Knife Skills

The Knife Skills category brings together the practical side of working in the kitchen: the tools you cut with, how to handle and store them safely, and the techniques that make everyday prep faster and more even. If you are new to this area, start with the safety guide, Safe Knife Handling, Storage, and Kitchen Transport, since good habits with a blade matter more than any particular tool. From there, the step-by-step onion dicing guide is a useful place to build a foundation, because dicing touches almost every technique in the category. Next, read the article on mincing garlic and herbs without a press, which shows how a single knife can handle delicate, repetitive work. The guide on slicing meat and vegetables thinly will help you refine control and consistency. For a broader view of how these skills fit into a working kitchen, the Food Preparation Skills Guide covers knife work alongside prep workflow and organization. Finally, if you want a dedicated tool for specific jobs, the roundup of kitchen shears is worth a look once you know which tasks you handle most often. Reading in this order moves from safety, to core cuts, to refinement, to workflow.

Start here

• 19 Best Kitchen Shears

Guides & tips

• Safe Knife Handling, Storage, and Kitchen Transport
• Techniques for Slicing Meat and Vegetables Thinly
• How to Mince Garlic and Herbs Without a Press
• A Step-by-Step Guide to Dicing an Onion
• Food Preparation Skills Guide: Knife Work and Prep Workflow

Frequently asked questions

Which article should I read first in this category?

Start with Safe Knife Handling, Storage, and Kitchen Transport, since safe habits apply to every other technique. The onion dicing guide is a good second read for building core skills.

Do I need kitchen shears as well as a chef's knife?

Shears handle tasks like trimming herbs, cutting poultry, or opening packaging that can be awkward or unsafe with a knife. Many home cooks find them useful alongside a main knife, though they are not strictly required.

How do I know if my technique is improving?

Look for more even pieces, steadier cuts, and less time spent on prep. Practicing one technique at a time, such as dicing onions repeatedly, makes progress easier to notice.