Do you know what material the knives you use when cooking are made of? In this article, we will briefly talk about the material, which is one of the important points when choosing a knife. We hope that this article will be helpful in choosing a knife.
Knife Materials Explained
・Steel knives
Steel knives are characterized by their excellent sharpness and ease of sharpening. They tend to be particularly popular with professional chefs, and their sharpness does not fade easily even after long periods of use. However, their disadvantage is that they rust easily, and rust will quickly appear if you neglect to take care of them.
・Stainless steel knives
Stainless steel is widely used as a material that is resistant to rust. Although it does not maintain its sharpness as well as steel, it is easy to maintain and is very popular as a kitchen knife for home use. Recently, the number of high-performance stainless steel knives has increased, and their performance has improved.
Types of steel used in steel knives
Here are some of the most common steels used for steel knives:
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White paper steel
It has a very sharp edge and is easy to sharpen due to its moderate hardness. It is a well-balanced material for knives. -
Blue paper steel
It is an alloy steel made by adding chromium and tungsten to white paper steel. It is harder and more wear-resistant than white paper steel, but is more difficult to sharpen. -
Yellow paper steel
It is slightly cheaper than white paper steel and makes for an easy-to-sharpen and use knife.
Types of steel used in stainless steel knives
Below are some examples of steels used in stainless steel knives
・Molybdenum steel
This material is often used for household knives because it is highly rust-resistant and relatively hard. It is easy to maintain and will last a long time.
・VG10 Steel
This is a high-grade stainless steel that combines sharpness and rust resistance, and is often used for professional knives. It is easy to resharpen and has high hardness.
・Ginsan Steel
Because it contains a lot of carbon, it has a sharpness similar to that of a steel knife, and also has the rust-resistance of stainless steel.
How to choose between steel and stainless steel
・Who is a steel knife suitable for?
Steel knives are suitable for those who are looking for a sharp knife and don't mind frequent maintenance. They are especially recommended for those whose hobby is cooking and who enjoy spending time caring for their knives.
・Who is a stainless steel knife suitable for?
Stainless steel knives are ideal for those who value ease of maintenance and for those who do not often sharpen knives for home use. They are easy to use even for beginners.
lastly
Stainless steel is easy to maintain, and steel maintains its sharpness. Both types of steel have their pros and cons, so it's important to choose a knife that suits you. However, stainless steel knives are often used in ordinary households. It might be interesting to try using a steel knife at this opportunity.
