A wavy-bladed knife is one of the many types of knives used for food preparation. The wavy blade has a distinctive curve that can be straight or undulating, and is found on some large meat cleavers. Wavy-blade knives are also available as kitchen utility knives, where the curved edge is used primarily for slicing softer foods like fruit and vegetables.
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Kitchen knife with wavy blade
Operation
Wavy-bladed knives are used when extra force is required to cut through foods with tough skin or bone. The blade of a wavy knife makes it easier to press down on the food than with a straight blade, which means that less effort is required to cut. With enough force applied, the edge of a straight-bladed knife will dig into the skin or bone of some foods (such as melon or pumpkin) before it slices cleanly through. This can cause the blade to become stuck, and the effort required to free it is what makes these knives unsuitable for softer foods. The curve in a wavy-bladed knife enables the knife to cut through such foods without getting stuck.
Description
The wavy edge of a wavy-bladed knife comes in two distinctly different forms: single undulating and double undulating. Single undulating wavy-bladed knives have a straight section of blade that curves up to meet the curve of the other side. Single undulating knives are typically longer and more slender than double undulating knives, which may or may not have straight sections. Double undulating wavy-bladed knives are the most common type of this knife shape; the curved blade twists both ways from tip to tail. The majority of kitchen knives with wavy blades have a width of between 9 and 12 cm (3.5 and 4.8 in) at the tip, with a blade length of between 15 and 30 cm (6 and 12 in). Single undulating wavy-bladed knives can be used to cut soft food such as herbs, fruit or cheese in addition to meat. Double undulating blades are used primarily for meat.
What is a wavy blade knife used for?
Wavy blade knives are used for slicing meat and meat products and should NOT be used for peeling or cutting foods where the cut output is small.
Do wavy blade knives have a straight edge?
Wavy blade knives have a straight edge. The only exception may be some traditional Japanese cooks’ knives, which are either single-beveled (micro bevel) or double-beveled (both sides slightly concave). They can also have wavy edges if sharpened this way.
How do you use a wavy knife?
First, wash and rinse the blade using tap water and dry it thoroughly. Next, touch the sharp edge of the blade against a whetstone at a 10 to 15 degree angle. (NOTE: Make sure you are holding the knife correctly with your thumb on top of the blade handle.) Using moderate pressure, glide the whetstone along the length of the knife’s edge until it makes contact with your cutting board.
Advantages of using a kitchen knife with wavy blade
The curve helps you cut through most food with less effort, and the curve also makes it easier to slice or chop food without catching the food.
Disadvantages of using a wavy blade knife
With peeling or cutting tasks, use a straight blade knife. Wavy blade knives are generally not suitable for cutting through anything with a hard skin such as squash, cucumber, etc. These knives are not suitable for chopping/cutting things like nuts or vegetables (except perhaps bananas).
What to consider before buying a knife
To choose the right wavy blade knife, you need to consider the following:
– What type of food do you intend to cut?
– How often and on what types of food do you plan to cut it?
– Do you plan on using this knife daily or just occasionally?
– Will this be your first wavy blade knife or are you looking to upgrade from a wavy chef’s knife or paring knife or other knives with a straight edge?
– What size wavy blade knife is preferable?
– How much do you want to spend on a wavy blade knife?
Maintenance of a kitchen knife with wavy blade
After cutting, make sure to wash and rinse the knife under running water. After washing the blade, wipe it dry with a cloth and let it air-dry. Do not wipe or rub the surface of the blade against other surfaces in order to prevent damage to the cutting edge. Do not store the wavy blade knife in a drawer with sharp or pointed objects. Instead, place the wavy blade knife on its side so that the cutting edge does not contact any other surface.
Types of Wavy Blades
A straight edge and a concave edge are most common types of blades found on kitchen knives with wavy blades. A micro bevel is a second type of wavy blade knife—one that has two sections with different angles that meet at the same angle at each end. A double-beveled blade has an edge with a convex and a concave edge which can connect edge to edge, although the angle of the two edges vary.