Steak is one of the most popular dishes in uk whether cooking up a storm at home or heading out to restaurant this meal that enjoyed by many what more there so much you can do with steak making it an incredibly versatile food.
However, it can be a little challenging to eat with regular table knives so you’ll need a good quality steak knife to make life easier.
You’ll notice that these knives come in two types; serrated steak knives and non-serrated steak knives. But which are the best steak knives: serrated vs non-serrated?
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Why Do You Need a Steak Knife?
Many people compare a steak knife to a utility knife just on a smaller scale, and there definitely are some similarities. But the reason that you really should consider investing in a high-quality set of high carbon stainless steel steak knives is simple; the blade is sharper and allows you to make a cleaner cut and with so much ease.However good-quality steak knives aren’t only good for cutting through steak and other meats. Vegetarians can also make good use of a decent steak knife as they’re also excellent for cutting things like cheese, fruits and vegetables. Talk about versatility!
What Are Serrated Steak Knives?
When you think of a steak knife, you will probably imagine classic steak knives with serrated blades as these are the more traditional of the two. This type of steak knife has what are known as gullets along the edge of the blade that are similar to what you would see on the scalloped edge of a bread knife. These gullets are incredibly tough and ideal for making a neat cut.What’s great about these serrated edges on stainless steel blades, is that they are much more easily able to move smoothly through food using a sawing motion. A lot of people prefer to use a serrated steak knife purely because they just look sharper and the serrated edge is more effective.
What’s more, a lot of people think that a serrated knife will stay sharper for longer. But much of this comes down to personal opinion. Do keep in mind however that serrated steak knives require a lot more attention when sharpening, which is a little more challenging; but more on that later.
What Are Non-Serrated Steak Knives?
Sometimes, you may hear people referring to a non-serrated knife as a 'straight-edge knife' but they’re all one of the same thing. Much like their serrated cousins, they are super sharp but unlike serrated steak knives, their edge is much smoother. These, therefore, require a slicing motion as opposed to a sawing one. What’s great about them is that there is very little chance of tearing the meat, which is possible when using a serrated blade.When you talk to a steak connoisseur, they will probably tell you that these are the better option as that clean cut helps to retain flavour and juices.
That said, these steak knives don’t tend to stay as sharp for as long as serrated ones. This means that they are a little more high maintenance. But sharpening them is far simpler and can be done at home, whereas many people will opt to take their serrated knives to a professional for sharpening.
Which One Should I Choose?
There are pros and cons to both types of steak knife so it is worth thinking about your personal preference as this will largely help you make the right decision. That said, most steak enthusiasts would agree that a serrated blade is a more common option when it comes to steak knives.What’s great about serrated knives is that you will be able to cut through the steak cleanly and with very little resistance. They’re super easy to use and although they are more tricky to maintain, you’ll not have to worry about this very often.
The good thing about a non-serrated steak knife is that they will seal in the juices but there is a problem when it comes to cutting. Depending on the knife, you may find it a little more difficult to cut through the meat, especially if the steak is particularly tough. As we have already mentioned, they’re much easier to maintain which does appeal to a lot of people.
Making the Most Out of Your Steak Knives
While your prep knives may be proudly stored in a block or on a magnetic knife rack, your steak knives are likely thrown into the cutlery drawer along with other utensils. But this isn’t the best way to treat these quality knives and you should be mindful to store them properly to avoid the knives being knocked against other things, which could cause them to dull the blade's edge prematurely.Furthermore, you should make sure that you clean your steak knives properly and avoid putting them in the dishwasher. It takes just a few minutes to hand wash steak knives and investing this small amount of time can vastly prolong the razor-sharp edge of your blade.
The biggest problem is knowing how to sharpen steak knives. Because they do not have equal bevels, you must sharpen each tooth separately which is time-consuming and intricate work.
For this reason, a lot of people choose to have their knives sharpened by a professional. However, if you do wish to sharpen them yourself, you will need a ceramic sharpening rod. You should avoid electric knife sharpeners as these could damage the blade edge.
Final Thoughts
If you’re a fan of eating steak then you’ll likely have used a variety of knives to cut it up. Most steak knives are serrated but there are non-serrated versions of these kitchen staples. One of the questions on all steak lovers' lips is which is best; serrated or non-serrated steak knives?There are pros and cons to each type with serrated knives cutting far more easily but non-serrated knives retain the juices and flavour. When you come to buy steak knives, which are available as single knives and steak knife sets, which you choose will mostly come down to personal preference so try cutting steak with serrated steak knives and a non-serrated blade and to see which is the best steak knife for you. One thing is for sure, a good steak knife is a very versatile and useful tool.
