4 Specialty Kitchen Knives I Can't Stop Using

Getting better at cooking has been an ongoing quest since I was a child. Each new recipe I negotiate expands my knowledge of spices and flavors and challenges me to hone my skills or learn new ones. Speaking of skills, the right kitchen knife can mean the difference between a hard recipe and an easy one -- it saves time and makes the food look and taste more appetizing. I've come a long way since prepping my first recipes with small blades that fit comfortably in a child's hands, like a paring knife or a utility knife. These days, I rely on my trusty chef knife for almost everything, from fresh pico de gallo salsa to ham fried rice. Almost. Believe it or not, sometimes it's too small or the wrong shape for a task. Beyond those three essential blades that every cook should have, here are my four favorite specialty kitchen knives and how I use them. Chinese cleaver The size and weight of the blade are key to the cleaver's design -- it's heavy enough to receive a gravity assist when p ... Read full article.