A Very Useful Kitchen Tool - Japanese Petty Knife

There is no discussion when one says a petty knife is one of the most useful kitchen tools. Some people say that to be able to endure the kitchen, you need only a petty knife. This very useful cutting tool is the Japanese version of a paring knife. Typically, Japanese petty knives do not have bolster on the blade, thin, and are very light.   

Japanese petty knives are ideal for different vegetables, herbs, and fruits tasks such as peeling, paring, and carving. It can also be used for slicing and dicing jobs. 

Preparing fruits (for a quick snack) like oranges requires some knife skills since there is peeling and segmenting of the orange meat that needs to be done.

Here is the step by step procedure on how to prepare this zesty orange for snack:

●       Cut-off both sides of the orange

●       Have it sit on one cut side

●       Using a Japanese petty knife, cut off the peel in strips, mindfully following the curve of the orange

●       Cut the membranes on all sides to expose the orange meat

●       Segment the orange

A Japanese petty knife can maneuver even the tight and delicate turns of any fruits. 

Although small in size, but the blade of a Japanese petty utility knife is razor sharp. You can expect the same sharpness and edge retention you can find from bigger knives in Japanese petty knives.    

As compared to its Western counterpart, the Japanese petty knives are lighter and sharper. Aside from that, Japanese blades have one side of the edge at a steeper angle giving the users the liberty to sharpen them at different angles. 

Just like any other traditional Japanese knives, the petty knife requires proper care and handling to serve its master for a long time. Never use your petty in cutting through frozen meats and bones. After every use, wipe it dry.  

If you are looking for a Japanese petty knife, please click here.  

Why Authentic Japanese Kitchen Knives Make Ideal Christmas Gifts

           The Christmas season is just around the corner, and soon everyone will be busy with gift-giving and merrymaking. Why not try to give the most unique Christmas  presents for one’s loved ones and friends?  A unique but ideal Christmas gift would be to give away authentic Japanese kitchen knives to one’s loved ones and acquaintances.  Authentic Japanese kitchen knives are truly unique as these are gifts that literally can last a lifetime.  One’s friends and relatives who are very fond of cooking not necessarily Japanese cuisine, but all kinds of dishes and cuisine will find the gift of an authentic Japanese kitchen knife truly exciting.

           

            An authentic Japanese kitchen knife is most useful because the knife is able to aid in the preparation of the dish such that the ingredients’ flavors are properly preserved. The use of other knives which are not as sharp as authentic Japanese kitchen knives may result in cutting the food improperly, releasing juices and other liquids vital to the preservation of the dish’s final flavor. Authentic Japanese kitchen knives are thus important to the taste of the dish, and therefore to the satisfaction of everyone at the dining table, partaking of the dish.

            An authentic Japanese kitchen knife as a Christmas gift will certainly delight the recipient to no end. These Japanese kitchen knives are gifts that will have great utility for any man or woman who loves working in the kitchen and preparing meals for friends and family. Authentic Japanese kitchen knives are ultra-sharp, precise and yet they are also very easy to clean. They do not need too much maintenance in terms of sharpening and cleaning. A non-chemical cleaning agent will work very well with these Japanese kitchen knives, and one must simply remember that these Japanese kitchen knives have to be cleaned immediately after cutting a citrus fruit or if it is soaked in a chemical solution. The preservation of the Japanese kitchen knife against chemicals is a must.

            Authentic Japanese kitchen knives are unique not only because of their contribution to food flavor and easy maintenance, they are ideal Christmas gifts because they can already be considered as exquisite works of art. One can consider these Japanese kitchen knives as special art pieces carefully handcrafted and prepared.  There are others who even dare not use their authentic Japanese kitchen knives because they feel that these are too beautiful to use in their very own kitchens.

            Thus, authentic Japanese kitchen knives are ideal Christmas gifts because they are the best to use in cooking and food preparation. They are also easy to maintain, and finally, they are unique works of art that give their buyers value for money, and will make any recipient of these authentic Japanese kitchen knives extremely delighted and happy.

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The Importance of Sharpening Your Knife

What is the importance of sharpening one’s knife?  The very first reason why one should have a sharp kitchen knife at home is that owning a sharp kitchen knife is protection against jagged cuts during food preparation. A cut from a sharp kitchen knife is closed by the end of the day as against the cut of a dull kitchen knife – the wound is jagged and does not close easily. The second reason why kitchen knives should be sharp is that a sharp kitchen knife helps preserve the flavor of the dish one is cooking. Just look at the case wherein one is trying to chop an onion into fine slices. A dull knife presses out the juices of the onion onto the sliding surface, whereas a sharp kitchen knife will preserve the juices which are then incorporated into the dish that one is preparing.  In other words, a good sharp kitchen knife will definitely make one’s life a lot easier. It is easier to cut and slice food, and the food looks a lot prettier when sharp kitchen knives are used.

            Perhaps among the most precise and sharp kitchen knives used in preparing dishes are Japanese kitchen knives.  The Japanese kitchen knife itself is considered as an essential element in cooking and preparing dishes as this is thought to determine the taste of the dish itself.  In almost all cases, Japanese cooks own their own personal set of Japanese kitchen knives.  They are always concerned about the maintenance of these knives, making sure that these Japanese kitchen knives are well-sharpened and in peak form each time they are used. Some professional Japanese chefs even have several sets of Japanese kitchen knives as the knives are believed to need to rest so as to eliminate any flavors that may have stuck to the knives the previous day. Many Japanese professional chefs sharpen their own kitchen knives with the use of whetstones. These whetstones are often used to grind and sharpen the edges of the knives. Whetstones come in a wide variety of types and sizes, and may either be artificial or natural. Sharpening a Japanese kitchen knife is an exciting exercise wherein one needs to determine even the angle of sharpening while using the whetstone, as the angle of sharpening may ultimately determine the flavor of the dish being prepared.

            A very sharp Japanese kitchen knife that has been carefully sharpened over a whetstone results in food that is precisely cut, and the food is cut in precise shapes and sizes. One can simply imagine the precisely cut tuna sashimi, with its perfectly sharp edges that help preserve the delicious natural sea-flavor of the tuna. How would one delight in eating roughly-cut pieces of tuna sashimi? A sharp Japanese kitchen knife is truly an asset that one can be proud of, and it is thus considered as a tool in the production of wonderful gastronomic delights.

For authentic and high quality whetstones, please click here!

Hand Forged Knives: Your Durable Cutting Tools

Hand forged knives nowadays are rarely used most especially in places where the use of modern technology is prevalent. Forging, according to Wikipedia, is a manufacturing process involving the shaping of metal using localized compressive forces. It is known to be one of the oldest methods used in knife making.


In the early traditions, forging was executed using hammer and anvil by a smith. Though when water pressure and working of iron for knife making was introduced during the 12th century, they became obsolete. Today, we have industrial forging where hammers or presses powered by compressed air, electricity, and hydraulics are being used.

Difference between Hand Forged Knives and Machine Processed Knives

Hand forged knives are stronger as compared to knives that are made using machines. During the forging process, the inside particle of the steel gets deformed as it follows a shape. Because of this, the particle is spread out in uniform fashion throughout the blade giving it enhanced strength qualities.

 

Here are simple steps on how to make your very own hand forged knife:

See it here: "How to make your very own hand forged knife"

Maki-e Art: Sophisticated As a Sushi Knife

Takeshi Saji Sushi Knife

The art of Maki-e-making is as sophisticated as a sushi knife. Maki-e art originated from Japan and is now considered as part of the Japanese culture. The inclusion of a Maki-e art in a Japanese Sushi Knife makes the knife more valuable and worth keeping. Some Japanese knives collectors don’t use these knives with Maki-e arts the way they are intended to be used but merely put them on display.

 

History of Sushi Knives

 
The rich history of sushi knife-making dates back to the 14th century when most of the techniques used can go back as far as 1000 years ago. When carrying of Samurai swords became illegal in the 19th century, most craftsmen making Samurai swords turned into crafting sushi knives as their business.


Since then, hundreds of years of accrued understanding and experience in sushi knife-making have been handed down from masters to students.


Razor sharp sushi as well as sahimi knives are hand-made for a particular job and there are particular directions to hold and preserve them. Many knives are made up of high-grade carbon steel. High-grade carbon steel is not stainless so sushi knives made from this type of steel can rust easily. Though the good thing about sushi knives is that they are easy to sharpen.


This kinds of knives have single-beveled edge meaning only one side holds the cutting edge while the other side stays flat. The flat edge is there so that foods don’t stick to the knife.
 

Most sushi knives are made right-handed since many people believe that it is easier to cut fish using the right hand. Generally, left handed knives are made to order and cost a lot more than the right handed knives.


They either made true forged (Honyaki) or mist (Kasumi). Honyaki is made from a high-grade single steel while Kasumi is made from two types of steels which are hard iron and softer high carbon.


Essential Sushi Knives:

• Yanagi-ba - Yanagi-ba is what they call the typical knife for cutting sushi rolls.
• Deba - Ideal for cutting through bones and fish cartilage.
• USuba - Best for fine cuts and peeling.
• Santoku - Known as the “three virtues” which is ideal for fish, meat, and vegetables.

 
If you are looking for this type of kitchen knife decorated with a beautiful art, see Yanagiba Sushi Knife with Makie-e Art.

A Masterpiece: Sprinkled Picture of Art in a Japanese Gyuto Knife

“Sprinkled picture of art in a Japanese Gyuto knife - a masterpiece!” This is probably a layman would describe a knife with a Maki-e art. Maki-e, in Japan, literally means “sprinkled picture”. Applied by using a makizutsu or akebo brush, This is a kind of Japanese lacquer drizzled in gold and silver powder used as an adornment.

The History of Maki-e Making

This Japanese art started from Nara period (710 - 794 CE) while in the Heian period (974 - 1185), it was tailored in Buddhist altar fittings. In Muromachi period (1333 - 1573 CE), Maki-e arts were used to serve court peerage for stationery-making like inkstone cases. But it was not until the Edo period (1603 - 1868) that it bloomed. It was polished over time and became the elegant art that speaks of Japan. Then its reputation was accepted by royal families and armed chiefs to signify their authority.

Artists who want to learn this art usually go through several years of guidance to acquire skills and to eventually, become an experts. A variety of metal powders can be used to come up with different colors and surfaces like with copper, brass, lead, aluminum, platinum, pewter, together their alloys.

The very first lacquer master linked to this kind of arts was Koami Docho (1410 - 1478). He used markings from different Japanese painters in his arts. There are two major schools of lacquer making in the history of Japan and Koami together with another master, Igarashi Shinsai, were its prime movers.

One of the major methods being used in making this was Takamekie (or raised Maki-e). Conceptualized in the Muromachi period, the method of Takamekie includes raising up drawing patterns directly above the surface using a combination of lacquer, metal powder, and charcoal.

When putting a black lacquer without oil on the metal design as an additional coating, that method is called Maki-e Togidashi.

Their art truly represents the Japanese people love for beauty. It is an art that speaks deeply of their culture and somehow gives the world an understanding of the Japanese people in this age of time.

See more Japanese Gyuto Knife beautified with a Maki-e art,
click >> goo.gl/g6h7X1

Japanese Knives: Beautifully Sliced Sashimi With A Yanagi Knife

Yanagi-ba-bocho literally means “willow blade knife”. Some people, for a shorter term, call it Yanagi. Yanagi knife belongs to the sashimi hocho group of Japanese knives. The Yanagi knife originated from Kansai (Osaka) region.
 

In order for a slice of sashimi to be called perfect, when one looks at it at a microscopic view, the inside must be smooth looking and shiny. And that is usually the result when it was sliced using a Japanese Yanagi knife.

 

Here is a list that makes a Japanese Yanagi knife perfect for slicing sashimi:

** Length – This knife has a long blade so it can slice through a block of raw fish in just one pulling direction. When one cuts the fish in an irregular pattern, the cross section is going to be bad not only in appearance, but it will also cause the cell of the fish being cut destroyed. This has a direct effect on the taste of the fish.
 
** Thickness – It has a thin blade that creates less effort in slicing a fish. When there is even the slightest amount of force added in slicing, one is not slicing anymore, but instead, tearing the fish.
Scraped Back Face – some Japanese Yanagi knives have its back faces scraped out so that the sliced fish easily detaches itself from the blade.
 
** Single Ground – one thing that makes a knife excellent for slicing fish is that it has a single ground blade. A single ground blade, aside from it being easy to sharpen, gives more control to the user for slicing delicate objects, like in this case, raw fish.
 

In making a Japanese Yanagi knife, its hardness and toughness is modeled in the same way as a Japanese sword. It is made using a combination of hard and soft steels; the softer steel wraps around the inner harder steel. So, what can users expect from a Japanese Yanagi knife? Sharpness and durability for a long period of time.

For beautifully sliced sashimi, use this knife!

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