What should every home cook know about knife skills?

Kent Rathbun, chef/owner of award-winning Abacus (www.abacus-restaurant.com) in Dallas, responds:

First, I recommend that every home cook obtain the following five basic pieces:
10″ chef’s knife
6″ flexible boning knife
8″ scalloped-edge knife
paring knife
sharpening steel

Home cooks should use their sharpening steel frequently with the chef’s knife, boning knife and paring knife because a sharp knife is the quickest way to good knife skills.

When cutting food items, cut smaller amounts at a time and use the right cutting board.I recommend a thick wood board or one made of polyurethane plastic.

Abacus Restaurant
4511 McKinney, Dallas, 214.559.3111

Kent Rathbun also owns Jasper’s? (www.jaspers-restaurant.com) specializing in gourmet backyard cuisine with locations in Plano, the Woodlands
and opening soon in Austin.