General Purposes of Paring Knives

Paring Knives are usually small and have about a 2-4 inch blade, which comes to a point. They are lightweight and easy on the hands. Paring knives are usually used for:

• Peeling potatoes
• Coring
• De-veining shrimp
• Cutting garnishes like radishes
• Cutting strawberries

Anything that needs small detail you can use a paring knife. If the blade were any longer then 2-4 then it would be a utility knife. Many kitchens have one just for peeling the potatoes and nothing else. Some have more than one and use it for one particular job alone. The point on a paring knife is great for cutting out the little bad eyes in potatoes. Many use them remove the hulls on strawberries. The point gets right under the hull and flips it right out. The blade is thin enough so it does not gouge the strawberry. Pairing knives are considered one of the three main knives that all kitchens must have.