Advice needed, please: Alton's angles, vs. Onion paring knives.

Walking Man

Walking Man

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May 28, 2003
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Hello.
I'm having trouble deciding between an Alton's angle and Ken Onion utility/paring knives. Both appear to have angles that make cutting easier for me, but I just can't decide which I like best. Right now, I'm leaning most toward the Onion utility, but I'd like some input for an angled 4" or 5" kitchen knife. Thanks.
 
WM, can't go wrong with either. Go with the blade shape that will best suits your needs.
 
Personally, I do not see the advantage of the angled handle on a paring knife since it is held with the fingers wrapped around the handle with the edge facing the thumb. I rarely, if ever, use a paring knife on a cutting board so rapping my knuckles is not an issue - all paring is done in the air. At the risk of eliciting another "ARRRRGGGGHHHHHH!!!!! (in mean Pirate voice) I had a bad feeling I'd get an answer like that", I suggest that if you want a Kai paring knife you go to the Williams-Sonoma website and do a search on Kaji. The Kaji paring knife is SUHWEEET!

I am leaning towards getting an Alton Angle vegetable knife that I believe will be suitable for precision cuts on a board but I haven't had the chance to handle one yet.
 
Perhaps I wasn't clear. I'm not really much of a cook, and I will definitely be using this on a cutting board. I'm not even sure that I actually do much paring, (not exactly sure what paring is exactly.... LOL...) but I would like a 4 or 5 in. knife with an angle. Also, I NEVER cut in the air.
I guess maybe I should have just asked about the utility knives!
 
Walking Man, did you ever see the Alton Brown videos? I highly recommend them. One of them deals with the basics kitchen knife skills of slicing, chopping, and paring. I cut in the air when paring and when whittling.

Yeah, I guess you are really looking for either a utility or a chef's knife. If it's going to be your workhorse kitchen knife I would go with the chef's knife (including santokus in this category). A chef's knife is a little more stout and is also designed as a multi-purpose knife.
 
Walking Man said:
I guess maybe I should have just asked about the utility knives!
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It's funny you mention utility knives in the kitchen. I don't do much cooking
but I have found that the Needs Work ergos work great on a cutting board in the kitchen....at least for me. :thumbup:
 
Walking Man said:
Okay, I think I'm going to get the onion utility, because I think it will allow you to bear down a little more if you need to, because it looks like you'd have better leverage and thumb control.
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I see you took my advice. :D
 
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