Types of knives for cleaning fish
When preparing delicious dishes for significant dates and holidays, it is important to have the necessary equipment on hand, in particular a knife for cleaning fish. This piece of kitchen utensil should always be on hand not only at home, but also on the go, in order to quickly and effortlessly clean the catch of all unnecessary things.
At the very dawn of its history, man became concerned with the manufacture of tools and devices. Tools for cleaning fish also have their own history. While fishing, people regularly faced the problem of cleaning the caught fish. At first, various improvised means were used for this, which in the course of evolution turned into blades - stone, copper, bronze and iron.
Japanese fish knife
Types and features
In the modern world, there are several types of “fish” knives. They can be divided into two large groups:
- for cutting fish (or gutting);
- for cleaning scales.
Fish fillet knife
For gutting, a so-called fillet knife with a long, narrow blade and a handle with an anti-slip finish is used. Knives with specially shaped blades are used to cut different types of fish. So, for salmon, a carved or slightly wavy blade is suitable. For cod - with indentations. These features prevent fish from sticking to the cutting surface.
Varieties of fillet knives include all kinds of cutting models. They have a longer blade for slicing fish fillets.
Tourist knife for cleaning and cutting fish
A separate type is knives for cleaning fish from scales. This is a very specific tool with serrations on the blade that make it easier to separate the scales. There are combined options that can be used for cutting and cleaning.
Knives with container for scales
Knives with containers stand apart. The design feature is a plastic or metal container that fits over one or more blades. During the cleaning process, scales accumulate in the container. This device is especially convenient for cleaning fish at home, as it prevents scales from scattering.
Advice
In your home kitchen, you must have at least two knives for cutting and cleaning fish - fillet and with a container.
What if you need to remove scales in the field, where you don’t even have an ordinary knife? In this case, there are also quite a few ways - the main thing is to know the correct technique how to clean fish without a knife.
There are also tourist knives, but they are usually of a combined design.
Selection rules
There are plenty of knife manufacturers in the world. Even in an ordinary supermarket near your home, there will definitely be several sets on sale, which also include knives for cleaning fish. You should choose based on your financial capabilities. If the budget allows, then it is better to give preference to Japanese or German models.
Also, the cleaning knife can be purchased separately, not in a set. In this case, you should pay attention to the following important features:
- the blade should be narrow and flexible (but not too much), 15-25 cm long;
- without serrations on the blade, but with grooves on the sides;
- the handle is comfortable to hold, made of non-slip material (wood or plastic with rubber coating);
- stainless steel.
It is better to choose a knife for cleaning scales with a metal container (removable or stationary - a matter of taste and budget).
Knife with serrations for easy removal of scales
Advice
It is advisable to purchase travel tools in specialized stores with the appropriate quality certificate.
So, knives for cleaning fish should, first of all, be easy to use. There are manufacturing companies that enjoy well-deserved popularity - their products, as a rule, are of high quality, but not cheap. You should choose taking into account your financial capabilities, but excessive savings in this matter will not work in your favor: working with a sharpened instrument of impeccable quality is definitely worth the costs incurred. In addition, high-quality knives will not become dull for a long time and you will not soon be scratching your head, how to sharpen a knife at home.