Whether serving Thanksgiving dinner or a roast at a dinner party, the carving knife set that is used to cut the meat will be a featured part of the dinner service. Using the proper knives for carving ensures that the meat is correctly portioned and can be cut without too much effort. Good tools can take much of the stress out of carving a turkey or chicken in front of guests and will reduce the amount of natural juice that is lost during the serving process.
A carving knife set will consist of two parts. The slicing knife is designed with a long, thin blade, often around 8 inches long. The length of the blade allows the cutter to get through even large roasts or turkeys with a minimum of sawing, which can damage the meat. In addition to the knife, sets contain a long carving fork. Another long, thin tool, it allows users to get a better purchase on the meat, while keeping their hands out of harm’s way. Forks should be used to both steady the roast while cutting, as well as to transfer portions to a serving tray or plate. Learning to use the knife and fork concurrently can take a little practice, but most find that they can cut a roast with ease after just a few attempts.
Good carving knives should be as sharp as possible. Contrary to popular belief, it is actually far safer to use a sharp knife than a dull one. When using a sharp knife, the cutter needs to apply far less pressure to that which they are cutting, reducing the chances of injury. Keeping knives sharp requires more than just selecting a top of the line model. One must also sharpen it regularly, even as often as before each use. Mechanical cutlery sharpening tools are available at many stores, but even manual sharpening is often enough to do the trick.
Many cooking enthusiasts find that Wusthof knives are among the best in the world. Available at many cooking stores, these knifes feature stainless steel blades, designed to last through decades of use. The blade of their carving knife features oval indentations along the cutting surface, which helps eliminate the problem of meat sticking to the blade while being carved. Do keep in mind that many stainless steel knives should be hand washed, as washing in a dishwasher can cause undue wear.
If you regularly serve roasted meats in a formal or informal setting, investing in a good carving knife set can make getting your meal from the oven to the table far easier.
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