For years knives, in general, have been made from metal and wood. Today, many knife options range from metals such as stainless steel, titanium, and carbon fiber to materials like plastic or bone.
Steak knives have been made from many materials throughout history. In the past, they were glass or wood. Today you can find steak knives that are made out of plastic, metal, and even bone. Each of these materials has a specific purpose and benefit to them. We’ll go over the pros and cons of each one.
Different Materials:
Stainless Steel:
Stainless steel is one of the most common materials used to make cooking knives. The reason for this is that it is both strong and corrosion-resistant. These characteristics, along with steel’s meager cost, make it a prevalent choice for manufacturing cutlery.
These steak knives are great for everyday use on the dinner table and in a commercial kitchen environment.
Pros:
-Strong and corrosion-resistant
-Low cost: Frequently used for everyday use due to the low price tag. This means you can get a lot of usage out of them.
Cons:
-Heavy and dense. Therefore not suitable for extended periods due to being uncomfortable post-dinner time or in kitchens where a lot is going on at one time. These steak knives are great for those looking for well-made and high-quality knives but would prefer something a little lighter and less bulky in weight.
Titanium:
Titanium is a metal that has become very popular within the past few years. It has become more popular due to its lightweight, strength, and corrosion-resistant properties. The reason titanium hasn’t been used more widely before now has to do with its cost. It’s an expensive metal to process and work with, meaning that there was little demand for it in the past because it was just cheaper and easier to do things another way.
These steak knives are great because they offer the strength and durability of metal but with the lightweight aspect of a plastic, wood, or bone knife. This makes them very useful for those who want the strength and flexibility of a metal knife and want something lighter and more comfortable to use in extended sessions.
Pros:
Strong, Light Weight and Corrosion Resistant
Cons:
Expensive to create
Plastic:
Plastic is one of the more abundant materials used in modern-day cutlery production. It’s cheap to produce, lightweight and can be used for making all kinds of shapes and designs without any fear of breaking.
This material is what the steak knives are made out of. There aren’t many negative aspects to plastic cutlery because it’s straightforward to manufacture and extremely low cost compared to other materials.
So why do people use this material at all? Well, what would you think as you picked up a knife in your hand? Perhaps you felt that the handle was uncomfortable or slippery when wet due to its form factor. Or maybe you questioned if it would hold an edge well like a metal blade would over time.
These questions can be answered by plastic because it’s usually seen as being disposable. This means that it is expected to break, chip, or wear over time due to this.
Pros:
Cheap to produce
Lightweight,
Easy to manufacture
Cons:
Easily disposable and easily worn from use. Because plastic is usually disposable, if it’s destroyed or damaged, you can simply get a new one instead of finding a new material that you have to find and invest in time and money to learn how to use it.
Carbon Fiber:
Carbon fiber is a very strong, lightweight, and flexible material used to manufacture various products. It’s becoming a popular choice due to its strength.
When you look at carbon fiber knives, you’ll notice that they are usually black or charcoal. This isn’t because the manufacturer is trying to make them look better, but instead, this is the natural color of carbon fiber in its raw form as it comes out of processing. If it was left like this, there might be some issues with food safety due to it being difficult to clean. So to help protect against this, the blade will be coated in an opaque finish such as black or white gloss coatings.
Pros:
Light Weight, Strong, and Durable. Carbon fiber is used in a variety of different products. You can find it in automobile parts, boats, wind turbines, and even space shuttles. It is used in such a wide range of products leads one to believe that it’s a relatively robust material.
Cons:
Some people prefer the look of the raw carbon fiber blade. It’s not uncommon for some to complain about the way they handle looks when it’s painted over or protected with some coating on it.
Wood:
Wood is an ancient material when it comes to making cutlery. It’s been used in this capacity for thousands of years both as a material and for making cutlery.
Wood is one of the most economical materials used to make knives. This is because it can be spun into different shapes and sizes when easily turned on a lathe. Combine that with its natural beauty and its worth still being around today makes it an intriguing choice.
You’ll notice that wooden made cutlery will often come in steaks or serrated knives, denoting that their primary purpose is for slicing grilled meats such as steaks or hamburgers. These are top-rated knives because they allow you to use less effort while cutting meat than a standard knife with a fixed blade.
Pros:
Natural and Beautiful Appearance, Economical and Durable. Wood can be purchased in many different sizes, shapes, and designs to fit any chef’s needs. They are also easy to replace if they become damaged or lost due to their economical price range.
Cons:
Fragile Nature. The main issue with wood is that due to its delicate nature, it is prone to breakage if you drop it or if a lot is going on in the kitchen at one time. In addition, because it’s a natural material, there are some safety concerns with using something like this around food instead of something made of a synthetic material such as plastic or carbon fiber.
Importance of Steak Knife’s Built Material:
Putting aside the differences in design, there are some important things to know about that material that you would do well to consider when deciding what kind of cutlery you want for your kitchen.
It’s worth noting that not all materials are created equal when it comes to how they resist wear and tear over time. When you choose a suitable material, it can prove to be less expensive in the long run.
In addition, when you choose to use a specific material, you often have to invest time and money in learning how to work with it. It may prove worthwhile in the long run since you might be able to save money in the short run.
A great example is using a plastic blade for your steak knife. You can pick one up at a local store at a much lower cost than if you put in the effort and bought one from a manufacturer online. Similarly, you can pick up a wood blade for much less than one made out of steel or other metals.
But, if you go this route, you will have to learn how to clean it, sharpen it and maintain it.
If you decide that the material is worth the effort, this should not deter you from trying out other more expensive materials instead of saving money in the long run.
Which One Is the Best Material?
That depends on you and what your needs are. As a general rule of thumb, the stronger the material, the more damage it can do to your hand if you cut yourself using it. So if you have kids around who are prone to doing dangerous things such as running around with a knife in their hand, then something like steel would be a wrong choice.
Tips:
If you think someone may get hurt while using the steak knife, then it’s better to go for something made out of plastic or wood. They don’t do as much damage.
Also, keep in mind that you shouldn’t fling the knife around recklessly abandon it. You need to be responsible for it and care for it just like you would any other tool you own. If your knife is used a lot by young children, consider investing in a high-quality protective sheath. This will protect the blade from damage while in storage and avoid accidentally getting cut if they fall on it or try to pick it up off the ground.
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Conclusion:
There are plenty of materials and processes that can be used to make steak knives, all depending on the chef’s individual style. This range of choices makes it essential to know what you’re looking for so that you don’t end up with a knife that doesn’t suit your needs.
If you’re someone who has young children running around in the kitchen, then you’ll probably want to invest in something made out of plastic or wood since they are more easily replaced and less damaging when they do get cut or break.
