Knives & Cutting
This page collects the tools I rely on most for cutting food and maintaining a sharp edge. Chosen for their usefulness, durability, and the way they support good technique. You won’t find everything here, just the things that consistently earn their place in my kitchen and help make cooking more deliberate, reliable, and enjoyable.
Good cooking starts before the pan ever heats up, and most of that work happens with a knife in your hand. How ingredients are cut affects how they cook and come together, making consistency less about perfection and more about control.
A good knife makes that control easier. When it’s sharp, balanced, and comfortable to use, it encourages better habits, safer work, and less effort. Helping keep your attention on the food, not the tool.
You don’t need a full set to cook well. A small, well-chosen lineup and a little care will outperform a crowded knife block every time, turning knives into one of the most reliable parts of the kitchen.
8″ Chef’s Knife
A well-balanced chef’s knife does most of the work in the kitchen and rewards good technique with cleaner, more consistent prep.
A knife should feel steady and natural in your hand without pulling forward or back.
If it doesn’t feel good to hold, it won’t get used, no matter how sharp it is.
A knife that sharpens easily and holds an edge beats one that’s hard to care for.
An 8″ chef’s knife handles most tasks better than a drawer full of specialty blades.
Wooden Cutting Board
A sturdy cutting board protects your knives while giving you a stable, forgiving to work on. A good board stays put, resists warping, and quietly supports clean, consistent prep.
End-grain or edge-grain hardwood
Enough thickness to stay stable
Non-slip feel or rubber feet
Easy to oil and maintain
Plastic Cutting Board
A dedicated plastic board for meat helps reduce cross contamination and simplifies cleanup. Being dishwasher safe makes it easy to sanitize thoroughly, which encourages safer prep without adding extra steps.
Dishwasher safe
Clearly dedicated for raw proteins
Non-porous surface
Stays flat under heat
1000 / 6000 Grit Whetstone
This combination stone covers the full sharpening cycle, from restoring a dull edge to refining it for everyday cooking. It’s a practical, no-nonsense way to keep knives sharp without relying on gadgets or guesswork.
True dual-grit stone
Consistent abrasive quality
Comes with a non-slip base
Leather Strop
A strop helps maintain a keen edge between sharpenings by realigning the blade without removing much material. It’s a simple habit that keeps knives performing well and extends the time between full sharpening sessions.
Firm, smooth leather
Mounted or easily stabilized
Compatible with compound
Long enough for full strokes
Knife Block
A knife block keeps blades protected, organized, and within easy reach while preserving their edges. It’s a straightforward storage solution that encourages good care and safer kitchens.
Steak knives without a serated edge
Stable, tip-resistant base
Fits your knife collection (not oversized)
Paring Knife
A paring knife handles the small, detailed work that larger knives can’t, from peeling to trimming. When it’s sharp and comfortable, it becomes an extension of your hand for precision tasks.
Comfortable handle grip
Thin, sharp blade
Good balance in hand
Easy to resharpen
Magnetic Knife Holder
A magnetic holder stores knives safely while keeping them visible and accessible. It saves counter space, protects edges, and makes reaching for the right knife feel effortless.
Strong, evenly distributed magnets
Secure mounting hardware
Enough length for spacing knives
Smooth surface to protect blades