Professional chefs agree that mastering five fundamental knife skills can transform your home cooking efficiency and presentation. The techniques are the julienne, brunoise, chiffonade, bias cut, and rock chop.
The rock chop alone, where the knife tip stays anchored while the heel does the cutting, can cut your vegetable prep time in half once perfected. Practice with onions and celery for the best results.
Investing in a quality 8-inch chef's knife and keeping it sharp with a honing steel before each use matters more than any single technique, according to culinary instructors.
