?

The brainchild of culinary engineer Scott Heimendinger, the C-200 looks like a standard chef's knife until you press a power button on the side of the handle. From there, microscopic vibrations -- which you can't see, hear, or feel -- create what the company calls a "nonstick effect" that powers the blade smoothly through even the densest ingredients and prevents food from sticking.

"I've seen firsthand how industrial ultrasonic technology makes clean, effortless cuts," said Heimendinger, who spent nearly six years developing the knife. "I asked myself, 'Could I fit that technology into a chef's knife?' After years of research, development, and more than a few setbacks, the answer is yes."

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