Know Your Knives - All About Steak Knives
Being knowledgeable in the tools for cooking is a necessity when it comes to preparing a good meal. However, you also need to eat that meal. That’s where a good steak knife comes in. In this article in the Know Your Knives series, we explore everything you need to know about steak knives.
A Steak Knife Should
Any good steak knife should be sharp above all. They should be well balanced and feel comfortable, not clunky, even if you aren’t experienced in wielding a knife in pursuit of cooking. Steak knives should also be beautiful to look at. They are more solidly built than a typical butter knife. Steak knives should be able to take a little more punishment without getting dull too fast. They are used on plates and glass instead of surfaces intended for cutting upon like a board.
Materials
The blade of a steak knife is typically stainless steel. More expensive ones can be carbon steel, while the inexpensive ones will likely be stainless plated. Handles run the full gamut of materials, including fully cast metal, natural wood riveted into the tang, and even man-made materials like bakelite.
Cutting Edge
Many, if not most, steak knives feature the serrated edge. Many prefer these over straight edged steak knives. Keep in mind that sharpening is difficult and will need to be done professionally. A serrated steak knife, (especially a dull one) will tear the meat you are cutting instead of cutting cleanly and that could ruin your eating experience.
The best of both worlds. Napoleon’s 5-inch Stainless Steel Steak Knife with Rosewood Handle is a full tang stainless steel blade that features a serrated area that runs the length of the tip, followed by a belly and heel that are a straight edge. This allows you to quickly begin a cut or get through a tough exterior with the serrated edge, then use the straight edge to finish the cut with no tearing. All this while your hand comfortably cradles the smooth and stylish handle.
What to Look For in a Steak Knife
Aim for stainless steel or splurge on carbon steel to ensure that the cutting edge is retained after many uses. When it comes to a handle, a full tang is best and will provide a nice balanced hand-feel, however, this is also a more expensive route. It is up to you on material preference for said handle as well. Just keep in mind that a wooden handle may need to be cared for much like your favorite wooden utensils and cutting boards, while other materials will be more forgiving.
Care
Just like your cooking knives, steak knives should be cared for properly. A sheath, a knife roll, or block is ideal for storage. This is to keep your knives from being jostled and knocked around. They shouldn’t be kept loose as this poses a danger to your fingers and will damage the blade and even the handles. Steak knives should be washed by hand and dried right away. Any wooden handled knives should also be oiled or waxed every few uses to maintain the smooth and comfortable grip. There’s nothing worse than the wooden handled steak knives at steakhouse restaurants. They’ve been washed in a machine and the handles are cracked and dry, very uncomfortable to use.
All About Steak Knives
Now that you know all about steak knives, are you going to invest in your next steak eating experience with a new set of steak knives? What sort of steak knife is your favorite to use? Tell us all about the knives you use to eat by sharing your stories and photos with us on social pages like Facebook and Tiktok using the hashtags #NapoleonEats and #NapoleonGrills.
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