Kitchen

[IamMrsG]

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Sooner wrote, in part:  "...I did finally learn the pinch grip and feel that on big knives that is more secure, but I had to get used to it.  I used to cut like that Farm house woman, Nancy Fuller, with my index finger on top of the blade."

@Sooner, for me, to watch Nancy Fuller's grip on a knife is like listening to fingernails on a chalkboard.  I 'talk' to her about it every time I see her.

My own knife skills are pretty good, but I would never attempt to show them off by looking away while chopping at 90mph. I don't get the point (pardon the pun).  My collection of knives is a lot like my collection of pots and pans, a mish-mash that serves me well.  I reach for one particular chef's knife 99% of the time, though.  It fits my hand "like a glove."  I have a stone on which to sharpen my knives.  My skills aren't up to par, but I'll keep trying.  

BTW, @ALRATIBA, the only time in my life I had to go to the ER because of a kitchen injury was from using my mandoline.  I made a bad decision to forego the safety guard, and, of course, sliced off the side of my thumb. The bit was still laying on the blade, looking for all the world like a little pink bean, when I returned home.  That's a mistake I won't make again.

[momtochloe]

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@IamMrsG wrote:

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Sooner wrote, in part:  "...I did finally learn the pinch grip and feel that on big knives that is more secure, but I had to get used to it.  I used to cut like that Farm house woman, Nancy Fuller, with my index finger on top of the blade."

@Sooner, for me, to watch Nancy Fuller's grip on a knife is like listening to fingernails on a chalkboard.  I 'talk' to her about it every time I see her.

My own knife skills are pretty good, but I would never attempt to show them off by looking away while chopping at 90mph. I don't get the point (pardon the pun).  My collection of knives is a lot like my collection of pots and pans, a mish-mash that serves me well.  I reach for one particular chef's knife 99% of the time, though.  It fits my hand "like a glove."  I have a stone on which to sharpen my knives.  My skills aren't up to par, but I'll keep trying.  

BTW, @ALRATIBA, the only time in my life I had to go to the ER because of a kitchen injury was from using my mandoline.  I made a bad decision to forego the safety guard, and, of course, sliced off the side of my thumb. The bit was still laying on the blade, looking for all the world like a little pink bean, when I returned home.  That's a mistake I won't make again.

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Oh goodness @IamMrsG there is nothing like a cut from a mandoline.  I too decided to ditch the safety guard as I was only going to slice a few things (please do not make this mistake as it will literally hurt you more than you can imagine).  I thought my sister was going to faint.

Please use the safety guard.  Mandolines are great but they can also be dangerous as they are incredibly sharp.

[IamMrsG]

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mtc wrote, in part: "...Please use the safety guard.  Mandolines are great but they can also be dangerous as they are incredibly sharp."

@momtochloe  You've got that right!  It's a mistake you only need to make once.

Like you, I only had a few pieces to slice, I was in a hurry...  

[Sooner]

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@momtochloe wrote:

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@Sooner wrote:

@momtochloe

I am vertically challenged as well.  We live in a house with extra high countertops--even in the bathrooms!  Yes, I DO feel your pain here!!!    My husband is literally one foot taller than me and doesn't understand my problems AT all!!!!

Try the pinch grip on a big old chef's knife and go slowly,  It helps with chopping veggies when you get the hang of it.  So far, no more band-aids at parties!!!!  LOL!!

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Thanks for your tips @Sooner and I will try them.  I do find using that technique on a larger knife does lend itself to the pinch grip, I just need to keep training myself to do so.

As for band-aids, I have been rather lucky in terms of only nicking a fingernail.  I save the band-aids for my forays into the world of mandolines . . . suffice to say it doesn't always go well but I have learned my lesson(s).

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@momtochloe  Mandolines terrify me!   Even with the guard! 

[momtochloe]

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@Sooner wrote:

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@momtochloe wrote:

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@Sooner wrote:

@momtochloe

I am vertically challenged as well.  We live in a house with extra high countertops--even in the bathrooms!  Yes, I DO feel your pain here!!!    My husband is literally one foot taller than me and doesn't understand my problems AT all!!!!

Try the pinch grip on a big old chef's knife and go slowly,  It helps with chopping veggies when you get the hang of it.  So far, no more band-aids at parties!!!!  LOL!!

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Thanks for your tips @Sooner and I will try them.  I do find using that technique on a larger knife does lend itself to the pinch grip, I just need to keep training myself to do so.

As for band-aids, I have been rather lucky in terms of only nicking a fingernail.  I save the band-aids for my forays into the world of mandolines . . . suffice to say it doesn't always go well but I have learned my lesson(s).

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@momtochloe  Mandolines terrify me!   Even with the guard! 

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Actually @Sooner I donated my large one and bought an OXO handheld mandoline and I really like it.  It's easy to use and clean up.  I use it most for slicing onions but also cut up a whole head of cabbage with it.  

[wagirl]

My knife skills were ok. I learned that the sharper your knife the better so I do have really sharp, good knives. But I went thru chemo a few years back that gave me numbness and stiffness in my hands and fingers, so I don't do much chopping with sharp things anymore. I cut myself too many times and saw the blood before I felt it, so lots of food had to be tossed out. Never felt the pain due to the numbness. I have a few small appliances that do that type of prep work for me now. They work very well.

[ALRATIBA]

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@IamMrsG wrote:

BTW, @ALRATIBA, the only time in my life I had to go to the ER because of a kitchen injury was from using my mandoline.  I made a bad decision to forego the safety guard, and, of course, sliced off the side of my thumb. The bit was still laying on the blade, looking for all the world like a little pink bean, when I returned home.  That's a mistake I won't make again.

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@IamMrsG   Ouch!!!!!   

[Cats3000]

My knife skills are OK, I guess.  We have LamsonSharp knives.  Made in the USA.  Simply wonderful.  I've learned how to use the sharpening steel and it does a good job.  Lamson offers a program to return your knives to them so that the edges can be restored to "like-new".

[wagirl]

alratiba---omg---I did the same thing with the mandoline I was using!!! I didn't slice a junk of  my thumb bu tcut into my thumb and I prob should have gone in for stitches but had so much to do that I didn't. However----I have a pair of gloves that can't be sliced or diced but any sharp object that I wear now. But that mandoline is history now. Just makes me shiver!!!

[Razzy 7]

CelticCrafter,

Check with your hair stylist and ask her or him where they get there tools sharpened.