
For all you cheese lovers, this HomeQuicks post provides an insight into the different types of cheese knives and their uses.
Did you Know?
Cheese knives that are used for soft cheese can also be used for cutting other soft and sticky food products, like pastries, pies, eggs, tomatoes, etc.
Depending on the moisture content in cheese, it is categorized as soft, semi-soft, semi-hard, and hard cheese. Knives that are used to cut cheese are generally made of stainless steel, and usually have a strong wooden handle. Knives used for cutting soft and semi-soft cheese have a serrated edge to them, so that the cheese does not stick to the blade. These knives also ensure that the cheese is cut in the most attractive way, for the best possible presentation. One thing that is similar in all cheese knives is appearance. The blade starts off narrow at the base, and becomes broader in the middle.
Many of the knives used for cutting hard cheese, resemble a meat cleaver. The knives used for cutting soft cheese are often angular, and have a forked blade. This helps in making cleaner cuts and precise actions. There are some cheese cutters that are not exactly knives, but are still considered as knives, as they help slice cheese into very thin strips. Certain varieties of hard cheese cannot be cut by regular cheese knives, and hence, a device called the Girolle is used. This device makes scrapings of cheese.
So, if you thought that you could just pick up any knife to cut cheese, you need to think again. Each type of cheese requires a particular type of knife for cutting it. And we thought that cheese is actually quite easy to cut! If we didn’t have the different types of cheese confusing us, we had the purpose, and the preparations to do that. Now, add in the different types of knives, and our confusion on the subject just hits the roof. Don’t worry, compiled in this HomeQuicks article are the different types of cheese knives and their uses, simplified just for you.
The Cheesy Cutting Edge
Fork-Tipped Spear
The forked-tipped spear is a two-in-one knife, which is specifically used for cutting hard cheese. The blade is used for dicing the cheese, and the forked tip is used for serving.
Spade

A small spade sure looks small, but it is strong enough to cut rough chunks and wedges of hard cheese. To cut chunks of cheese using this knife, all you have to do is insert the tip first, and then slice the blade down, to cut off a chunk. If you are having trouble cutting Parmesan or Mozzarella, this knife is the best choice.
Gorgonzola Knife
The Gorgonzola knife is specially used for Gorgonzola or Bleu cheese, but one can use it for any variety of soft cheese. Using this knife, cheese can be cut into wedges and rounds. This knife can also be used to spread cheese easily on bread and crackers.
Open Work Blade Knife
This knife is best used for cutting big chunks of soft cheese, like Brie. Due to its unique design, the cheese does not stick to the knife while slicing, and the time taken is also considerably reduced.
Flat Cheese Knife
The flat cheese knife is specially designed to cut soft cheese, providing clean cuts without spoiling its shape. It is also used for dicing hard cheese.
Cheese Forks
Cheese forks help is cutting cheese, and also serving. Some even use them to hold the cheese in place, while cutting with a different knife. It is used for cutting hard as well as soft cheese, but it works best for cutting hard, aged cheese.
Cheese Slicer
A cheese slicer is used for obtaining thin slices of semi-hard and hard cheese. The design of the slicer resembles that of a carpenter’s plane, and this knife can even be used to cut hard butter, or peel cucumbers and zucchinis.
Wire Cutter
The blade of a wire cutter is actually a fine, aluminum wire or a stainless steel gauge, which is stretched along a frame. This cutter is convenient for cutting thin slices of soft cheese.
Mince Knife
For cutting large portions of cheese, like gouda, mincing knives are used. These knives are used for meat as well as cheese. To use it correctly, one has to just insert the leading end of the knife, and then push the blade through the width of the cheese to obtain a slice or cut.
Meat Cleaver
Meat cleavers are used for hard as well as soft cheese. Quick clean cubes and wedges are obtained by using this particular knife.
Cheese is one of the tastiest and most luxurious dairy products made by man. You can eat it as it is, or on toast, in a sandwich, between buns, with wine, etc. Cheese is available in hundreds of flavors and textures. So, go out and buy your basic cheese knives, and enjoy your cheese to the fullest by cutting it appropriately!