Definition

Noun: A paring knife is a small, sharp knife with a short, pointed blade, specifically designed for precise cutting tasks such as peeling, trimming, and shaping fruits and vegetables.

Usage

A paring knife is used for detailed handwork in food preparation. It is held in the hand, often with the item being cut held in the other hand, allowing for controlled, intricate cuts. It is a fundamental tool in both home and professional kitchens.

Examples

• Noun:
  • Use a paring knife to remove the core from the apple.
  • She carefully peeled the potato with a sharp paring knife.
  • The recipe instructs you to trim the ends of the green beans with a paring knife.

Advanced Usage

• "To work with a paring knife": This phrase emphasizes performing delicate, precise cutting work.
  • The chef demonstrated how to create a decorative tomato rose, working deftly with just a paring knife.

Variants and Related Words

• Pare (verb): To trim or cut away the outer covering or edges of something, especially a fruit or vegetable. This is the action for which the knife is named.
  • Pare the skin from the mango before dicing it.
• Utility Knife (noun): A slightly larger, all-purpose kitchen knife that can handle some tasks similar to a paring knife but is more versatile for slightly larger items.

Synonyms

• Peeling knife: A direct synonym, highlighting its primary use for removing skins or peels.
• Trimming knife: Emphasizes its use for cutting away unwanted parts.

Related Phrases

• "A job for a paring knife": Indicates a task that requires precision and a small, sharp blade.
  • Removing the seeds from a chili pepper is a job for a paring knife, not a large chef's knife.

Noun

1. a small sharp knife used in paring fruits or vegetables