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Knife work

How to hold a chef’s knife

By Culinate staff

August 4, 2011

A recent blog post on the Los Angeles Times website gave readers quick tips on how to correctly hold and use a chef's knife. A bit of a spat broke out in the comments section over whether the accompanying image — showing the proper “choke hold” — was correct.

Well-known L.A. Times food writer Russ Parsons had to step in, reassuring readers that, yes, “choking up” on the knife is right, even though it can look counterintuitive, and that the hand shown in the shot really is a cook’s hand, despite the perfectly manicured nails.

For more tips, check out Chow’s videos on how to hold a chef's knife and how to use a chef's knife.

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