Lassar 3in Ceramic Paring Knife with Sheath product reviews

Not being a fisherman by any stretch of the word, I wasn't too sure I could do this knife justice, but it's just so handy it wasn't hard to find ways to use it. As an example, the small size, amazing sharpness and unusually shaped handle make it perfect for picking the sprouting eyes out of potatoes prior to chopping for boiling, roasting or baking.

I also found it amazing to have close at hand when doing meat, as it was brilliant for cutting the gristle out of steaks, the excess fat of ham and pork, and the rind off bacon. It also showed real strength with peeling and slicing fruit, being small and light enough to control easily and sharp enough to glide through even the toughest rind. Using this to peel lemons so I could candy the rind and use it in desserts and preserves was such a breeze! Trying to do the same job with a metal blade was just as possible, but nowhere near as easy.

When you take into account that you could pick up a very usable metal bladed paring knife at the bargain stores for just a few dollars, why would you even consider using a ceramic blade at $30?! The answer is very simple really - quality of function. Though the metal blades will do the same job, they won't do it as long before they need a touch-up on the butcher's steel. Nor will they do it as keenly, thanks to ceramic being a narrower crystal lattice able to hold an edge longer. Nor will they do it as safely, since ceramic is non-porous, so nothing gets below the surface of the blade. This means you can swap between meat species safely after a quick clean using only hot water and a paper towel.

Overall, this isn't the cheapest blade on the market, but it certainly is one of the best I have come across. If, like me, you are a bit of a dedicated food playtimer, then you would be wise to look at something like this for your kitchen. Keep in mind though, this isn't designed to REPLACE your metal blades, it's designed to COMPLEMENT them. Ceramics don't like cutting on bone. Nor are they great fans of metal working surfaces. Take care of these and they will probably outlast your metal blades, still going strong when your metal knives are little more than over-sharpened slivers. The sheath on this also makes it safe to travel with in a backpack or hiking kit, so I may look at keeping in the boot of the car for camping trips, or spur-of-the-moment picnic stops on long drives.