Finally took a chef's advice about my knife grip after 4 years

I had a stage at a place in Chicago last month and the sous chef watched me for about 2 minutes. He just goes 'you're choking up too high on the handle, move your thumb onto the spine.' I thought it would feel weird but after one service my wrist stopped aching for the first time in years. I always figured my grip was fine since I never cut myself but that one tiny change made my cuts way more consistent. My prep speed actually went up by about 15% on day one. Has anyone else had a small tweak like that completely change how you work?

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3 Comments

martin.felix4mo ago

Feels like overthinking a knife grip. Just grab the thing and cut.

2

johnson.jason4mo ago

Jump right in and agree with you. I tell people the same thing when they start analyzing how I hold my kitchen knife for the millionth time.

4

hannahk194mo ago

Used to be totally in the "just grab it and cut" camp tbh. Watched a buddy of mine change his thumb position and it looked so awkward. Tried it myself and suddenly my knuckles werent rubbing on the cutting board anymore. Huge difference.

1