Showerthought: I used to think a standard cleaver was fine for everything, but after breaking down a 40-pound pig last month with a 10-inch breaking knife, the difference in control and clean cuts was night and day.

The breaking knife's flexible blade and sharper point made separating the shoulder and loin so much easier, so what's your go-to knife for a big primal cut?

3 comments

3 Comments

wrenh651mo ago

It's the same idea as using the right screwdriver head. A flathead will sort of work on a Phillips screw, but it strips everything and takes twice as long. Having the exact tool for the job just cuts through the friction. My go-to for big cuts is a stiff boning knife, it gives you enough leverage to work around joints without fighting the blade.

alicew681mo ago

Remember my buddy trying to carve a turkey with a bread knife last Thanksgiving? He looked like he was wrestling it... took him half an hour and the slices were all torn up.

samwalker1mo ago

Read a chef say a dull knife causes more accidents.