You will be surprised to know that the paring knife is actually one of the most popular knives in any kitchen.  It’s small, easy to use, and can be used for a multitude of different things.  One of the main reasons that these knives are so popular is that they are small enough to be used for delicate fruits and veggies, yet strong enough to do special designs or cutouts for unique dishes.  Just like with any knife in your kitchen set, you want to make sure that you know the correct way to use a paring knife and that you are set up to use it safely.  So, here are the steps that you need to take to ensure that you are using that wonderfully versatile little paring knife right:

1. Get out all of the foods that you will be cutting with the paring knife.  This means that you want to have everything planned out and ready to go so you can move on from one to the next after each wash of the knife.
2. Prewash any fresh foods before cutting them to remove any dirt, dust, debris and other items that you don’t want in your dish.
3. Make sure that you have a good quality cutting board and that it’s clean and ready to go.
4. Depending on the food that you are cutting, lay it out on your cutting board so that it’s easy to see, easy to cut, and isn’t in a position where you cannot cut it without having something in the way.
5. Take the paring knife in the hand you use the most – either right or left – and hold the food with your other hand to prevent it from slipping.  If you are cutting small fruits or foods, be careful not to cut your fingers along with the food.
6. Start to cut the food, just like you would with any other knife, being careful to cut slowly to you don’t damage the food.
7. The easiest way to use a paring knife correctly is to cut the food by pushing down carefully but firmly in a “slicing” motion so that you cut through the food completely.
8. After you have cut your first food, wash the paring knife completely before you use it to cut anything else.  Even if you’re just cutting vegetables or fruits, it’s always a good idea to wash your knife and hands after everything that you cut.
9. When you are finished with your paring knife, make sure that you wash it completely and allow to dry.  Make sure that it’s kept out of the reach of any small children in your house, such as in a high cabinet, locked drawer, or in a knife holder that is out of reach.

Using a paring knife from your kitchen knife set isn’t hard.  But, when you get in a hurry and start to chop fast, you will find that you might mess up tender foods and cause a mess when you didn’t mean to.  If you simply follow these easy steps, you will be able to use any type of paring knife correctly and ensure that you, your family, and your foods are safe.