Elevate your cheese board with a versatile cheese knife set
When it comes to serving your favourite cheeses, using a basic kitchen knife to slice and serve simply just won’t cut it.
Cheese knives are designed specifically for slicing and portioning different styles of cheese; plus a quality cheese knife set can instantly upgrade even the most basic of grazing boards, creating a sophisticated finishing touch for you and your guests.
Types of cheese knives (and their uses)
Soft cheese knife. Sometimes called a fork-tipped spear or pronged knife, this is a highly versatile cheese knife and one of the most used. The thin blade makes it ideal for softer cheeses such as camembert or brie and the pronged tip is helpful for serving cut pieces of harder cheese.
Hard cheese knife. Typically one of the larger cheese knives available, they are made for pressing downward and cutting through a whole wheel or wedge of aged cheese to form smaller portions. These often have handles on either end to allow for even pressure distribution.
Cheese spreader. As the name suggests, this knife is used for spreading soft cheeses such as goats cheese, gournay or even creamier versions of brie and camembert.
Gorgonzola knife. Like a cheese spreader, a gorgonzola cheese knife is made for spreading creamy cheeses. However, the gorgonzola knife has a sharp blade to cut through cheese rinds.
Slim blade. This style features very little surface area to prevent soft cheeses from sticking to the blade. The blade is offset from the handle to provide room for the hand and prevent knuckles from hitting the board.
Pronged cheese knife. Otherwise known as a forked-tipped spear, this style is multipurpose and allows you to both cut and pick up a piece of cheese for serving or plating.
Flat cheese knife. Also referred to as a chisel knife, this cuts slices of aged cheese by holding the blade vertically over the cheese and pushing down. The sharp end is then used to cut the pieces down even further.
Narrow plane. Sometimes called a flat knife, this works for a wide range of semi firm cheeses like cheddar and gouda because it’s sharp on both sides and the tip. You can press the top into hard cheeses and finish cutting with the sharp long end.
Cheddar cheese knife. Also known as a mini cleaver, cheddar cleaver or semi-hard cheese knife; it is perfect for cutting hard cheeses. The wide blade and cleaver shape allows you to use force and balance to push down and cut slices.
Parmesan cheese knife. This style features a pointed edge made for breaking off chunks of hard and dry cheeses like parmesan. It also has a sharp edge to cut rinds open.
The need for special knives for cutting cheese
Just as you wouldn’t use a butter knife to cut a steak, you wouldn’t use a brie knife to cut parmesan. While some soft cheese knives and hard cheese knives can work well with multiple styles and textures, most cheese knife sets come with at least three different shaped knives for various cheese textures.
When you use the appropriate knife for each type of cheese, you can cut clean, even slices in the perfect size, every time.
Things to look out for when buying a cheese knife set
Quantity – Opt for a knife set that is suitable for your typical cheese selections and grazing platter size.
Durability – Look for a blade material that is highly durable and able to maintain its sharpness for longer such as hardened stainless steel.
Storability – Ideally, your cheese knife set will come in its own storage container to maintain their sharpness and overall quality; as well as keep them organised and ready for each use.
Ease of use – Ergonomic handles and sharp blades are key for regular use to keep them simple to use.
Price – Available in a range of price points from the budget-friendly starter pack to the high-end cheese knives, depending on your use and serving requirements.
Design – Available in multiple styles from minimalistic designs, to multicolour, quirky or elegant and sleek.
The proper way to cut cheese - according to type
Soft cheese wedges – Cut slices along the long edge of the cheese, creating a long strip.
Hard cheese wedges – Cut wedges along the width edge until you reach half way up the wedge. The top half of the wedge is then cut along the length edge.
Blue cheese wedges – Pinpoint the centre of the bottom edge and cut in a radial pattern to achieve triangular cheese pieces.
Blocks – First cut it in half to create two rectangular portions, then cut along the width of the portions to create slices.
Logs – Cut cheese logs by slicing down the length of the log to create cheese discs.
Wheels – First cut the wheel in half to make two manageable pieces. Then cut in a radial pattern to create cheese triangles. If you choose not to cut the wheel in half, locate the centre of the cheese wheel and cut out from that point.
How to prepare a charcuterie board using your cheese knife set
Step 1: Arrange cheeses
Cheese is the focal point of the boards so arrange these around the platter first.
Step 2: Arrange salty items (excluding crackers)
Using the cheeses as starting points, build out from these by piling cold meats, nuts and olives. You can also use small bowls for the nuts and olives.
Step 3: Fill in the gaps with sweet ingredients
Bits of fresh or dried fruit is a nice contrast and palate cleanser between cheeses.
Step 4: Pile on the crackers
Use a variety of crackers and arrange wherever there are gaps on the board. Remember to restock as your guests go through them. Crunchy breadsticks are also a great addition.
Step 5: Add condiments
Condiments make a great finishing touch to a platter. You could include quince, chutneys, sauces, jams and preserves.
Step 6: Fill empty spaces
Lastly, make sure all the empty spaces are filled with little clusters of grapes or cherry tomatoes which add beautiful pops of colour to your board.
Tips to make your cheese knife set last
Don’t put them in the dishwasher as this dulls the blades over time.
Avoid storing them with other utensils as this can damage the blades.
Store them in their container when not in use or use a magnetic knife strip or blade covers to preserve their sharpness.
The best cheese knife set for every occasion
When choosing a cheese knife set, be sure to invest in a good quality set that will cater to both intimate and larger gatherings.
A 3 piece cheese knife set in a classic design to suit all kitchen decor and can withstand regular use and cleaning, is a great starting point.
Other cheese tools to buy with your cheese knife set
Knife block
Steak knives
Cutlery sets
Chef knife
Pate knife
Acacia boards
Cheese slicers
Servingware
Maintenance, cleaning and care
Wash by hand with warm soapy water, rinse and dry thoroughly before storing.
Store separately to other kitchen utensils.
Sharpen occasionally to keep blades sharp for easy cutting and slicing.
Brands we know and trust
We carry a range of cheese slicers, placemats, dinner sets, dinnerware, decanters and jugs from Australia and around the world from brands such as Andre Verdier, Laguiole Debutant, Maxwell & Williams, Stanley Rogers and Davis & Waddell. Explore the wide range we have available at Kitchen Warehouse.
Buying online with Kitchen Warehouse
We have the biggest range of kitchenware, saucepans, mixers, cookware sets, tableware and bakeware available. Browse our best-selling products with prices below RRP and add your product details to your wishlist, or checkout and enjoy free delivery on orders over $100 to any Australian postcode. You can also surprise a friend or loved one with a gift card for a special occasion.
FAQs:
How many pieces are in a cheese knife set?
The average amount of knives in a cheese knife set is three pieces.
What are the different types of cheese knives?
There is a range of different cheese knives suitable for various varieties of cheese such as spreadable cheese, soft cheese, semi-soft cheeses, hard cheeses and aged cheeses.
