How to Cut Basic Fruits & Vegetables!

Want to brush up on your basic knife skills? Here’s a video tutorial for home cooks on cutting fruit and vegetables: you’ll be cutting like a pro in no time!

Want to brush up on your basic knife skills? At A Couple Cooks we believe that knife skills are invaluable. Knowing how to hold a knife and properly chop fruits and vegetables can drastically cut your prep time and boost your confidence in the kitchen. So we created that Video knife lesson only for you!

These 20 video tutorials share everything you need to know about knife techniques! In the basic knife skills overview video, we share our best chef’s knife, how to hold a knife, and how to take care of your knives. Then each video shows exactly how to cut 20 different fruits and vegetables!

Knife Skills Videos: How to Cut Fruits and Vegetables!

Video: Basic Knife Skills Overview!

Before you start mastering these fruit and vegetable knife techniques, be sure to watch this video overview! You can also consult the information below. Here we share how to hold a knife, the best knives and cutting boards, and an overview of basic cuts. Ready to start?

Use a good non-slip cutting board

Before we get started on your basic knife skills, let’s talk cutting boards. It’s important to have a good cutting board with non-slip feet. Without them, the cutting board can move while cutting, making the knife unstable and increasing the risk of cutting yourself! (If you don’t have a cutting board with non-slip feet, place a damp towel under the board.) Here are some of the best cutting boards we recommend:

Our best chef’s knife

People ask us all the time What’s the best chef’s knife you recommend? Here’s our best chef’s knife: a 7-inch chef’s knife that fits both small and large hands. Alex likes to use a giant knife, so we also have a 10″ chef’s knife. Remember that a good knife lasts quite a long time: ours have lasted over 10 years so far! It is therefore an excellent investment. If you are looking for a cheaper knife, we recommend a cheap 8″ chef’s knife. A few other essential knives for the kitchen are a paring knife and a serrated knife for slicing bread and tomatoes. These recommendations are perfect for outfitting your own kitchen, or great gifts for a wedding registry or someone who loves to cook!

How to hold a knife

MOST One important thing you can learn to improve your basic knife skills is how to hold a knife! Do not put your finger on the blade of the knife or hold the beginning of the handle. in place Grip the handle of the knife firmly where the handle meets the blade. This gives you maximum control over the knife when cutting.

Master the motion of slicing

Once you master how to hold a knife, you can practice the movement of cutting. This move is also essential for your basic knife skills! When dicing, chopping, or slicing, use a circular motion with the knife. Use the blade end of the knife to balance. You can practice this type of movement without cutting anything. Watch the video on it as it’s easier to understand when you see it in action.

How to sharpen a knife

How do you sharpen a knife? And how often? Alex and I have our knives sharpened by professionals: There are a few shops in our town that offer knife sharpening. There is also a knife sharpener that comes to our Farmer’s Market. Without a home sharpener, have your knives sharpened by a professional every 6 months. Ask around to find a professional pencil sharpener in your town.

You can also use a household knife sharpener. Use this sharpener every few weeks and then have your knives professionally sharpened from time to time. Here’s the homemade sharpener we’re using:

How to clean knives

Never put your chef’s knife in the dishwasher! If you put a chef’s knife in the dishwasher, the blade will dull faster. Always wash your chef’s knife with soap and water and dry it completely before storing it.

The best way to store kitchen knives

So what’s the best way to store knives? Above all, Don’t keep your loose chef’s knives in a drawer! This dulls the knives and is a safety hazard! Instead, use a knife block, magnetic tape, or one of our favorite options, a drawer organizer. Ever since we had a toddler, we’ve found that a child-proof drawer organizer is an easy and safe way to store knives. Here’s the drawer organizer we’re using:

What is chopped, diced and chopped?

Here are some basic knife skills and how to distinguish between some common cuts. Chopped refers to cutting into rough, irregular pieces.

rolled refers to cutting into smaller, more even pieces, usually around 1/4-inch squares.

Chopped refers to cutting something into very small cubes.

want to practice

Try what we like to call our Knife Skills Soup, which lets you practice different vegetable skills and create a delicious soup!