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The Zwilling J. A. Henckels Complete Book of Knife Skills: The Essential Guide to Use, Techniques and Care Spiral-Bound |

Jeffrey Elliot, James P. DeWan

★★★★☆+ from 31 to 100 ratings

$33.78 - Free Shipping
The definitive book on knife skills from the knife manufacturer recognized worldwide as the symbol of the best quality and function.

The definitive book on knife skills from the knife manufacturer recognized worldwide as the symbol of the best quality and function.

Every home chef needs a knife skills book. Cooks who know how to choose a knife, how to maintain it and how to use it properly work more safely, more quickly and more efficiently. Good knife skills also allow a cook to cut ingredients uniformly, allowing everything to cook at the same rate and creating the best presentation in the final dish.

The authors' unique approach in this book stems from their experience in the culinary classroom, where they observed how people learn. Elliot and DeWan refined their teaching process based on this vast experience.

Some of the features in the book are:

  • More than 1,200 color step-by-step photos that clearly instruct and provide information on each technique
  • Instructions on proper knife sharpening techniques
  • Arrows and other graphic devices that direct the reader to the exact photo on the page and the precise skill illustrated
  • A concealed wiro binding that lies flat, keeping a cook's fingers on the knife, where they safely belong
  • Concise, detailed and easy-to-understand instructions on how to hold a knife, the basic cuts and the proper techniques for cutting poultry, fish and specific vegetables and fruits, and creative garnishes
  • Coverage of Japanese-style knives and cutting techniques
  • Concise history of knives and knife-making

The Complete Book of Knife Skills was created in collaboration with Zwilling J.A. Henckels, one of the world's leading manufacturers of high-quality knives. This indispensable reference will allow home cooks to teach themselves knife skills based on professional instructors' years of experience.

Publisher: Firefly Books
Original Binding: Spiral Bound
Pages: 400 pages
ISBN-10: 0778802566
Item Weight: 2.8 lbs
Dimensions: 8.5 x 1.6 x 10.5 inches
Customer Reviews: 4 out of 5 stars 31 to 100 ratings
The right tools are great in the kitchen, but if you don't have technique you're not going to have much success. Complete Book of Knife Skills: The Essential Guide to Use Techniques and Care by Jeffrey Elliot and James P. DeWan (Rober Rose, 34.95) is a worthy text for every cook. Cutting skills are something that are easily taken for granted, but if you do a lot of cooking, proper technique will save wear and tear on your knives by using the right knife for the job and using it in a way that won't ruin the knife. It will also save you from injury by learning how to keep from cutting yourself or cramping your hands with improper grip. This hefty manual covers it all from the basics of vegetables and fruits through every kind of meat, fish and poultry and even sashimi. It also covers garnishes ---- the things that take you from utility to creativity, and that makes it fun. It's beautifully and very thoroughly photographed. If you know how to prepare it you're more likely to try something new. -Wendy Burke

Jeffrey Elliot is a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America and has cooked at Le Cirque and Le Bernardin in New York. He is manager of culinary relations for Zwilling J.A. Henckels, Demeyere and Staub as well as the executive chef for Zwilling J.A. Henckels U.S. He lives in New York City.

James P. DeWan is a chef, culinary instructor and award-winning food writer. His Chicago Tribune column, "Prep School," is now in its fifth year, and he has served on the culinary faculty at Kendall College in Chicago. He lives in Chicago, Illinois.

Established in 1731, Zwilling J.A. Henckels has the experience and competence that come with manufacturing knives of outstanding quality for more than 275 years.