Because they've somewhat fallen out of fashion, many cooks don't realize how important a pocketknife is to a culinary life. Sure we have our chef's knife and our paring knife safely ensconced in the home kitchen. But a cook should always be ready for whatever delicious opportunities are thrown her way and a pocketknife is essential for that readiness. Plus, a pocketknife is a thing of beauty and as such should always be encouraged.
Do you have a pocketknife? What do you use it for?
There are countless uses for a pocketknife. Just to name a few:
• Foraging mushrooms while on a walk in the woods
• All manner of foraging on a walk in the woods, actually.
• Opening oysters on the beach.
• Prying open nuts in an orchard.
• Harvesting a few vegetables or herbs while on a stroll through the garden.
• Slicing up an apple as you walk and talk with an old friend.
• Dozens and dozens of uses as a picnic implement.
• Anytime you're stuck in traffic with a car full of groceries and sudden hunger strikes.
• Filleting a just-caught fish on the beach.
• Opening a can of beans while camping, among dozens and dozens of other camping tasks.
• Spying a field full of wild fennel while on a car ride through the country and jumping out for a quick harvest.
Due to circumstances beyond my control, I do not currently have a pocketknife. This is a somewhat traumatic situation for me, so I did a little vicarious shopping on the internets and came up with this small selection.
• Pattada Shepherd's Knife from Orvis, $79
• Japanese Folding Knife from Best Made, $60 (currently on backorder)
• Limited-Edition Case Canoe Knife from Orvis, $129.00
• Opinel No 9 Carbon Steel Folding Knife from Opinel, $12.95
• Single Blade Pocket Knife from Cooper-Hewitt, $99
• Hand-Made German Anchor Knife from Garrett Wade, $39.70
• Buck 110 Folding Knife from Amazon, $30.98
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I have a Swiss army knife in my left pocket, and a Leatherman Squirt in my right. I use them constantly for nonfood things; probably in the kitchen I use them most often to open tough packages, like some plastic-wrapped cheese.
I'm not against the idea of a pocketknife in theory, but I just don't see when I would use one. In all of the situations listed above, one of two things is true for me:
1. I knew I was going to find myself in that situation (e.g. picnic, camping), in which case I brought a paring knife;
2. I have never found myself in that situation, and I don't anticipate ever finding myself in that situation, and even if I did I would just use the half pair of scissors in the glove box of the car or go without.
All good pocketknives have a corkscrew attachment. Essential for picnics & parties.
I believe that someone did a post similar to this a while back! It was about "picnic knives" and there was a pretty lively discussion. Definitely worth finding if you're looking to buy someone a folding knife this year!
My boyfriend has a Swiss army knife, which is really useful, except that we use it on everything, which means that I really don't want it touching something that would go in my mouth. It's great for food packaging, though!
I never thought about the food opportunities, but now I love the excuse to ask for a lovely pocket knife for Christmas! My husband has one and uses it constantly, but with zero-tolerance rules being so extreme these days, he more often feels he has to leave it at home. Boo.
@krdavis - soap and water will clean any blade rather nicely. ;)
@jweddel - unless he works someplace where box cutters aren't allowed, he could easily say it's a box cutter.
i carry 1-2 pocket knives daily - one is almost exclusively a box cutter. the other is useful for cutting nearly everything else. in my line of work they're incredibly useful, though i do need to remember to clean the tape shmutz off one of them.
I would think cleaning it would become a problem. If you're in most of the above scenarios, you don't have access to a sink or soap, so what do you do? Fold it back up dirty? Ugh.
I have been wanting a good Swiss Army knife and should have asked for one for Christmas.
I love my swiss army knife. Great for traveling in general, but also perfect when you have a picnic or need to open a bottle and haven't packed a knife.
I think there are very limited uses for a pocket knife for culinary needs but I think the need is there. Think of picnics or camping or bringing a cheeseboard to a winery. A cheap pocketknife like an Opinel would be great. Yes, you could use a paring knife but then you'd need a shield for the blade and even then I don't feel safe tossing it in a paper bag or my bag.
I would never, ever, EVER let anyone try to open an oyster with a pocket knife. That is just asking for a trip to the emergency room.
growing up in a household of girls, I never experienced the knife fascination until I met my hubby's brothers.... several years ago, at my son's 5th birthday party, he had opened a toy and wanted to play with it but it was still attached to the box.... before I could get up to grab a scissor, 3 buck-knives come whipping out of my father-in-law's and brother-in-laws' pockets... and though (thankfully) my hubby has never understood his brothers' need to carry a knife that could skin a deer, he does keep a leatherman on his key chain that he would never be without!
For some reason you omitted the inclusion in this article of the well know pocketknife Laguiole.
I used to carry a pocket knife with me at all times, because like grandpa says, you never know when it will come in handy(ditto for a lighter, I've never smoked but I always keep one with me).
But sadly it has become illegal to carry a knife on you in Edmonton, and although I will probably never have a reason for the police to search me, I just never want to have the opportunity arise. Thank goodness we are moving soon :) as much as I love living I the city of homicides, I also love having impromptu picnics in the grass with just a hunk of cheese, meat and bread :). Possibly seem grainy mustard.
I've got the original brass-cased version of the Japanese Folding Knife. It has a superb laminated blade. You can get them much cheaper than the Best Made price if you Google 'brass cased knife'.
I'm with QChan.. it's illegal to carry a knife (or anything sharp - scissors, knitting needles, etc.) in the UK.. I got IDed for buying a pumpkin carving kit! I would love a Laguiole pocket knife though! Maybe when I move back to California!