Patrick Oconnell
Cheese lovers rejoice! A cheese cutter set is a great way to elevate your cheese-eating experience. Cheese knives are designed to preserve the integrity of the cheese's structure, granular consistency, and flavor. There are three main types of cheese knives: soft cheese knives, medium/hard cheese knives, and hard cheese knives. Soft cheese knives are used for soft, spreadable cheeses and have thin, flexible blades with no sharp edges. Medium/hard cheese knives are used for semi-soft cheeses and have sharp edges. Hard cheese knives are used for very hard cheeses and resemble chisels. Each type of knife has a specific purpose, improving the user experience and making it easier to cut and serve cheese. Cheese cutter sets may also include cheese forks, which are used to hold blocks of cheese in place while cutting or serving. In addition to the standard cheese cutter set, there are specialized tools such as the cheese plane, rind cutter, and harp wire cheese cutter, each designed for specific types of cheese and cutting techniques. Now that you know the basics of a cheese cutter set, you can impress your guests with your cheese expertise and enjoy your favorite cheeses to the fullest!
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of knives required | 3 (for soft, medium/hard, and very hard cheeses) |
| Knife for soft cheese | Has a very sharp, thin, and narrow blade to reduce the stress and pulling on the cheese |
| Knife for medium/hard cheese | Has a broad blade with a squared tip to cut through firm cheeses |
| Knife for very hard cheese | Resembles a chisel; has a sharp, pointed edge to break off chunks |
| Cheese plane | Used for achieving thinly sliced pieces of semi-soft cheese |
| Rind cutter | Removes the tough outer layer of cheese; has a pointed tip to score the rind of hard cheese |
| Cheese grater | Creates shreds of cheese |
| Cheese fork | Used to hold a block of aged cheese in place while cutting |
| Chisel knife | Used for breaking off pieces of softer, crumbly cheeses like blue cheese |
| Bow knife or wire cutter | Used for cutting extra soft cheese |
| Cheese cleaver | Used for cutting hard or semi-hard cheese, e.g., cheddar or pepper jack |
| Parmesan knife | Used for breaking off chunks of hard and dry cheeses like Parmesan |
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What You'll Learn
Soft cheese knives
To use a soft cheese knife, start by inserting the point of the knife into the cheese, then push the blade downward. If the cheese is very soft, you can moisten the blade with a damp cloth first. Remember to remove the cheese from the refrigerator one to two hours before serving, as cheese is best enjoyed at room temperature.
When choosing a soft cheese knife, opt for a premium stainless steel blade with a satin finish for the best cutting performance and limited stress on the cheese.
In addition to a soft cheese knife, a set of three knives is recommended for cutting a wide variety of cheeses. This includes a knife for compact or hard cheeses, a knife for semi-hard cheeses, and a knife for soft cheeses. Other specialized cheese knives can complement this essential set.
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Medium/hard cheese knives
A cheese cleaver, sometimes called a cheddar knife or mini cleaver, is a type of medium/hard cheese knife. It has a wide, rectangular blade and is designed to cut hard or semi-hard cheeses like cheddar or pepper jack. It can also be used to cube these types of cheeses. The handle is placed in a way that keeps your knuckles from hitting the board.
A parmesan knife is another type of medium/hard cheese knife. It features a pointed edge designed to break off chunks of hard and dry cheeses like parmesan. It also has a sharp edge to cut through rinds. Parmesan knives come in two styles: the bell knife, which has an arrowhead-shaped blade, and the compact knife, which has a blade that resembles a shark tooth.
A flat cheese knife, also known as a cheese chisel, is ideal for shaving or chipping aged hard cheeses like aged gouda or cheddar. It has a flat and short blade so you can apply force straight down on a small area without crushing surrounding items on the cheeseboard.
When cutting a wedge of medium/hard cheese, you should cut slices along the width edge until you reach halfway up the wedge. The top half of the wedge is then cut along the length edge.
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Hard cheese knives
When it comes to hard cheeses, there are several knife options available to help you cut the perfect slice. Firstly, it's important to note that the type of knife you use can affect the flavour and texture of the cheese, so it's worth considering the right tool for the job.
A spade knife, also known as a tagliagrana, almond knife, or spade knife, is ideal for breaking off chunks of hard and dry cheeses like Parmesan. It has a sharp, pointed edge to cut through rinds and break off pieces. The Parmesan knife comes in two styles: the bell cheese knife, with an arrowhead-shaped blade, and the compact cheese knife, with a shark-tooth-shaped blade.
A cheddar knife, or mini cleaver, is another option for hard cheeses. This knife has a wide, rectangular blade and a sharp long edge, allowing you to use force and balance to push down and cut slices. The handle is designed to keep your knuckles from hitting the board.
For shaving or chipping hard, aged cheeses like gouda or cheddar, a flat cheese knife, also known as a cheese chisel, is a great choice. The flat, short blade allows you to apply force to a small area, cutting small pieces without crushing other items on your cheeseboard.
A cheese plane is another tool that can be used to achieve thin slices of hard cheese. You simply pass the plane along the top or side of the cheese, and the slice will settle on the spatula-like structure, making serving easy.
Finally, a rind cutter is essential when serving stinky, rind-washed cheeses. It has a pointed tip that pierces and cuts through the rind, allowing you to open up the cheese easily.
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Cheese rind cutters
Rind cutters have a pointed tip that is made to score the rind of hard cheese, making it easier to open. To use a rind cutter, pierce the rind at one edge and drag it neatly across the surface of the rind.
A cheese plane, for example, can be used to slice thin pieces of semi-soft cheeses like Fontina, Havarti, and Swiss. It has a spatula-like structure that collects the slice, making it easy to serve. However, it is not meant to be used on hard cheeses. Instead, a cheese plane can be used in conjunction with a rind cutter when preparing hard cheeses.
A cheese fork is another tool that is often included in cheese knife sets. It is used to hold a block of hard cheese in place while cutting or breaking it into smaller chunks.
A Parmesan cheese knife is another example of a knife designed to cut hard cheeses. It has a pointed edge made for breaking off chunks of hard and dry cheeses like Parmesan. It also has a sharp edge that can be used to cut through rinds.
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Cheese plane knives
A cheese plane knife, also known as a flat knife or trapezium knife, is used to cut thin slices of semi-firm or semi-soft cheeses like cheddar, gouda, fontina, havarti, and Swiss. The cheese plane was invented by Thor Bjørklund in 1925 in Norway, modelled after a carpenter's plane. It features a narrow, rectangular blade with two sharp sides and a spatula-like structure underneath to catch the sliced cheese.
To use a cheese plane knife, pass the plane along the top or side of the cheese block. The slice will then settle on top of the spatula-like structure, making it easy to plate or serve. Cheese plane knives are ideal for achieving thin slices of cheese, but they can also be used for chipping away at the cheese block.
When preparing a cheese plate, it is important to use the proper tool for cutting cheese, as this preserves the integrity of the cheese structure and granular consistency. Different cheeses require different knives, with factors like hardness, stickiness, and graininess determining the type of knife that should be used. For example, soft cheeses like Camembert and Brie are best cut with a soft cheese knife, which has a sharp, thin, and narrow blade to reduce the stress and pulling on the cheese. Hard cheeses like Parmesan require a tough, broad blade to cut through the firm texture.
Cheese knife sets often include other tools besides knives, such as cheese forks, which are used to hold blocks of aged cheese in place while cutting or to pick up cut pieces of cheese for serving. Cheese graters are another tool included in some sets, useful for creating shreds of cheese that can be used in various dishes.
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Frequently asked questions
Soft cheeses are often sticky, so a soft cheese knife has a very sharp, thin, and narrow blade to reduce the friction and pull of the cheese. The blade sometimes has holes to reduce the surface area in contact with the cheese. Start slicing by inserting the point of the knife and then pushing the blade downward. Moisten the blade with a damp cloth if the cheese is very soft. Soft cheeses include Gorgonzola, Mozzarella, Robiola, and Brie.
Hard cheese knives have a broad blade with a squared tip. They need to be thin and strong enough to cut through firm cheeses. The handle is designed to keep your knuckles from hitting the board. Hard cheeses include Parmesan, Manchego, and Cheddar.
A plane knife, also called a flat knife, works well for semi-firm cheeses. It is sharp on both sides and the tip. Press the top into hard cheeses and finish cutting with the sharp long end. Semi-hard cheeses include Cheddar, Gouda, and Pepper Jack.
