How to Hold a Kitchen Knife

A kitchen knife, also known as a chef's knife, is one of the most important and versatile tools in the kitchen. A typical kitchen knife is 8 or 10 inches long with a full tang. If you want to make perfect cuts every time without fatigue, you must hold a kitchen knife properly.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Grip the kitchen knife with the last three fingers of your dominant hand. Slide your hand upwards towards the blade.

2. Grasp the bolster of the blade with your thumb and forefinger. The bolster is the balance point and finger guard on the actual blade. Your thumb should rest on the bolster on one side, while your index finger holds it firm on the other side.

3. Rest your last three fingers comfortably on the kitchen knife handle. Let your index finger and thumb control the knife.

4. Hold the item to be cut in your other hand, curling your fingers under themselves and advancing the item with your thumb.

5. Rest the blade against your fingers and chop.

Tips & Warnings

• A good quality knife goes a long way to achieving a great chopping technique.

• Keep your kitchen knife properly sharpened. A dull blade requires you to hold it with more force and apply more downward force while chopping. Let the blade do the work, not your arm.

• Never raise the edge of your kitchen knife above your first knuckles; you are guaranteed to get cut.