Took me 20 years to realize I was holding my knife wrong the whole time

I was chopping onions for chili last Sunday and my hand was cramping up like crazy. My buddy Dave came over and watched me for like 30 seconds before he laughed and showed me the pinch grip - thumb and index finger on the blade, not the handle. I've been gripping the handle like a caveman since I was a kid helping my dad cook breakfast. Has anyone else had that moment where you find out some basic skill you thought you knew was completely backwards?

2 comments

2 Comments

wendygrant23d ago

My dad has been gripping his knife handle like it owes him money for 50 years and his chili tastes just fine. I tried that pinch grip once and lost two layers of skin on my knuckle hitting the cutting board. Honestly, unless you're trying out for a cooking show, who really cares how you hold a knife?

uma_baker8822d ago

Jumped right into the pinch grip after Dave showed me and immediately sliced the tip of my thumb. It's like relearning how to tie your shoes or something, feels totally unnatural. My mom has been holding her knife the old way since before I was born and she's made thousands of meals that way without a single problem. But that said, I'm stubborn and now I've got calluses on my thumb and index finger from practicing, and honestly my cuts are way more even. End of the day, whatever works and keeps all your fingers attached is fine by me.