Are Ceramic Knives Better?
People often ask: What is the difference between ceramic and steel knives? Which of the two is better? Are ceramic knives better than steel knives?
A brief answer to these questions is: It varies according to your requirements, purposes, and preferences.
The long response is complicated, as it would involve an in-depth analysis of the major pros and cons for steel knives and ceramic knives.
Let us find out which knife wins the Steel v/s Ceramic Knife face off.
Steel/Metal Knives
A metal knife, made of high grade steel, goes through a lengthy forging and polishing process, which optimises its quality in terms of corrosion resistance, blade sharpness, and edge retention.
Before users buy steel knives off-the-shelf, they are subject to a thorough quality testing exercise to ensure reliability and durability.
Ceramic Knives
The process of making ceramic knives includes various mechanical treatments.
Some ceramic knives on the market are handcrafted, but they can be prohibitively expensive.
In general, ceramic knives are highly priced because of their complex production procedure, and the material used.
Cheap ceramic knife variants are also available, but these awfully poor quality products do not last long.
Steel Knife Pros :
Sharpness - No one needs a semi-blunt or blunt knife. Thanks to traditional workmanship, steel knives come with an exceptionally sharp edge.
Durability - Steel knives are robust, are incredibly durable, and have extraordinary longevity.
Strength - High quality steel knives never break. They can slice through anything in your kitchen, even bones. Because of its sheer strength, steel knives are also perfect for outdoor activities, be it camping, fishing, or hunting.
Sharpening - Regardless of the material, you need to sharpen your knife once in a while. Whether cleavers, steak, bread, or kitchen knives, you can mail them to Knife Care Australia for professional sharpening. Knife Care envelopes are postage-paid, secure, insured, and trackable.
Price - Steel knives are definitely cheaper than most ceramic knives, but a superior grade of steel knife by a reputed maker can be an investment, albeit a worthy one!
Steel Knife Cons:
Weight - Steel knives are heavy, but if you need a sturdy blade to chop bony meat, ceramic knives cannot serve as an alternative.
Ceramic Knife Pros:
Weight - Known for its lightweight, ceramic knives can be an ideal solution if weight bothers you.
Rust-free and Acid-resistant - Ceramic knives are not susceptible to corrosion when applied to acidic foods and fruits. Its rust-free properties eliminate the need for maintenance.
Ceramic Knife Cons:
Strength - Ceramic knives have high hardness, which makes them break easily. Ceramic blades can break if you try to cut frozen food or bony meat.
Sharpening - Since ceramic is an extremely hard material, only diamond sharpeners can re-sharpen a ceramic blade. If your ceramic knife loses its edge, chips, or degrades, you will need highly-specialised sharpening services to bring it back to shape.
Versatility - Ceramic knives can perform only a limited number of tasks that do not require much pressure or balance.
Types: Unlike steel blades, ceramic knives are not available in different shapes and sizes to meet varied functional requirements.
Price - Ceramic knives are pretty expensive. It is difficult to get high-quality ceramic knives with an attractive price tag.
The above pros and cons indicate that steel knives are an outright winner when it comes to quality, sharpness, balance, versatility, strength, longevity, and ease of maintenance. Although if you are a beginner, lightweight ceramic knives can be a good way to get used to the techniques of cutting and chopping.
But ultimately, it’s the steel knives that owns the pride of place in a kitchen.