One of the most commonly used kitchen tools is a knife. It is an important cooking tool to complete the first step of any dish, which is chopping and slicing. From chopping onions to chopping meat, it’s essential to understand how to use the right knife. Many of us use the same kitchen knife for practically all tasks, including spreading butter, slicing bread, and even slicing meat improperly. However, using the right knife can make a significant difference in the quality of your food. Whether you’re a novice cook or looking to improve your knife skills, read on to discover five different types of knives to use in your kitchen.

Read also: 4 Butter Knife Alternatives You Should Consider For Your Kitchen

Here are the top 5 essential knives for every kitchen:

1. Chef’s Knife

A classic chef’s knife is the most important knife in your collection. It is used for most everyday kitchen tasks, including chopping fruits, vegetables, meats and fish. The two most common forms of Western chef’s knives are the French and German blade shapes.

Size: 8 Inch

_{Chef’s knife is bigger than other knives. Pphoto credit: istock}

2. Cutting Knife

A paring knife is a multi-purpose knife that is small in size and has a slightly curved blade, used for cutting and mincing foods. It is generally preferred for chopping and mincing garlic and for finely peeling fruits and vegetables.

Size: 3-4 Inch

_{It is very easy to use a paring knife for peeling vegetables and fruits. photo credit: iStock}

3. Boning Knife

The Boning Knife is a sleek, stylish looking knife that is considered to be the best knife for deboning or boning fish and meat of any size. However, this knife is not recommended if you want to cut meat with the bone in, as it is typically used to cut meat around the bone.

Size: 5-7 Inch

_{It is generally difficult to cut meat with an ordinary kitchen knife. photo credit: iStock}

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4. serrated knife

Also known as a bread knife, serrated knives are long and are typically used for cutting bread. With this knife you can easily cut thin slices of bread, such as sourdough, focaccia, baguette and bagel.

Size: 7 Inch

_{Cut your bread loaf with a serrated knife. photo credit: iStock}

5. Butter Knife

The tip of a butter knife is rounded so that it does not tear while spreading butter on bread. They are also known as butter spreaders and are generally thicker and heavier than other knives.

_{Butter knives are best for spreading butter on bread. photo credit: iStock}

Size: 5-7 Inch

While there are many different types of knives available in the market, these are some of the basic knives that you should have in your kitchen.