Plastic knives are incredibly popular in restaurant and food vending businesses all over the world. There’s no way that you’ve never encountered one of these. And from very early times, plastic knives had already claimed an irreplaceable place in all types of kitchens.
One of the primary reasons that plastic utensils are still being used in kitchens, is due to the safety they provide. Plastic knives, for example, are about the safest option out there; getting cut or nicked while chopping fruits or vegetables is not uncommon for cooks. A plastic knife eliminates such risks while not compromising anything significantly.
Since you are here reading this post, I take it you’re considering getting some of these nonmetal knives for your kitchen; let us lend a hand! Choosing the best plastic knives for yourself among all the choices is hardly plain sailing. The issues about ergonomics, the convenience of size and build, quality of the plastic, and degree of functionality are very much present. Read more in this post to learn about many facts regarding plastic knives and what to know while buying them.
Overview of Plastic Knives
Plastic Knives also referred to as lettuce knives for their wide popularity in that arena, is a knife that’s made of plastic. Plastic knives are preferred in the kitchen for many reasons. Some of them being, safety, hygiene, functionality, low maintenance, affordability, etc.
Even though they are called plastic knives in general, many types of plastics are used to make such knives. No matter what kind, the options are always chosen based on durability, so you can chop away without any kind of additional hassle.
You can buy plastic knives in single pieces or sets also since the price is agreeable. You’ll find both options available in the market. If you’re into DIYs, you can also make your own knife from materials available in any home! Check youtube references on how to make wonderful kitchen knives with pretty patterns at home.
Plastic knives are a great choice to deal with your greens. Unlike metal blades, the plastic ones eliminate the chances of them browning and don’t let food get stuck on the blade. Cleaning plastic knives is also easy compared to steel ones; wash them with soap manually or put them in the dishwasher; without any fear of corrosion.
Plastic knives are also safe to introduce to kids to help them learn to lend a hand in the kitchen. As the sharpness isn’t fatal it’s unlikely to scrape skins, which also prevents it from damaging the coating of cookware.
Types of Plastic Knives
Plastic knives can be categorized based on the sorts of materials used to construct them. Polypropylene knives are one of the toughest materials out there; they’re low maintenance, affordable, and feature a comfortable grip. Nylon knives are the most popular ones among plastic knives. Its durability along with versatility and sharpness has earned it the place. Nylon knives are usually serrated and are used to cut baked goods, fruits, etc., and have a non-sticky build. Resin knives are usually adored for their aesthetics and treated as decorative rather than a kitchen knife. As they struggle to keep a sharp edge for a long time; although, resin knives can be handy for light use around the home and kitchen if you wish. Polystyrene knives, on the other hand, are less of a kitchen knife and more of cutlery. That is served with dishes to move foods, cut entrees or other soft foods, etc. Those knives are less hard compared to other plastic models, so it’d be difficult to use their tiny serrations to cut fruits and veggies.
How to Choose the Best Plastic Knife for Your Kitchen
Size & Weight: Plastic knives can be found in a wide range of sizes due to their versatile application form 6-14 inches overall. So, depending on your needs you can find the right-sized knife for your kitchen if you look long enough. The knife kits intended for kids are much smaller in size and lighter.
Whereas, the plastic knives for kitchens are longer in size; and thicker, so naturally heavier. In a set, you’ll notice they come in many shapes and sizes and are dedicated to different tasks, some for fruit, some for leafy vegetables, some for desserts & brownies, etc. But the weight remains measly compared to similar-sized metal knives.
Blade Length and Material: The knives feature blades starting from 4 inches to 8 inches in length, and come in both serrated or straight edge designs; the blade’s tip is usually rounded.
Plastic knives consist of a plastic blade so to say, but the type of plastic varies from model to model. It’s not uncommon for people to be skeptical about what a plastic knife can do, but it certainly isn’t less. But it will be unwise to compare them to plastic knives point by point. Be it, nylon, resin, or polystyrene, look for NSF listed and BPA-free labels on the knife to ensure its food grade. The blade’s durable to not bend while using.
Handle: Plastic knives mostly fashions full tang construction, so the material of the handle is usually of the same material as the blade. Plastic handles ensure lightweight, optimum balance & control, and maximum comfort while maneuvering. Ergonomic shape is prioritized while choosing knives as the grip is more convenient and, thus, safe.
FAQ
Q: Are plastic knives safe to use on food?
A: Yes, they are. Check the materials that are used to make the blades to be on the safe side. Usually, they are made from non-toxic materials that are also BPA-free for this very health safety purpose. So, plastic knives don’t react with foods, add no taste and or harmful substances.
Q: How Sharp is a plastic knife?
A: Plastic knives can provide almost just as sharpness as metal knives. They can easily slice through fruits and vegetables like apples, avocados, green onions, spring onions, guavas, spinach, etc.
Q: What’s the best material for plastic knives?
A: Among various types of plastics that are used to make cutleries in the market, nylon is the most preferred material for making knives. They are durable as they come, easy to clean and maintain, also very affordable even in sets.
Q: Where to get the best plastic knives?
A: Due to its ever-growing popularity and functionality in the kitchen, there’s no lack of options when it comes to plastic knives. You can very well choose from famous brands like Norpro, Zyliss, Topboutique, StarPack, etc. The price range is affordable, so that’s a plus.
Uses and Advantages of a Plastic Knife
In Kitchen: Kitchen is one of the largest fields of application of plastic knives, whether it’s for a professional or residential kitchen. What gives plastic knives an upper hand over metal knives is their longevity and simple maintenance. Plastic knives can be used to slice and dice vegetables, fruits, etc., easily. Due to its plastic construction, the knife is lighter than the metal ones; thus, it strains the wrist muscle less even after using long hours. Plastic knives are also versatile; you can work with a wide range of food items with a plastic knife, and with the right knife, you can make cuts as delicate as you want.
Since it doesn’t have any metal parts they are unaffected by rusting and other corrosive manifestations. Therefore, the measurements for upkeep are down to minimal. Cleaning plastic cutleries is a breeze too; you can put them in the dishwasher or wash manually, as you wish; water doesn’t hurt the plastic.
For Serving: Plastic cutleries are the primary choice for holding functions while maintaining the budget. Thanks to low production cost, even large sets of plastic knives don’t stress the wallet. Plastic knives are also perfect for hosting large gatherings. These knives can pass for slicing up desserts, dishes, etc.
For small chores: The use of plastic knives is not only limited to the kitchen; they’re equally apt in random chores around the house. For example, if any electrical wires need severing plastic knives can come off great use as they don’t conduct electricity. So, these are completely safe and efficient considering the plastic blade is sharp enough. Those also come pretty handy in opening letters, cardboard boxes, cutting papers, etc., as they are child-friendly.
Conclusion
The advantage of keeping plastic knives in your culinary set is a lot – they are light and disposable, not to mention affordable; you just can’t go wrong. Whether you are looking to buy a plastic knife for your home or food joints, you’re gonna need another point of view to choose the best product for you. And we’re here to help you in that very cause.
Such nonmetal knives are harmless little tools to have in the kitchen; they are safe to use around kids too. Considering all that, whether you want to buy a single knife or a whole set, you could use the extra opinion in deciding, and this post is designed to have you covered.