Discover the Best Knife Skills Classes in NYC
When was the last time you cooked a meal for yourself? What if you could cook like a chef and enjoy it? Learning knife skills is a great start to upping your kitchen (and therefore eating) game.
People have been making knives for most of history, all the way back to the days of hunting and gathering. They looked a little different, but they ultimately did the same thing: separated meat and prepared other types of foods to make them easier and more enjoyable to eat.
When knives with metal blades came around in the Romano-British period (43 AD to the fall of the Roman Empire), they were a luxury. Rich people dined with metal cutlery, but most of the time their guests did not. That wasn’t because knives weren’t around. In fact, men and women carried knives around for other tasks. Over time, other eating utensils became more widely used (the spoon is one of the earliest eating utensils, and forks have a scandalous history). Pocket knives remain a staple, and larger knives are often used in hunting and fishing communities.
Knives are sharp objects generally used to cut items like consumable goods and meats. They’re categorized as cutlery, and as such, means you need to learn solid safety practices as you learn knife skills.
Having knife skills includes knowing how to:
- Grip a knife correctly
- Hold food securely to avoid cutting yourself when using knives
- Use the correct cutting and knife terminology
- Take care of your knives, for example sharpening and honing them
- Stabilize your cutting board to eliminate sliding on the countertops as you’re cutting
There are many types of cutting you’ll learn about as well. From the basic chopping and dicing to a more advanced chiffonade or julienne, it’s a good idea to learn what the cuts are called to accurately read recipes.
Why You Should Learn Knife Skills in NYC
Learning to cook is a good skill for every adult to have. NYC offers a vast array of restaurants and takeout because of the size and diversity of the city. That being said, cooking can be a valuable skill in “the city that never sleeps.”
For one, there are plenty of markets where you can purchase fresh foods. Many New Yorkers walk or take public transportation, which means being able to purchase fresh ingredients from a wide variety of places is helpful for small shopping trips.
NY residents tend to work long hours, which can make cooking feel cumbersome, like another job. When you learn how to use knives, and other cooking skills, preparing a nice meal after a long day could be a good way to slow down and do self-care. Not to mention, homemade food makes you feel good when you eat it.
If you’re looking for a career change, NYC is a great place to learn knife skills. Nearly every restaurant job, whether you want to be a chef or own a food truck, requires you to know how to use the tools of the trade.
In-Person Knife Skills Classes & Schools in NYC
New York City is an awesome place to learn and practice knife skills. Little Italy in Lower Manhattan is home to a great little cooking school called Miette. It’s clever because in French “miette” means little crumb and the school is located inside the restaurant Tartine, meaning “slice of bread.”
During Miette’s Knife Skills: The Fundamentals course, you’ll learn skills through making a tasty meal. Start by making an appetizer of tomato bruschetta, through a roasted chicken dish with roasted potatoes, and finish with an apple tarte fine. You’ll chop, dice, and slice through each menu item and enjoy the meal together at the end of class. Chef Paul will demonstrate knife basics like how to choose and take care of your cooking knives.
Knife Skills 101 by Home Cooking NY is a basics course beginners won’t want to miss. In their SoHo Manhattan location, Home Cooking NY teaches the basics of how to grip and sharpen your knives. During class, you’ll practice with an 8-inch chef’s knife— or bring your own knife, if you prefer. When you’re done you’ll get to keep the knife sharpening stone you learned how to use in class and enjoy a hot meal with your peers.
Home Cooking NY also offers a Six Basic Cooking Techniques course. Knife skills are an important topic. In addition, you’ll learn about how to cook meat, make pan sauces, roast vegetables, and blanch green veggies. The class culminates in a delicious meal of pan-roasted chicken, roasted potatoes with seasonal vegetables and chicken gravy, paired with string beans and a lemon gremolata.
If you’re looking for a knife skills class that teaches you about ingredients, The Brooklyn Kitchen in Sunset Park offers Knife Skills. The chef will teach you about knives, how to shop for the best ingredients, use them to create fresh flavors in your food, and how to store them the proper way. One perk of The Brooklyn Kitchen is that they’re aware of allergies and will ensure you’re safe in their kitchen while you’re learning. All you have to do is tell them your allergies when you register and they’ll work with you to make sure the kitchen is free from the allergen.
Want to take your partner on a date? How about an Italian Date Night cooking class? CocuSocial Cooking Classes provides this fun activity for couples looking to have fun in the kitchen together (bookings have to be made in pairs). Chef Jerry will guide you through the knife skills and cooking processes step-by-step and you’ll get to enjoy your homemade meal at the end of the night. This class doesn’t require previous experience. You’ll have a good time whether you love cooking, you’re starting out, or simply want to try something new with your partner.
If you’re looking for an adventurous cooking class for a solo experience, or for you and a friend, CocuSocial Cooking Classes offers a Steamed Bao Buns class. You’ll learn to make the dough for the buns first, allowing it time to prove as you prepare the filling. There are ground beef and vegan filling options. To top off the meal, you’ll create a Siopao dipping sauce before enjoying the fruits of your labor.
Virtual Knife Skills Classes & Schools
Learning to use knives requires working with your hands. But sometimes you may not be able to find a class that interests you. The good news is that there are plenty of online knife skills classes available. Taking an online class can be convenient, too, because you won’t have to worry about traffic, or being overwhelmed by learning a new skill around other people. You’ll also have the benefit of working in your own familiar spaces and likely have more special topics classes to choose from.
Learning remotely generally means you’ll have to provide your own equipment and materials, although many courses ship ingredients right to your home. If you have dietary restrictions or specific food preferences, it can be nice to have a little more control over your ingredients and learning environment.
To get a feel for the basics, consider courses like Knife Skills 101 (Online) by Taste Buds Kitchen. During this course, you’ll slice, dice, and mince your way to confidence in the kitchen. You’ll make salsa with tortilla chips, sweet potato fries, and jalapeno lime dipping sauce to enjoy after class.
To prepare, you’ll need to stock up on the ingredients. When you register, you’ll receive a list that tells you what you need, the quantities, and the recipes. Even though the course is virtual, you’ll still be learning and practicing the skills during class.
Looking for a little more advanced class to put your skills to use? Try Argentinian Cooking Online #2 with Mirta by The League of Kitchens. This exciting and culturally rich cooking class will take you on a journey through an Argentine delicacy. Learn to make skirt steak with chimichurri sauce using Mirta’s family recipe. Practice your knife skills on the roasted potatoes, fresh herbs, and vegetable salad. When you get done with class, you’ll love eating your perfectly cooked steak and well-cut side dishes.
After you register, they’ll send you an ingredients list and the kitchen tools you’ll need to be able to participate in class. All you have to do when you’ve purchased the ingredients is show up for class ready to learn and enjoy yourself.
Private Group Knife Skills Classes in NYC
Do you want to provide a knife skills class as a fun team-building event for your business or organization? Or maybe a cooking class where everyone can learn to make a dish together? CourseHorse has live online knife skills classes for private groups.
During this 60-minute Virtual Knife Skills Workshop, cooks of all experience levels will learn and enjoy themselves. Beginners will learn new skills, while advanced cooks will learn to be more efficient in the kitchen.
In order to prepare for class, you’ll need to pick up a few basic kitchen items like a chef’s knife, cutting board, and vegetable peeler, as well as a variety of fresh vegetables. Don’t worry, when you register for class, you’ll get a list of what each participant needs to stock up in advance.
When you sign up for a course like this through CourseHorse, there are a few key benefits you’ll want to know about. For one, there’s no booking fee. The only additional cost will be if you want to add customization to the workshop like games or an extra expert.
After you book, you’ll receive confirmation within 24 hours. That’s a nice feature if you’re expensing the group or getting reimbursed, especially since the course can support up to 500 participants.
Even if you don’t know exactly how many people will attend, you can always book with the minimum of ten participants and update the roster later. While CourseHorse recommends Zoom for the video platform, they’re able to accommodate others if your company has a preference.
If you have questions or would like to request a demo, simply reach out to the CourseHorse team via the contact form on the website to get connected with someone who can help.
