During food prep and other kitchen tasks, you will need to use the right tool to get the job done fast. A paring knife is said to be a smaller counterpart of a chef knife. Every avid cook needs this versatile tool in the kitchen, especially if you often prepare meals with delicate ingredients.
A typical paring knife is mainly for cutting vegetables and peeling fruits, but it can be used to perform other food preparation jobs. It is suitable for delicate cutting tasks, trimming, slicing, and peeling of fruits.
We know going through the numerous products can be overwhelming. So we have compiled a review on the top 6 best paring knives and include a buying guide for you.
Without further ado, let’s get started with our top 6 reviews:
Review of the Top 6 Best Paring Knives
1 .DALSTRONG Cleaver Knife
This knife from Dalstrong boasts of a razor-sharp blade and a pakkawood handle. It is made from high carbon Japanese AUS8 steel, which is stain-resistant and rust-resistant.
The entire knife blade runs into the handle and is welded for resilience, stability, and maximum control. A high quality plastic sheath is included for easy storage.
The D-shaped pakkawood handle fits into the contour of the user’s hand perfectly. Also, it features a brass and copper mosaic pin, which adds to the elegant design. The pakkawood handle is laminated and foolproof against heat and moisture.
Thanks to the wide blade and 7-inch length, this paring knife is suitable for cutting large-sized vegetables and slicing through fruits with accuracy. Plus, it has an end bolster, which adds to its heft and strength.
Pros:
Hand sharpened
High-carbon stainless steel
Pakkawood handle
Includes a protective cover
Easy to clean
Cons:
Some reviewers complained about the blade breaking.
2. Global Knife Set with Asian Chef’s, Prep and Paring Knives
Are you looking for a set of knives that includes a paring knife?
This arguably best paring knife comes with three versatile knives that every kitchen needs, whether for home use or commercial purpose. The blades are crafted from durable stainless steel that is alloyed with molybdenum and vanadium for extra hardness. The set includes a 7-inch hollow edge Chef knife, 5-inch prep knife, and 3.5-inch paring knife.
These 3-piece Japanese knives are lightweight, making them easy to grip for hours. The paring knife is the smallest and is well suited for peeling all kinds of fruits and cutting vegetables. The blade edges are ground to 56-58 Rockwell hardness for exceptional cutting performance.
However, the handles are uniquely designed and feel solid in hand. They feature some holes that are filled with sand to add more weight and balance.
Pros:
Limited lifetime warranty
3-piece knife set
Dimpled handles
Versatile
Cons:
Quite pricey
3. Shun Premier Paring Knife
Cutting and dicing your vegetables becomes an easy task with this premium quality paring knife from Shun. It is handcrafted and hand-polished by experts in Japan into a glossy finish. The paring knife is covered with 68 layers of Damascus steel and a VG max cutting core, which offers an incredible cutting performance.
With its 4-inch razor-sharp blade, you can cut through vegetables without having them look like a thread. There is an added bolster at the end of the handle for extra weight and balance. The hand-hammered finish on the blade offers a free release of food as you cut and minimizes drag.
Plus, it is resistant to wear and retains a sharp edge for longer. The nonslip wooden handle is full tang to the blade without rivets. It fits into the palm of your hand comfortably. Thanks to its lightweight, which makes holding the knife for hours convenient.
Pros:
Hand-hammered finish
Wooden handle
Full tang
Lightweight
Easy to grip
Cons:
Expensive
4. DALSTRONG – Paring Knife
From the collections of Dalstrong knives, here is another high-quality paring knife out of their Quantum series. They are forged from American hyper steel that stays ultra-sharp for an extended period. It features a laminated anti-stick pattern that ensures your delicate fruit doesn’t glue to the blade.
The blade is heat-treated to enhance its hardness, strength, and flexibility. Thanks to the leather sheath that makes storage easier and offers maximum protection. It boasts of a G10-carbon fiber handle that offers optimum control when handling and is non slip.
The handle features a silver lining in the middle and along the edge, which adds to its classical design. This paring knife arrives in a nice case and will make a great gift.
Pros:
It comes in a leather protective sheath.
Refund guaranteed
G10 handle
A perfect gift for all occasions
High carbon stainless steel
Cons:
Flimsy handle
5. Wusthof Classic Ikon Paring Knife
Wusthof Classic Ikon Paring Knife is constructed from a single piece of high carbon steel and is hand sharpened on each edge to a razor-sharp 14-degree angle. This product utilizes the best materials and features a limited lifetime warranty, so you don’t have to worry about quality.
This paring knife is sharp from the pointed tip to the heel. It is durable, easy to maintain, and won’t lock bacteria in the handle, which makes it the best paring knife for every home cook.
Thanks to the patented Precision Edge Technology utilized by Wusthof. The blade edge is 30% sharper and retains its razor-sharp edge 40% longer than other blades. It glides through fruits and other food with ease.
The handle is made of durable synthetic material and is triple riveted to the blade. It is well balanced, sturdy, and comes with the perfect heft for handling small cutting tasks.
Pros:
Triple-riveted
Lifetime Warranty
Affordable
End bolster
Cons:
No sheath included
6. TUO Paring Knife
Our last pick is a paring knife from Tuo. This 3.5-inch knife is of top quality materials. It is uniquely forged from a piece of German stainless steel that is nitrogen cryogenic tempered. This product is more flexible and holds its edge longer. This German steel is resistant to rust, corrosion, and discoloration.
This product comes in a premium pack and is worth purchasing as a gift for a friend. Plus, it features three rivets that ensure stability and enhances its durability. The knife handle is constructed from durable pakkawood that is foolproof against extreme heat and bacteria.
If you maintain this paring knife well, it will serve you for years. The handle is designed for ambidextrous use and offers a firm grip. This product is excellent for peeling fruits and mincing vegetables.
Pros
Double bolster
German steel
Hand sharpened
Easy to hone
Elegant design
Cons
The handle is not comfortable to grip for prolonged use.
Best Paring Knife – Buying Guide
After checking out several paring knives on the market, you might be wondering what makes one better than the other. This buying guide will assist you in the best choice.
Aside from the design and different steels used in making the knives, several other things differentiate them. We are here to show you, let’s dive in:
Blade Style
Although the blade style of the knife you buy depends on personal preference, it affects the knife performance. Paring knife blades are usually shaped in four different styles. They are bird’s beak, sheep’s foot, spear-point, and Japanese style.
To know the difference between these blade styles, you need to focus on the knife’s tip. Some have pointed ends, and others do not. The tip of the Dalstrong Cleaver Knife is different from the rest on our list.
The blade of a bird’s beak paring knife is shorter than the other blade styles. The Japanese style and sheep foot blade-style have straight edges. They are ideal for making smooth straight cuts. However, the former is slightly refined.
Another name for spear point is Western or German style. This blade style is the most popular of them all. The knife blade is slightly curved, which allows you to employ the rocking motion when cutting ingredients.
Handle
When selecting the best paring knife on the market, it is vital to consider the handle design and material. It is as essential as steel. The design of the handle should offer superior control and comfort.
The material used should be nonslip and lightweight so that users with fatigue wrist could use the knife with ease. You will find products with wooden handles, plastic handles, and more. Make sure you settle for that which suits your taste.
Material
Before buying a knife, you have to decide on the blade material. Investing in a high-quality paring knife will save you from constantly replacing the cheap quality ones.
The material used in making the paring knife blade will determine how long it will last and how often you need to sharpen it. Some steels are harder to sharpen and will require extra care, while others are easier to hone.
Stainless steel blades are the best option because they are rust-resistant and require minimal maintenance.
Conclusion
A paring is an essential type of knife that every professional chef needs. It is designed to handle small kitchen tasks that require dexterity, accuracy, and precision.
Our top 6 best paring knives come with different prices ranging from high-end price to low price point.
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