If you plan to prepare dishes from fresh fish, its cutting will be much more convenient if you have a special filet knife. Finding the right device is quite a problem for beginners in cooking. The bulk of the products differs in similar characteristics, so before choosing the most suitable option, you should thoroughly understand the differences in filet knives.
Distinctive features
Modern fish fillet knives have the following features:
- narrowed blade;
- special curved shape of the cutting part, which contributes to the most convenient cutting of fish;
- suggest a special method of sharpening the blade at an angle of about 25 about ;
- do not have a limiter.
Blade
A standard filet knife for fish can have a blade with a length of 16, 19, or 21 centimeters. This is dictated by the need for cutting fish of a certain size. With products with short blades it is convenient to process small loin parts. At the same time, to cut large fish, such as salmon, a long blade is required.
The determining criterion for the selection of the cutting part is the flexibility of the blade. The most flexible fillet knife for fish will have a thin blade. If you have such a product, you will have to work much longer when separating the loin from the spine. Therefore, this option is suitable only for the separation of directly soft parts when preparing the fish for cooking.
So, the blade of a good, multi-function filet knife should be:
- Long, but flexible enough.
- The blade should be highly sensitive to the actions of the cook, otherwise when cutting, you can skip the whole mass of small bones.
- A knife for cutting fish from stainless steel is best able to maintain the necessary level of sharpening. However, due to its low strength, this option is suitable only for cutting fillets or cutting vegetables.
Handle
Since a fish fillet knife is often used directly on fishing, its handle must be made using moisture-resistant materials. A great option would be to buy a product with a leather-covered handle made of birch bark or wood with a water-repellent coating.
If you need to choose a truly high-quality filet knife for fish, in this case it is recommended to pay attention to products with handles from the horn. This option is not only extremely durable, but also has an original, attractive appearance.
As for the shape of the handle, it should be characterized by maximum convenience for a particular user. To determine the most convenient form, it is enough to test the knife in practice.
Currently, fillet knives are in high demand, the handles of which suggest the possibility of replacing the blade. This allows you to quickly restore the functionality of the product in case of damage or breakage of the blade.
However, in no case should you discount products with synthetic handles. Naturally, such a knife for cutting fish will become a reliable assistant only in the case of manufacture by a reputable manufacturer.
Sheath
To buy a knife for cutting fish means to pick up the appropriate scabbard. Since products in this category have extremely sharp blades, the presence of such protection is a mandatory requirement.
The scabbard should be selected that will not hamper the movements during use. At the same time, it is better that the design harmonizes with the appearance of the handle and the whole product for cutting fish as much as possible.
Cost and Manufacturers
It cannot be stated with certainty that the preparation of fish dishes becomes impossible without the use of sirloin knives. If desired, you can quite deftly manage with ordinary kitchen products.
Fish fillet knife is an indispensable tool exclusively for professional chefs, real cooking fans and a must for avid fishermen. An ordinary user can only understand how much such kitchen equipment is needed.
Currently, experts identify several of the best manufacturers of fish cutting knives:
- fillet knives for fish "Rapala" (Finland);
- cutting products of the brand "Kasumi" (Japan);
- products of the company "Opinel" (France).
However, there are a number of no less popular manufacturers of filet knives. For example, the products of reputable companies Gipfel and Victorinox are in high demand among consumers. If we talk about the price range, then a huge breadth of products with a cost of $ 10 to $ 300 is available to the consumer.
Useful Tips
How to choose the most convenient, effective fillet knife for fish? What option to choose to meet the needs of a particular cook? To do this, once again pay attention to the opinion of experts in the field of cooking:
- First of all, the parameters of the blade of a sirloin knife should be as close as possible to the size of the fish being cut.
- Professional chefs who repeatedly use products for cutting fish during the working day, it is recommended to pay attention to the handle with a rough surface.
- An ideal material for making a filet knife is considered to be high-strength and at the same time malleable Damascus steel.
- According to the prevailing opinion, the highest quality, perfect fillet knives are made by the Japanese. Therefore, it is worth first of all to consider options with the purchase of just such products. With a limited budget, products from Finnish manufacturers will be a good option.
- The use of kitchen knives for cutting fish differs in some difficulties, so you should work with them very carefully. Together with a sirloin knife, inexperienced chefs should purchase an instruction manual.
- A useful, convenient additional accessory for the knife will be a special fork, which will allow you to fix the fish in the right position during cutting, avoiding injury.