How to Hold and Use a Knife Like a Professional Chef

PDF download Download Article
Learn how to safely hold a knife while walking or cooking
PDF download Download Article

If you want to improve your knife skills and stay safer in the kitchen, it all starts with holding your blade properly. Adjusting your grip on a knife will let you make more controlled, efficient, and quicker cuts. It also helps prevent accidents by making it more difficult for your knife to slip off your ingredients. We spoke to food educator and professional chef Ollie George Cigliano to get the best tips on the best grip so you can get your knife skills on par with the best.

How to Safely Hold a Knife

  • Wrap the middle, ring, and pinkie finger of your dominant hand around the knife handle.
  • Pinch the back end of the blade with the pad of your thumb and the side of your pointer finger.
  • If you have to walk with the knife, carry it straight down with your elbow slightly bent and the blade facing behind you.
Section 1 of 4:

Gripping a Chef’s Knife

PDF download Download Article
  1. Watermark wikiHow to Hold a Knife
    Professional chef Ollie George Cigliano recommends wrapping the middle, ring, and pinky finger of your dominant hand around the handle, just behind where the blade meets the handle. [1] Keep your fingers close together so you don’t see the knife’s handle between them. [2]
    • The knife should fit comfortably in your palm while you’re holding it. If you have to twist or position your fingers awkwardly, readjust your grip or try a different knife.
    • Avoid holding the knife by the end of the handle since you won’t be able to get a firm grip.
  2. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/a\/a5\/Hold-a-Knife-Step-1-Version-6.jpg\/v4-460px-Hold-a-Knife-Step-1-Version-6.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/a\/a5\/Hold-a-Knife-Step-1-Version-6.jpg\/v4-728px-Hold-a-Knife-Step-1-Version-6.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":259,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":410,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>\u00a9 2024 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. This image is <b>not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.<br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    Cigliano recommends the “pinch” grip, where you pinch the back end of the knife with the side of your pointer finger and thumb. [3] Curl your pointer finger slightly and press the side of it against the blade. [4]

    Warning: Avoid resting your index finger along the blunt edge on top of the blade while chopping. It gives you less power and tires out your hand more quickly.

    Advertisement
  3. Watermark wikiHow to Hold a Knife
    The pinch grip works for almost all kitchen prep, but you can get better control while deboning by holding the knife with your pointer finger on the spine. Use the tip of the knife to remove skin and the long edge to slice away from the bone. [7]
  4. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/b\/bc\/Hold-a-Knife-Step-4-Version-6.jpg\/v4-460px-Hold-a-Knife-Step-4-Version-6.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/b\/bc\/Hold-a-Knife-Step-4-Version-6.jpg\/v4-728px-Hold-a-Knife-Step-4-Version-6.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":259,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":410,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>\u00a9 2024 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. This image is <b>not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.<br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    Imagine you have a line running from your shoulder to your elbow to your wrist. Grip the knife tightly while holding it on that line. Don’t twist your wrist, or you’ll put strain on it and lose cutting power.
    • If you have to cut at an angle, twist from your shoulder.
    5. Advertisement
Section 2 of 4:

Best Cutting Techniques

PDF download Download Article
  1. Watermark wikiHow to Hold a Knife
    Lay your non-dominant hand flat on your countertop or table with your palm face-down. Push your fingertips into the surface to lift up your palm. Curl your fingertips back so they’re behind the first knuckles on your finger. When your hand is in the right position, it should look like the letter C. [8]
    • Pretend you’re holding an imaginary baseball to get your hand in the correct position.
    • Never extend your fingertips past your knuckles since you’re more likely to cut yourself.
  2. Watermark wikiHow to Hold a Knife
    Keep your hand locked in the claw shape and position your arm so your wrist is parallel to the edge of your cutting board. Press your fingertips into the ingredient just behind where you want to make your cut. Make sure the first knuckles on your fingers are in front of your fingertips. [9]
    • Position the ingredient so the flattest side is on the bottom. That way, it’s less likely to rock or move around when you try to cut it. If you’re working with a round or irregularly shaped ingredient, cut it in half before you continue to chop it.

    Tip: Always check that you have a stable cutting surface. If your cutting board rocks or shifts, try putting a towel underneath it to help keep it steady. [10]

  3. Watermark wikiHow to Hold a Knife
    Hold the knife at a 30- or 45-degree angle so the tip touches your cutting board. Push the knife forward as you bring the base of the blade down. Use a single, fluid motion while you slice through the ingredient to make the cleanest cuts. [11]
    • Be careful not to lift up the knife so much that the cutting edge lifts over your knuckle, or else you may cut yourself.
    • Avoid lifting the knife straight up and down since you won’t get clean cuts and can cause the blade to slip.
  4. Watermark wikiHow to Hold a Knife
    After each cut, slide your non-dominant hand further back along the ingredient. Check the width of the first piece you sliced, and shift your guide hand back enough to cut another piece that’s the same size. [12]
    • It’s okay if you cut slowly when you’re first starting. As you practice and feel more comfortable using your knife, you’ll be able to increase your speed.
    • Always keep your fingertips behind your knuckles when you reposition your hand.
  5. Watermark wikiHow to Hold a Knife
    Press the tip of the knife into the cutting board. Rest the fingers of your non-dominant hand on the blade’s blunt edge right above the tip. Keep the blade tip against your cutting board as you rock the handle up and down to make your cuts. [13]
    • Keep the blade parallel with the long edge of the cutting board.
    • This works great for breaking down herbs, onions, garlic, and other ingredients into small, fine pieces.
    6. Advertisement
Section 3 of 4:

Walking With a Knife

PDF download Download Article
  1. Watermark wikiHow to Hold a Knife
    To reduce your risk of nicking someone, hold the knife at your side with the tip facing down and the blade pointed behind you. [14] Bend your elbow so the knife is closer to your hip. That makes it less likely to cut your calf while you’re walking.
  2. Watermark wikiHow to Hold a Knife
    If you have to pass by other people while holding a knife, say something like “sharp behind” or “knife behind” so they know to not make any sudden movements. [15]
    3. Advertisement
Section 4 of 4:

Knife Safety Basics

PDF download Download Article
  1. Watermark wikiHow to Hold a Knife
    Dull knives are more likely to slip off food and cause an accident. To sharpen your knives at home, Cigliano recommends soaking an 800 grit whetstone in water for 45 minutes, then running the blade along the stone at a 15-20 degree angle. [16]
  2. Watermark wikiHow to Hold a Knife
    If you’re not using your knife to chop, keep your body out of line with the knife. [20] That way, if you suddenly cut through something and accidentally pull the knife back, you won’t cut yourself.
  3. Watermark wikiHow to Hold a Knife
    If you’re working in a kitchen with other people and don’t have enough knives to go around, give the knife to someone else by putting it down and letting them pick it up by the handle. That way no one touches the blade. [21]
    • If someone starts speaking to you while you’re using a knife, put it down until the conversation is over.
  4. Watermark wikiHow to Hold a Knife
    If you drop your knife, move out of the way and let it fall to the ground. If you try to catch it you could accidentally grab the blade.
    • Rest knives fully on a surface without any part hanging over the side while you’re not using them.
    5. Advertisement

Video

Read Video Transcript

Community Q&A

Search
Add New Question
  • Question
    Why is it important to store and carry chef's knives in a carrying case?
    Tally_ 2
    Community Answer
    It helps them last longer, and they’re less likely to be lost or damaged or to do damage.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 0 Helpful 0
Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
      Advertisement

      Tips

      Tips from our Readers

      The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.
      • Don’t scrape the sharp edge of the knife along the cutting surface to move around ingredients, as this dulls the blade.
      Submit a Tip
      All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
      Name
      Please provide your name and last initial
      Submit
      Thanks for submitting a tip for review!
      Advertisement

      Warnings

      • Pay attention to where you position your hands and fingers while using your knife so you don’t accidentally cut yourself.
        Thanks
        Helpful 3 Not Helpful 0
      • Avoid holding the blade loosely since you won’t have as much control and could hurt yourself.
        Thanks
        Helpful 2 Not Helpful 2
      Advertisement

      You Might Also Like

      How to
      Use a Fork and Knife Properly: American vs European Style
      How to
      Identify and Value Milk Glass
      How to
      Identify Oneida Flatware Patterns
      The Best Ways to Separate Two Glasses Stuck Together
      How to
      Tell if a Dish Is Safe to Put in the Microwave
      How to
      Wrap Silverware in Paper Napkins
      How to
      Clean Stainless Steel Cutlery
      How to
      Hold a Fork Properly: American vs European Style
      How to
      Identify Antique Dinnerware
      How to
      Set a Table for a Tea Party
      How to
      Make a Round Tablecloth
      The Correct Ways to Hold a Fork, Knife, and Spoon
      How to
      Remove Candle Wax From a Tablecloth
      How to
      Put an Antique Finish on Your New Silver
      Advertisement

      References

      1. ↑ Ollie George Cigliano. Private Chef & Food Educator. Expert Interview. 30 August 2021.
      2. ↑ https://www.foodrepublic.com/2011/05/02/how-to-hold-a-knife/
      3. ↑ Ollie George Cigliano. Private Chef & Food Educator. Expert Interview. 30 August 2021.
      4. ↑ https://www.epicurious.com/expert-advice/how-to-hold-a-knife-the-right-way-and-become-a-better-cook-because-of-it-article
      5. ↑ Ollie George Cigliano. Private Chef & Food Educator. Expert Interview. 30 August 2021.
      6. ↑ Ollie George Cigliano. Private Chef & Food Educator. Expert Interview. 30 August 2021.
      7. ↑ https://thedaringkitchen.com/how-to-use-a-boning-knife/
      8. ↑ https://youtu.be/MI0YuyLZa10?t=44
      9. ↑ https://youtu.be/3kmDuLVwM48?t=97
      1. ↑ https://food.unl.edu/how-use-chefs-knife
      2. ↑ https://youtu.be/G-Fg7l7G1zw?t=88
      3. ↑ https://youtu.be/MI0YuyLZa10?t=100
      4. ↑ https://food.unl.edu/article/how-use-chefs-knife
      5. ↑ https://youtu.be/3kmDuLVwM48?t=144
      6. ↑ https://youtu.be/3kmDuLVwM48?t=159
      7. ↑ Ollie George Cigliano. Private Chef & Food Educator. Expert Interview. 30 August 2021.
      8. ↑ Ollie George Cigliano. Private Chef & Food Educator. Expert Interview. 30 August 2021.
      9. ↑ Ollie George Cigliano. Private Chef & Food Educator. Expert Interview. 30 August 2021.
      10. ↑ Ollie George Cigliano. Private Chef & Food Educator. Expert Interview. 30 August 2021.
      11. ↑ https://youtu.be/3kmDuLVwM48?t=109
      12. ↑ https://www.chefsac.com/blogs/news/safety-in-the-kitchen-the-basics-of-knife-safety

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      To hold a chef’s knife, grip the handle in your dominant hand. Wrap your middle, ring, and pinky fingers around the top third of the handle so that your fingers are pointing up on the other side of your wrist. Raise your thumb and rest it on the side of the blade, safely near the top of the blunt side of the knife. Point your forefinger out and bend it slightly. Rest it against the blade on the opposite side of your thumb. This will help you balance and position the blade to make precise cuts. To hold a thin knife, like a carving or boning knife, grip the handle near the top with your middle, ring, and pinky fingers. Raise your thumb up to the junction where the handle meets the blade, near the top of the blunt side of the knife. Then, raise your wrist 1-2 inches (2.5-5 cm) and extend your forefinger along the top of the blunt side of the blade. If you're cutting something tough, rest your forefinger against the side of the blade near the top or tuck it around the handle next to your middle finger. This will help you guide the thinner blade as you make your cuts. For tips on how to guide your knife with your other hand while chopping, read on!

      Did this summary help you?
      In other languages
      Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 124,031 times.

      Reader Success Stories

      • Anonymous

        Nov 26, 2016

        "Everything posted here is very useful to me. Thank you."
      More reader stories Hide reader stories
      Share your story
      If you buy through links on our site, we may earn a commission .

      Did this article help you?

      Advertisement