Thick, pink, juicy and meaty; that’s the perfect steak, isn’t it? But even when you’re cutting through a melt-in-the-mouth steak, you’ll still need to use a good steak knife if you want the cleanest and most easy cut. And did you know that steak knives aren’t reserved for a fine cut of beef? Vegetarians too can benefit from the sharp, serrated edge of a steak knife.
We rely heavily on our steak knives and we’ve been thinking about it a lot recently. So much so that we just had to put together a definitive guide on why every kitchen needs a good set of steak knives and which are the best steak knives. Let’s get started!
Table of contents
What Is a Steak Knife?
You might think that the humble steak knife is a modern invention but when you look back at its history, you’ll be surprised to find out that these tools have been used as far back as Medieval times. Back then, they may not have been exactly the same as they are today but more often than not, a sharp knife was the only tool available for eating. People would carry a portable knife and this tradition is still carried out in some parts of rural Europe.
The steak knife is a table knife but unlike other types of table knives, the blade features a serrated edge. It usually comes with a wooden handle but you’ll find some with metal handles, especially more modern designs.
Why Do I Need a Steak Knife?
You could be forgiven for thinking that you didn’t need a steak knife if you don’t eat meat. Well, that isn’t entirely true. Yes, these serrated steak knives are amazing at cutting cleanly through a piece of steak but they have a variety of other uses.They're Long Lasting
Your average table knife might not last very long, especially if you haven’t invested in good quality ones. Today, many people buy supermarket table knives that aren’t designed for longevity and in a throw-away society, this isn’t surprising.Steak knives are typically a lot more durable than a regular table knife and so once you invest in a good set, it’s unlikely you will need to replace them any time soon. There are knives out there that are designed to last indefinitely, so it’s worth considering.
Moreover, if you attempt to use your regular table knives to cut through tough meat, this will cause them to become prematurely damaged. They simply aren’t designed to cut through meat in the same way that a serrated blade is.
What’s great is that these serrated knives don’t need a huge amount of upkeep and certainly don’t need to be sharpened as frequently as other types of knives.
They Are Versatile
Before you own a set of steak knives, you probably find yourself in a bit of a rut when it comes to cooking. Did you know that most people don’t cook steak at home simply because they don’t have the tools to eat it with? That’s crazy when there are so many excellent steak knives on the market.Once you get some steak knives, you will find that you begin to explore different dishes and this applies also to vegetarians and vegans.
Since steak knives are great for various grilled dishes and make amazing utensils for eating things like tofu and tempeh. There are many other meat substitutes that are more easily tackled with a steak knife set so no matter what your diet, you’ll find a use for these tools.
It’s also worth keeping in mind that steak knives have a serrated edge that will much more easily cut through tougher skinned veggies without squashing the soft inside parts.
They're Good for Food Prep
While steak knives are designed to be used at the table, this isn’t the only thing they are good for. If you find that some preparation jobs are difficult with other types of knives then your steak knife might come in handy.As we have already discussed, they are ideal for cutting through vegetables that have thick skins but they will also work well for cutting cheese and fruit. They are among the most versatile pieces in your kitchen arsenal so don’t think that they are limited to table use.
They Are Affordable
A lot of people are put off the idea of buying steak knives because they can be expensive. As with anything, there are some that come with a very high price tag but this isn’t the case across the board.You will want to avoid buying very cheap steak knives as these won’t have the longevity you are looking for but in reality, you can get a very good set for less than £100, sometimes cheaper. Once you have them, you won’t need to fork out again for a very long time.
Of course, it is worth pointing out that taking good care of your steak knives will further improve their lifespan. While they don’t need sharpening very often, you will need to make sure that you protect the blades and keep them clean.
Final Thoughts
Steak knives are usually reserved for the dinner table when you need to cut into a piece of delicious meat. But what surprises a lot of people is that these versatile knives have a plethora of other uses. Whether it is preparing veggies in the kitchen or cutting through meat substitutes, you aren’t limited to how you can use these tools!
