Frederic Melton
There are many different types of cheese knives, each with a specific purpose. The type of cheese knife you should use depends on the type of cheese you are cutting. For example, soft cheeses like Brie and Camembert require a different knife than hard cheeses like Parmesan and cheddar. Some common types of cheese knives include the flat cheese knife, the pronged knife, the narrow plane cheese knife, and the cheese wire. Each of these knives has unique features that make it better suited for certain types of cheese. In addition to cheese knives, other tools such as cheese forks and spreaders can also be useful for serving cheese.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Cheese knife type | Soft cheese knife, hard cheese knife, narrow plane cheese knife, cheddar knife, parmesan cheese knife, bell-shaped knife, rectangular knife, pronged knife, flat cheese knife, chisel knife, cheese spreader, cheese wire, cheese plane |
| Use case | Soft cheese, hard cheese, cutting, shaving, chipping, breaking off pieces, slicing, spreading |
| Cheese types | Soft cheese, hard cheese, semi-soft cheese, semi-hard cheese, blue cheese, aged gouda, cheddar, parmesan, gorgonzola, provolone, manchego, goat cheese, ricotta, cream cheese, mozzarella, Swiss |
| Knife features | Holes in the blade, sharp edge, pointed edge, wide blade, narrow blade, sharp on the bottom and at the tip, two-pronged, flat and short blade, curved blade, fine wire, serrated blade |
| Additional tools | Cheese wire, cheese board, cheese fork, cutting board |
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Soft cheese knives
Soft cheeses are usually cut differently from hard cheeses. When cutting a wedge of soft cheese, you should cut slices along the long edge of the cheese, creating a long strip. It is considered poor etiquette to cut the tip or nose of the cheese wedge because that is considered to be the piece with the most flavor. It is also incorrect to dig out the gooey center of a soft cheese, such as Brie.
There are several types of knives that can be used to cut soft cheese. One option is a slim-blade knife, which has very little surface area to prevent soft cheeses from sticking to the blade. It typically has an offset handle to provide room for the user's hand and prevent their knuckles from hitting the board. Another option is a bell-shaped knife, which is ideal for slicing softer and blue cheeses. A chisel knife, which has a wide, flat blade that is sharp at the top edge, can also be used for breaking off pieces of softer, crumbly cheeses like Gorgonzola or blue cheese. Then there's the narrow plane cheese knife, also known as a trapezium knife, which is made for cutting cheese and chipping away at the block. It has a narrow blade with two sharp sides.
A cheese wire or bow knife is another tool that can be used to cut soft cheese. It is usually found in a bow shape or attached to a cheese board with an indent for the wire. The wire is lowered gently through the cheese, leaving a clean slice. A cheese plane is used to achieve thinly sliced pieces of cheese. The slice will settle on top of the plane's spatula-like structure, making it easy to serve.
There are also some multi-purpose knives that can be used on soft cheeses. The Victorinox Cheese Master is one example of a knife that can be used on both soft and hard cheeses. The Murray's Soft Cheese Knife is another multi-purpose knife designed for use on all types of soft cheeses. It has a thin, stainless steel blade that allows for cleaner and more precise slices.
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Hard cheese knives
When it comes to hard cheeses, there are several knives that can be used to cut and serve them effectively. Firstly, it is important to understand that different cheeses require different knives; a knife used for soft cheese will not be suitable for hard cheese. Hard cheeses, such as Parmesan, require a knife with a sharp edge and a long, straight blade.
One type of knife suitable for hard cheeses is the cheddar knife, also known as a mini cleaver or cheddar cleaver. This knife has a wide, rectangular blade with a sharp long edge and an ergonomic handle. The cleaver shape allows the user to apply force and balance to push down and cut slices, and the handle placement prevents your knuckles from hitting the board.
Another option is the Parmesan knife, which has a pointed, triangular blade and a sharp tip. This design allows the user to break off chunks of hard and dry cheeses, and it also has a sharp edge for cutting through rinds. The Parmesan knife comes in two styles: the bell cheese knife, with an arrowhead-shaped blade, and the compact cheese knife.
A narrow plane cheese knife, or trapezium knife, can also be used for cutting hard cheeses. This knife has a narrow blade with two sharp edges, which can be used for cutting cheese and chipping away at the block.
Finally, a classic cheese knife with a vegetable peeler or box grater design can be effective for hard cheeses. This knife creates paper-thin curls of cheese and can also be used for other ingredients like ginger, carrot, and potato. However, the blade thickness is not adjustable, so it may not be versatile for thicker cuts of cheese.
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Cheese wires
CheeseSlicing, LLC offers a range of replacement wires for different types of cheese slicers, including Prodyne and Compact Marble cheese slicers. Their wires range in price from $1.50 to $5.00 each, with a set of four wires available for $5.95. They also offer a lifetime replacement guarantee on wires for their slicers.
When purchasing replacement wires, it is important to measure the existing wire and compare it to the available options. Additionally, providing information such as the manufacturer, type of cheese slicer, dimensions, and type of handle can ensure you receive the correct wire for your needs.
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Cheese planes
The Monaco+ plane is another highly-regarded cheese plane, winning a Red Dot Award in 2018. It is sharp enough to create paper-thin slices of hard cheese without crumbling, but it does not work well with soft cheeses.
In addition to the Monaco+ plane, Boska, the cheese tool company, offers other cheese plane options. They have developed a coating and a quilted surface to prevent cheese from sticking to the plane.
A narrow plane cheese knife, also known as a trapezium knife, is another type of cheese plane. It is used for cutting cheese and chipping away at the block, featuring two sharp sides.
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Cheese spreaders
There are a variety of cheese knives available for different types of cheese. For soft cheeses, an open-work blade knife is used, which features holes in the blade to prevent the cheese from sticking. A narrow plane cheese knife, or trapezium knife, is used for cutting and chipping away at cheese blocks. This type of knife has a narrow blade with two sharp edges.
For harder cheeses, a cheddar knife, or mini cleaver, can be used to cut slices. This type of knife has a wide, rectangular blade and a handle that keeps your knuckles from hitting the board. A parmesan cheese knife is another option for hard and dry cheeses, featuring a pointed edge for breaking off chunks and a sharp edge to cut through rinds.
There are also cheese wires or bow knives, which are designed for cutting delicate soft cheeses without crushing them. These are usually found in a bow shape or attached to a cheese board with an indent for the wire.
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Frequently asked questions
A soft cheese knife, also known as an open-work blade knife, features holes in the blade to prevent soft cheeses from sticking. It is ideal for cutting soft and semi-soft cheeses like Brie, Camembert, or chevre.
A pronged knife with a sharp blade and narrow size is designed for cutting semi-soft cheeses. A bell-shaped knife, which resembles a paint scraper, is also good for slicing softer and blue cheeses.
A narrow plane cheese knife, also known as a trapezium knife, is made for cutting semi-hard cheeses. It is rectangular in shape and has two sharp sides.
A cheddar knife, also known as a mini cleaver, is made to cut hard cheeses. The wide blade and cleaver shape allow the cutter to use force and balance to push down and cut slices. A parmesan cheese knife, which features a pointed edge, is another option for breaking off chunks of hard and dry cheeses.
A cheese wire or bow knife can be used to cut delicate soft cheeses without crushing them. A cheese plane is used to achieve thinly sliced pieces of cheese.
