Want to serve up a fruit platter without swapping between three different knives? Although with some fruits most knives will work just fine, it makes the process so much swifter and less strenuous when you’re using the right knife for the right task. Let’s look at what the best knife is for cutting fruit that you should have in your kitchen.
What Is The Best Knife For Cutting Fruit?
Let’s be honest, not all fruits are made equal. You’re not going to use the same knife to cut strawberries than you will to cut a pineapple. It can be nice to have a range of different knives, but at the very least you should be equipped with at least one knife for cutting small fruits and one for cutting large fruits.
Best Knife For Small Fruits
Paring Knife
The paring knife is the optimal knife for precision and control. If you’ve ever watched a movie where someones cutting an apple in their hands, this is the one. Because of its small 2-4 inch thin blade it’s able to maneuver around any shape and through any small fruit with ease.
If your kitchen arsenal doesn’t hold a paring knife then you’re missing out on a very satisfying and useful tool for cutting fruit. Generally, you want to use the larger 4-inch paring knife for slightly larger “small” fruits, and the 2-inch paring knife for berries, kiwi fruit, etc.
I use the Paudin 3.5 Inch Kitchen Knife and haven’t looked back, I find it’s a good size and the ergonomic handle is really comfortable. However, the SteinBrucke Paring Knife is very highly rated and is much more affordable, so it could be a good pick-up depending on your budget and how often you prepare fruits.
Utility Knife
For cutting fruit, the utility knife is your one size fits all. It’s practically a smaller and sturdier version of a chef’s knife, and you’ll be able to cut most fruits with it with ease. Although it won’t be able to tackle a full watermelon or pineapple the way a chef’s knife would, you can use it for practically anything else.
Utility knives are reasonably priced and often come in knife sets, if your knife set didn’t come with one, or you’re looking for something high quality for a permanent addition to your kitchen, go for something like the Zyliss Utility Kitchen Knife. It’s sharp, affordable, and made with decent quality steel. It’s also one of the most popular choices easily available in the market.
Best Knife For Large Fruits
Santoku Knife
When you’ve got a pineapple, watermelon, or a pumpkin you know your paring or utility knife isn’t going to cut it. Pardon the pun. For larger fruits it’s best to use a large, 6-8 inch Santoku knife. The Santoku knife is a hefty all rounder with a wide blade and thicker spine. With the Santoku knife you’re able to slice through larger fruits with the divots (indents) helping to prevent the fruit stick as you cut.
To safely cut through larger fruits, you can place your open palm on the spine of the knife and push down through the fruit as you slice. This adds power and control to the cut.
Since the Santoku knife is quite versatile in use, if you don’t have one already it’s always worthwhile going for something medium to high quality as you’ll get the most out of it this way. The Imarku 7 Inch Santoku Knife is a professional quality Santoku knife at a reasonable price.
Chef Knife
The chef’s knife, similar to the Santoku knife, can be used for almost all fruits. It’s also the preferred tool for a lot of tasks in the kitchen. The chef’s knife is definitely the most important knife to have in the kitchen, whether you’re a professional or an amateur. If you don’t have a Santoku knife then the chef’s knife will do the same job.
Specialist Knives For Cutting Fruit
Peeling Knife
If you’re been around a commercial kitchen or if you’re well equipped you may know the usefulness of the short but precise peeling knife, with the short blade and curved tip. Works perfectly to peel any fruits or vegetables.
Melon Baller
The melon baller is an ice cream scoop looking tool designed to scoop perfect spheres out of fruit or vegetables or to de-seed or clean out certain fruits or vegetables. It’s sharp edges help it scoop through.
Tomato Knife
The safest and best way to cut a tomato is by using a slightly serrated and sharp knife. The tomato knife is designed to cut through tomatoes easily and safely, but can be used for cheeses, vegetables, or any other fruits.
Other Knife Resources
If you want to continue sharpening your knife knowledge, take a look at the Anatomy of the Knife & Guide to Kitchen Knives.
If you work around meat in the kitchen, you may find it useful to see the Best Knife For Trimming Brisket or the Best Meat Cleavers in the Market.
If you prepare a lot of meat yourself, see how our picks weighed up for the Best Knife For Cutting Raw Meat, or the Best Knife For Cutting Frozen Meat.
Taking care of your knives is important. Having a Top Quality Honing Steel in your kitchen will help you keep your knives straight which also helps keep them holding their edge.
