The Best Paring Knife

Buying Guide

Whether you are a professional chef or a home cook, you need a paring knife. This small knife packs a powerful punch and makes preparing fruits and vegetables for consumption or use in a recipe a breeze. Of course, not all paring knives are created equal, so make sure you examine the knife’s features before you buy.

Start your search for the best paring knife by reviewing the construction of the knife. Not only do you want the knife to be sturdy, but also extremely durable. The Cuisinart C77TR-3PR Triple Rivet Collection Paring Knife is made from a high-carbon stainless steel. It won’t rust, retain odors or become stained, no matter what piece of produce you’re working with.

Check the paring knife’s blade next. The Victorinox Swiss Straight Edge Paring Knives, 4-Piece uses a short blade for precision, while other knives have a professional satin-finished blade that is finely honed to stay sharp for longer. Typically, you’ll find paring knives have blades that are between 2 and 4 inches long with either a straight or a curved edge.

Just as important as the construction and quality of the blade is the paring knife’s handle. You want a knife with an ergonomic handle that is not only comfortable but also reduces hand fatigue. This is especially important if you’re prepping a large number of fruits and vegetables at once. The Mercer Culinary Millennia Slim Paring Knife, 3-Inch goes a step further with their handle, by incorporating a few safety features. It comes with textured finger points, a non-slip grip and a protective finger guard.

Look for any extra value that the paring knife might offer. For example, a knife set inside a luxurious gift package is a great choice for a birthday, Christmas or housewarming gift. Knives with colored handles may add a little brightness to your day. You can even purchase paring knives in a multi-pack, so you can assign one knife for fruits, one for vegetables and one for de-veining shrimp.

• Pay attention to the size of the paring knife’s handle. Reviewers report that big handles make in-hand work cumbersome. This is especially true if your hands are on the smaller side.
• Thinner paring knife blades will have a harder time slicing through tough vegetables.
• Your paring knives are no different than a chef’s knife, in that, they need to be sharpened from time to time. You can take them to a professional or attempt to sharpen the blades yourself. One method is to purchase a knife sharpener, which actually does the work for you. While this method is the easiest, most professionals suggest using a whetstone or a honing tool instead. Both of these tools give you more control and are less damaging to your knife’s blade.
• Always check the paring knife’s product care label before washing. Many are dishwasher safe, however, some suggest hand washing the knives, as it’s easier on the blade.
• If your paring knife didn’t come with a storage box or a butcher block, there are a few storage options you can choose from. A magnetic strip is an excellent choice, as long as you don’t have small children in the home who could access the knives. You could also go with an in-drawer knife holder. This handy invention not only protects the blades, but it eliminates accidental cuttings that occur when knives are simply floating around your drawer.
• Paring knives are available at a few different price points. The Mercer Culinary Millennia Slim Paring Knife, 3-Inch is among the most affordable, while the Victorinox Swiss Straight Edge Paring Knives, 4-Piece is more moderately priced. If you’re looking for a higher-end paring knife, the Cuisinart C77TR-3PR Triple Rivet Collection Paring Knife is your best bet.