Best Knife Skills Classes Near Me: Find In-Person & Virtual Training

Learn More About Knife Skills Courses

Effective food preparation requires the skillful use of knives. Almost every dish involves knife work, starting with initial processes like butchering meats and cleaning vegetables and fruits. Preparatory techniques like trimming, chopping, and dicing divide and reshape ingredients as needed for recipes. Finishing methods like slicing and carving present dishes elegantly to diners. Knowing how to use knives properly makes cooking easier, faster, and safer and reduces food waste. Trained knife skills also empower cooks to create a wider range of dishes and produce more attractive results. Knives are so important to cooking that professional chefs will choose and care for a personal knife set.

Knife skills start with knowing which knife to use for each task and how to correctly hold and move each knife. Just as important, students learn how to work safely with knives and how to care for their knives to keep them clean, sharp, and ready for use. Almost all knife skills classes cover standard tools like a chef’s knife and paring knife, while some classes include more specialized knives like boning and filleting knives. Knife classes teach how to work with different foods to prepare them neatly and safely and how to produce different cutting results (for example, mincing versus dicing). Trained knife skills produce cleanly cut ingredients in precisely sized, evenly divided pieces, which are not only more attractive but enable more controlled cooking and better results. Some foods are even difficult to prepare at all without correct knife use. Practicing good knife skills improves cooks’ speed and precision, which means less work, fewer accidents, and less fatigue in the kitchen. Knife skills also include artistic techniques that yield beautiful creations like carved decorations and expertly plated meals, especially when coupled with creativity and imagination.

Why Learn Knife Skills?

Since a knife is a cook’s primary tool, better knife skills mean better cooking. Knife skills are a necessary part of training for any professional cook or chef and are valuable for anyone who works with food. Being able to use the correct knife in the correct way has multiple benefits. Many ingredients require knife work to be usable at all, to remove inedible parts like rinds or stems and to separate larger objects into manageable pieces. Most recipes require their ingredients broken down into pieces of a particular size, shape, or thickness to allow even cooking, thorough distribution, or uniform appearance. Knives also decorate food items by cleaning, trimming, and shaping them such as with vegetable rosettes or orange supremes. Finally, knives finish foods and prepare them for serving, like carving a roast turkey. With training and practice, each of these processes can become more precise, safer, and faster. A chef who cannot produce clean, consistent, quick results with their knives cannot keep up with the demands of a professional kitchen. A more casual cook benefits in the same way: producing more attractive, delicious food more quickly and with less fatigue, mess, and waste.

Good knife skills yield daily benefits for those who cook for family, friends, or just themselves. In addition to making meals more successful and less effortful, expanded knife skills can open new possibilities, making certain recipes more manageable or manageable at all. For example, trying to butterfly a pork chop or chicken breast might result in a mangled waste or a sliced hand when a cook doesn’t know the proper method. Cutting meats, fruits, and vegetables correctly also reduces waste by removing only the unwanted parts and not the desired substance. Many amateur cooks have thrown away edible parts when trying to peel a potato without a peeler. Less skilled cooks have also experienced sore, tired hands and arms from repetitive cutting. Knife training can reduce or eliminate this strain, which might be due to using the wrong knife, moving that knife incorrectly, or working with a dull edge. For home cooks, the decorative aspects of knife work may be less frequently useful, but they can be handy when entertaining guests at a fancy dinner or party. Parents trying to create tempting meals or snacks for children can also find good uses for decorative knife techniques.

Outside of the home, many food-related professions require knife skills, but only a subset of these workers can acquire their training in culinary or hospitality school. Someone who wants to start a small, personal catering business, for example, could take a knife skills class to speed up their work, improve their cooked offerings, and learn how to make attractive hors-d’oeuvres, crudités, desserts, and plate decorations. The same benefits apply to entrepreneurs making food products like baked goods or sandwiches for sale, or owners of hospitality businesses that offer some food items such as cafes or bed and breakfasts. In another category, some food service jobs involve extensive food preparation and require regular knife use but receive only basic on-the-job training rather than formal culinary classes. For example, dietary services workers in schools and hospitals, fast food workers, deli employees, and some prep cooks may only learn enough knife skills to meet minimum requirements. An expert knife skills class can make their labor easier, safer, and more productive.

What Will You Learn in a Knife Skills Class?

Different knife skills classes vary their exact order of topics, but knife safety is always near the top. Before students ever handle a knife, their instructor will discuss and demonstrate how to properly hold a knife at rest, while moving, and during cutting, plus how to arrange their cutting area to maximize safety. As each knife and technique is introduced, the instructor will fully explain and demonstrate its safest use, addressing how the blade, one’s hands, and the object to be cut should be positioned and moved. The instructor will often have students model each technique, slowly and carefully, to make sure they are observing all safety measures. Knife safety also includes some practices for general kitchen safety, like staying alert, communicating with other cooks, and keeping one’s tools properly stored and maintained.

Another early topic in any knife skills class is knife selection. The instructor will advise students about the features they should seek when purchasing knives, explain why high-quality knives are so important, and discuss how to match their personal knives to their needs. Kitchen knives vary in size, thickness, and shape, and skilled knife use begins with using the correct knife for the correct job. A knife skills class introduces each type of kitchen knife while discussing—and often demonstrating—their various uses. Generally, knife classes will always cover the major three or four knives every cook needs: chef’s, carving, serrated, and sometimes paring knives. Some knife skills classes also cover knives with less frequent, more specific uses such as cleaving, boning, slicing, and filleting. More rarely, classes could address ingredient-specific knives such as a cheese knife or tomato knife, or knives specific to a culture and its cuisine, like the Italian mezzaluna or the Japanese nakiri. Finally, more complete knife skills classes include lessons on knife maintenance: cleaning, sharpening, and detecting damage or wear.

Alongside these other lessons, a knife skills class will address why good knife techniques are so important for skillful cooking. These reasons include reducing food waste, avoiding accidents, reducing physical strain, saving time in the kitchen, and making food more attractive, but of particular significance is the ability to prepare ingredients as required by various recipes. In most knife skills classes, the instructor spends the majority of their time demonstrating and practicing specific knife techniques. There are a great many techniques used to transform foods into pieces of particular sizes and shapes, ranging from forceful methods like jointing, slicing, and chopping to finer and more delicate cuts like mincing, julienne, and chiffonade. There are also specialty cuts like citrus supremes and fine distinctions like bias versus oblique cutting. Executing these techniques properly begins with knowledge—what knife to use for which food and how to hold and move both to obtain the desired result—but requires focused practice to perform each method accurately. In addition to preparing food neatly and in desired forms, well-trained knife skills produce consistent results, ensuring greater control over ingredients and better cooking overall. The right cut can even alter the flavors of dishes by altering the surface area and texture of ingredients.

Most knife skills classes emphasize the most necessary knife techniques, to make sure students learn the methods they will frequently use. Some classes, though, focus instead on particular sets of skills such as cuts specific to French cooking or techniques of butchery. Other classes may include decorative cutting techniques used to improve the appearance of dishes, finish dishes for presentation, or create garnishes or artistic flair. Certain knife skills classes emphasize knife work as an integrated part of cooking culture and teach students how knife techniques tie into particular kinds of cuisine such as mirepoix in French cooking or its relatives like Italian soffritto or the Cajun ‘Holy Trinity’. Students might even cook with their prepared ingredients or practice techniques on cooked foods such as slicing a grilled steak. Being able to eat your results is a wonderful reward for all the labor of an intensive knife skills class!

How Long Will It Take to Learn Knife Skills?

Introductory knife skills classes are typically short, completed in a single session of about two to three hours. Within this span, students can learn the fundamentals of knife selection and use, then observe and try multiple techniques. While these classes provide little time for repeated practice, they usually cover the necessary knowledge and methods for regular kitchen knife work. Introductory classes usually omit specialized topics such as butchery or delicate decorative cuts, and some introductory classes minimize subjects that fewer students need such as knife sharpening. Even shorter, more focused introductions of one to one and a half hours also exist, paring down their curriculum to the core knife types and techniques most important to home cooks. Specialty and advanced classes, also typically around two to three hours long, feature further topics and techniques. These classes can cover additional knives and cutting techniques used in particular work settings such as a professional kitchen or catering service, or for particular ingredients, like cleaning fish. Certain knife skills classes address knives and techniques from specific cultures and cuisines, like Japan or Italy. Longer knife skills courses may combine an introduction with one or more advanced classes, but usually still teach these classes in separate sessions, sometimes purchased separately.

What Are the Advantages of Taking a Knife Skills Class?

Knife skills classes start with safety, and safety is the first advantage of taking an organized knife skills class with an expert instructor. Knives are inherently dangerous tools. Using them incorrectly can result in serious injuries. Learning knife skills on your own, without a guide or observer, increases these risks. A trained instructor can model proper, safe knife handling, watch students as they practice, warn them away from dangerous behaviors, and if necessary, provide first aid.

An instructor’s guidance and expertise are also valuable to ensure that students learn every technique correctly from the beginning. Bad form is hard to unlearn, especially with a manual skill like cutting. In a live class, students not only see how the instructor performs each technique but also get feedback on their attempts. If necessary, a class instructor can repeat or vary their demonstrations for those who need more study.

A knife skills class can provide considerable information not found in a tutorial text or pre-recorded video. In addition to discussing basic knife types and techniques, an instructor may address knife manufacture and structure, historical background, non-standard varieties of knives, alternate uses for knives and cutting techniques, and advice for further study. More than trivia, this information extends students’ subject knowledge and gives context to each practical lesson. An instructor can also answer students’ questions and provide additional explanations for those who want to personalize their lessons and apply what they learn to foods, recipes, and methods not featured in the class’ original curriculum. Since a knife skills instructor is often also a chef, they may provide further insights, cooking tips, and kitchen wisdom from their experience. The added value of an in-person class could even include the instructor or students cooking dishes to share using the ingredients prepared during their practice.

And finally, a knife skills class can be a fun, social experience to share with a partner, a group of friends, or new acquaintances among fellow cooking enthusiasts.

Best Knife Skills Classes

The chef-instructors of Miette offer a variety of in-person cooking classes in New York City. Their introductory knife skills class, Knife Skills: The Fundamentals, provides three hours of direct instruction. The chef will guide students through the preparation of an appetizer, main course, and dessert while introducing different knives and their uses. Students can learn multiple techniques, but the class focuses on the most frequently used cuts for vegetables, fruits, and herbs. The instructor will also address knife selection and maintenance, one of the class’ best-reviewed features.

A cooking school in Greenwich Village, NYC, Abigail’s Kitchen teaches its classes in a working kitchen, often during active food service. Their introductory Knife Skills class covers the most necessary knives for kitchen work, but the instructor may discuss other specialty knives, depending on time and student interest. Over two and a half hours, students learn how to hold and move each knife, safely and quickly, following the instructor’s demonstrations to prepare ingredients for a full meal. The course also teaches knife sharpening and several ‘kitchen tricks’ to make cooking more enjoyable. After completing the class’ lessons, students can enjoy their delicious results and talk further with the instructor.

Located in downtown Chicago, The Chopping Block Lincoln Square is a renowned local cooking school hosting a full range of “Hands-On” culinary classes. Their in-person knife skills classes cover two levels of skill. The introductory class, Hands-On Knife Skills, runs for two hours, addressing knife selection, care, and sharpening as well as core techniques for preparing vegetables and herbs. Students with this background or other prior experience can progress to an advanced class, Hands-On Next Level Knife Skills, which covers a wider range of techniques and explains preparation for more challenging foods like pineapple and squash. During its two-and-a-half-hour duration, the advanced class also covers produce selection and cooking tips and guides students through the preparation of several complete dishes.

Chef Eric’s Culinary Classroom is a cooking school in West Los Angeles that has been training chefs for over 20 years. In their introductory Knife Skills class, the chef-instructor teaches not only standard cutting techniques for the kitchen but a range of more complex and decorative techniques, including paysanne, batonnet, and brunoise cuts. Students first watch as the instructor models correct knife handling and cutting methods, then practice each technique as they prepare ingredients for a meal. The instructor will also demonstrate some butchery techniques, including deboning a whole chicken. The course, which runs for two and a half hours, also includes lessons on knife selection, sharpening, and care. A similar introduction to knife skills is the first session of a longer course, Chef Eric’s 4-Week Culinary Basics Series. This cooking bootcamp adds three more two-and-a-half-hour sessions, one per week, which address meal preparation and cooking techniques for many ingredients and recipe types.

Radical Cooks, a small cooking school, emphasizes healthy and cost-effective home cooking. They host several in-person cooking classes in Los Angeles, including an introductory Knife Skills 101. This knife skills class runs for two hours. It first covers knife handling, selection, storage, sharpening, and care. The instructor then demonstrates and guides students through multiple techniques, starting with standard cuts and adding more challenging techniques as time permits. Before they go, students can enjoy the results of their work in a prepared dish.

Pans on Fire is a retail kitchenware store in San Francisco that offers cooking classes in their kitchen studio, presented for both public education and private events. Their introductory Knife Skills class is taught by an executive chef for Zwilling, a knife manufacturer, an expert on knife construction, selection, cleaning, and sharpening. They also address knife safety and proper handling for each knife. In this 90-minute class, students will learn a wide range of useful cutting techniques, starting with fundamental skills and progressing to more specialized techniques like fish filleting and decorative cuts for vegetables. The class fee includes a complimentary Zwilling paring knife for students to take home.

Live Online Knife Skills Classes

CourseHorse hosts online workshops teaching a wide array of professional and hobby skills including cooking skills like knife work. CourseHorse bills their classes as “Team Building Activities” that improve group socialization and teamwork in addition to training specific skills. A live instructor teaches each class via Zoom, with participants connecting remotely from anywhere they live or work. CourseHorse’s Virtual Knife Skills Workshop is a one-hour class that focuses on the use of a chef’s knife. The instructor first discusses knife safety and handling then leads students through multiple cutting techniques. Students are encouraged to prepare a few standard ingredients like onions, carrots, and potatoes, but can use any vegetables they have available. This workshop must be booked at a base group rate for up to 10 students, but can expand, at an additional per-person cost, to up to 500 attendees.

In addition to in-person classes at their gourmet store and cooking school in Chicago, The Chopping Block Lincoln Square periodically holds online classes, including Virtual Knife Skills. This introductory knife skills class is taught live on Zoom by an expert instructor, aided by a moderator who ensures that they address all participants’ questions. The course is otherwise similar to The Chopping Block’s in-person class, covering knife selection, care, sharpening, and safe handling before demonstrating fundamental cutting techniques for vegetables and herbs. The course lasts for two hours, allowing time to answer most questions live, and the instructor often takes time after class to cover any remaining concerns.

Home Cooking New York, a cooking school in Downtown New York City, offers both in-person and virtual classes. All of their classes are two and a half hours long, allowing time for thorough instruction, student practice, and discussion, and a shared meal prepared during class. Knife Skills 101 is their introductory knife skills class and focuses on the use of a chef’s knife. Virtual students should provide an eight-inch chef’s knife, sharpening stone, and cutting board; they are also encouraged to work in their usual kitchen space. The school will provide a list of recommended ingredients in advance. The instructor first covers knife selection, storage, sharpening, and safety, then demonstrates proper knife holding and movement. Students then learn and practice multiple techniques on a variety of vegetables by preparing the ingredients for a complete dish such as vegetable soup.

Teaching Table is a virtual home cooking school teaching food selection, recipes, and cooking methods for healthier eating. Their classes include two levels of knife skills instruction, beginner and advanced, with each class two hours long. Both classes provide a list of required tools and ingredients in advance so that students can prepare beforehand. Beginner Knife Skills is a basic introductory class teaching 10 different cuts using a chef’s knife, including techniques used on common ingredients like garlic and onions. First, though, the instructor addresses knife selection, safety, and handling, including the setup of a kitchen workspace. Advanced Knife Skills assumes basic knowledge and prior knife experience, with the instructor instead focusing on more complex and intricate knife techniques. Students will learn cuts like julienne, chiffonade, supreme, rondelles, parisiennes, and several more, prioritizing the most commonly used techniques and including others as time permits.

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Featured Classes from Noble Desktop

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Featured Classes from Noble Desktop

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Featured Classes from Noble Desktop

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Knife Skills Classes Near Me

Craftsman Ave Forge a Survival Knife (Introduction to Knifesmithing)

Miette Knife Skills: The Fundamentals

Learn More About Knife Skills Courses

Why Learn Knife Skills?

What Will You Learn in a Knife Skills Class?

How Long Will It Take to Learn Knife Skills?

What Are the Advantages of Taking a Knife Skills Class?

Best Knife Skills Classes

Live Online Knife Skills Classes

Knife Skills
Corporate & Onsite Training

Knife Skills Training Map & Top Locations

2 Courses Available in NYC

Top Certificate Programs

Top Courses

Top Certificate Programs

Top Certificate Programs

Top Courses

Top Certificate Programs

Top Courses

Craftsman Ave Forge a Survival Knife (Introduction to Knifesmithing)

Miette Knife Skills: The Fundamentals

Learn More About Knife Skills Courses

Why Learn Knife Skills?

What Will You Learn in a Knife Skills Class?

How Long Will It Take to Learn Knife Skills?

What Are the Advantages of Taking a Knife Skills Class?

Best Knife Skills Classes

Live Online Knife Skills Classes

Knife Skills Corporate & Onsite Training Noble Desktop

Knife Skills Training Map & Top Locations

2 Courses Available in NYC

Knife Skills
Corporate & Onsite Training