Most knives can be used for a variety of purposes. Even in a professional kitchen, you’re going to see fruit cut with paring knives and bread cut with chef’s knives. However, one knife that fits its own unique purpose is the oyster knife. If your establishment ever needs to prepare oysters, you would need two things – good quality oysters from reliable stores like Oysters XO, and an oyster knife.
What is an Oyster Knife?
It’s pretty hard to mistake an oyster knife for anything else. They have very short blades, normally around three inches or less, with very flat tips, and their handles are also quite short and round, designed to fit perfectly in the palm of your hand. So, that’s what an oyster knife is, but why is it so important to use one?
The Benefits of Using an Oyster Knife
- Doesn’t Damage the Oyster’s Flesh: Oysters can be very tough to crack into, which is one reason why you need a knife specially adapted to the purpose. Remember, you aren’t cutting as much as you’re levering open. An oyster knife’s flat but pointed end can penetrate and then open without snapping at the tip; more importantly, the tip won’t be sharp enough to cut into the oyster’s flesh.
- Doesn’t Damage Your Flesh: It isn’t only the oyster’s flesh you need to worry about. You’ll be exerting quite a lot of pressure as you open oysters, and a slip can wound the hand. That’s why you should wear gloves as you cut, but a regular knife will usually be sharp enough to cut through and cause serious injury that might require you to contact your family medicine doctor for help. An oyster knife won’t be sharp enough to do that.
- Reduces Fatigue: Oyster knives are ergonomically designed for the grip-and-twist motion needed to open an oyster, so you can shuck them fast without exerting too much pressure.
- Never Rusts: Stainless steel knives aren’t as sharp as high carbon knives, but you don’t need sharpness for oysters. Instead, you need to resist rust since oysters will have a lot of salt in them. Stainless steel resists corrosion, so you can count on all oyster knives using stainless steel blades.