Bushra Griffith
There are many different types of cheese knives, each designed to preserve the integrity of the cheese's structure and enhance its flavour. The three main types of cheese knives are for soft, semi-hard, and hard cheeses. Soft cheese knives are designed to deal with the natural stickiness of soft cheeses, with a sharp, thin, and narrow blade to reduce the stress and pulling on the cheese. Semi-hard cheese knives are lighter than hard cheese knives and are designed for cheeses with a smooth interior and little rind. Hard cheese knives are strong enough to cut through firm cheeses and are ideal for mature cheeses.
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Soft cheese knives
Soft cheeses are often sticky, so a soft cheese knife, also known as an open blade knife, is designed with holes in the blade to reduce the surface area for the cheese to stick to. The blade is sharp for slicing into gooey cheeses with bloomy rinds, like Brie, Camembert, or chevre. It can also be used for soft-ripened cheeses like Taleggio or creamy blues. The scalpel-like blade is thin and narrow, and the offset handle allows for comfortable gripping and slicing by widening the gap between the user's knuckles and the surface they are cutting.
A cheese wire is another tool that can be used to cut soft cheeses. It has almost no surface area for cheese to stick to, and its narrow profile cuts cleanly through soft ingredients.
A cheese spreader, also known as a spatula knife, is made for applying cheese spreads and creamy, spreadable cheeses onto bread and crackers. It can be used with butter, ricotta, fresh chèvre, and burrata.
If you're only bringing one knife to an outing, a foldable knife with a pointy tip and thin blade can be used for soft cheeses.
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Hard cheese knives
A cheese cleaver or cheddar knife is a type of hard cheese knife. It looks like a small meat cleaver and is used for cutting firm or semi-hard cheeses. The blade is wide and cleaver-shaped, allowing the user to apply force and balance to push down and slice through the cheese.
A parmesan knife is another type of hard cheese knife. It has a pointed edge for breaking off chunks of hard, dry cheeses, and a sharp edge for cutting through rinds. Parmesan knives come in two styles: the bell cheese knife, with an arrowhead-shaped blade, and the compact cheese knife.
A cheese plane is a paddle-shaped tool with a narrow gap and serrated blade. It is ideal for semi-soft to semi-hard cheeses, such as Swiss cheese, and creates paper-thin slices.
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Cheese spreaders
The Wüsthof Gourmet 5-Inch Spreader Knife is a versatile tool that can be used to prep many types of cheese, garnishes, and other items. It is considered one of the best cheese spreaders.
When choosing a cheese knife, it is important to consider the type of cheese you will be cutting. Soft, sticky cheeses require a sharp, thin, and narrow blade to reduce the stress and pulling on the cheese. On the other hand, hard cheeses require a broad blade with a squared tip that is thin yet strong enough to cut through.
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Parmesan knives
Parmesan cheese is hard and dry, and a specific type of knife is required to cut it. Parmesan knives are also known as tagliagrana, almond knives, or spade knives. They are designed to break off chunks of hard cheese and feature a sharp, pointed edge to cut through rinds. There are two styles of Parmesan knife: the bell cheese knife, which has an arrowhead-shaped blade, and the compact cheese knife, which has a shark-tooth-shaped blade. Both perform the same function.
A flat cheese knife, or chisel knife, can also be used to cut Parmesan. This type of knife has a flat, short blade that allows you to apply force straight down to cut small pieces without disturbing the surrounding food on your cheeseboard.
A pronged knife is a multi-purpose alternative that can be used for semi-soft to hard cheeses. The prongs can be used to pick up the cheese and plate it, making it a good choice for a cheese board.
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Cheddar knives
Cheddar is considered a semi-hard cheese, and there are several types of knives that can be used to cut it. A narrow plane knife, sometimes called a flat knife, is a versatile option that works for a wide range of semi-firm cheeses like cheddar, gouda, and pepper jack. It has two sharp sides, allowing you to press the top into hard cheeses and finish cutting with the sharp long end.
A pronged knife is another versatile option that can be used for a variety of cheeses ranging from semi-soft to hard. The prongs can be used to pick up and plate the cheese, making it a great choice for a cheese board.
A spreader, or spatula knife, can also be used to slice semi-firm cheese like cheddar. However, it may not be sharp enough to handle very hard cheeses. This type of knife is ideal for spreading soft cheeses and dips and can also be used to spread condiments like mayo and mustard.
A cheese wire, or bow knife, is useful for cutting semi-soft to semi-hard cheeses without crushing them. It can be found in a bow shape or attached to a cheese board with an indent for the wire. Lowering the wire gently through the cheese will result in clean slices.
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Frequently asked questions
Soft cheese knives have a very sharp, thin, and narrow blade to cut nice, attractive cheese slices. The blade sometimes has holes to reduce the surface area in contact with the cheese. This type of knife is ideal for soft cheeses like Gorgonzola, Mozzarella, Robiola, and Brie.
A hard cheese knife has a broad blade with a squared tip that is thin and strong enough to cut through firm cheeses. A cheese hatchet or hard cheese cleaver is ideal for cutting through hard cheeses like Parmesan, Manchego, and Asiago.
A cheese spreader, also known as a spatula knife, is ideal for spreading soft cheeses. The blade is thin, flexible, and has no sharp edge. This type of knife is ideal for soft cheeses like Robiola, Stracchino, and Cream cheese.
