How To Use A Channel Knife

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Bars and kitchens sometimes accept all manner of arcane tools and implements, simply a aqueduct knife is a must for any self-respecting bartender or chef. A basic tool used for making garnishes, a channel knife is indispensable for creating simple but elegant flairs for cocktails and other dishes.

Bones Design of Channel Knives

A channel pocketknife is a elementary tool. It has a handle the size and shape of a small-scale knife or vegetable peeler. At the cease of the handle is a metal function with a sharp, V-shaped metal projection extending downwards from a small surrounding frame. Viewed directly from higher up, it looks like a rectangle with a "V" extending from one side of the rectangle toward the centre, and the interior of the "V" may or may non exist hollow. From the side, the "Five"-shaped metal extends downward 1/eight to 1/iv inch. The edges of the "V" are sharp, merely mostly only on the top side. Channel knives may be designed with the "V" pointing towards the handle or perpendicular to the handle.

Making Citrus Twists

Aqueduct knives are used mainly for cutting strips of citrus fruit rind for cocktail garnishes. The knife is drawn over the surface of a lemon, lime, orange or grapefruit and the V-shaped blade cuts a strip well-nigh one/four inch wide and 1/4 inch deep, removing just the rind and leaving behind the white pith underneath. This technique of cut a channel-shaped section from a fruit or vegetable gives the utensil its name. Drawing the pocketknife around the surface forms the spiral shape for the twist. Different knives may cutting thicker or thinner channels, or wider or narrower channels, depending on the design.

Other Channel Knife Uses

Channel knives may also exist used for other decorative work, like cutting strips in cucumbers or carrots before slicing to create design, such as a flower shape. They are sometimes used for carving melons for intricate displays, pumpkins, squash or gourds for craft projects, or making curls from blocks of frozen or chilled butter.

Channel Pocketknife Materials

Older channel knives were sometimes made with steel, which corroded or stained after contact with water or acidic materials. The handles were entirely made of wood. Afterwards the advent of cheap stainless steel, almost all channel knives were made from it. Stainless steel will not corrode, is durable, and can hold a precipitous edge. The handles are made from forest, plastic, nylon, synthetic composites or metal.

Choosing a Channel Knife

If you mix the occasional cocktail at a home cocktail or vacation party, will not demand an expensive, high-terminate channel knife. A basic model will serve most purposes. Better habitation ware stores volition carry ane or more models of aqueduct pocketknife, and you lot tin can find many more than online. You lot can also buy them at restaurant supply stores.