Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Knives
Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Knives
How many do you need? Does it matter if you get a good one or a cheap one? How often should you sharpen? And other questions answered.
Today, we’ve got a discussion with Corey Milligan, co-founder of New West KnifeWorks in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, maker of one of Mark’s favorite knives.
Corey moved to Jackson Hole in what started as a way to enjoy the outdoors — and cook in local restaurants. As a line cook, he craved a better knife, and ended up making his own. As much as they’re practical, they’re also beautiful — and were featured in art shows as well as professional kitchens. “The toughness and hardness of the steel are what’s important,” Corey told Salt Lake Magazine, citing his knives among the highest performing kitchen knives in the world today.
“We are pretty much the only manufacturers of high-end kitchen knives in the United States,” says Milligan. “And it’s so small: We are just a tiny factory with 20 to 30 makers making stuff. But we also have these retail stores (in Park City, Utah; in St. Helena, California; opening soon in Denver, Colorado) where people make what they’re selling.”
Listen in for more about knives from New West KnifeWorks and tune in next week when we’ll be giving away to one of our subscribers a 7-inch Teton Edge Santoku, a $389 value. (Details for how to enter this giveaway are at the end of this post.)
We’ve also got a discount code for Bittman Project readers for 10 percent off anything on New West KnifeWorks from now until August 21 when you use the code BITTMAN10.
As far as advice when it comes to knives, Milligan says less is more — buy one good knife over a set of less expensive ones. And you shouldn’t buy a knife by mail: You have to know how a knife feels in your hands and ideally, how it feels to cut with it. In this case, we don’t really have that luxury, but the knives are lifetime guaranteed: New West KnifeWorks wants to make sure it's a perfect match. The return policy lets you send knives back to try something else or get a refund within 30 days.
In addition, we’ve got a video of Corey and his son, Buck, also a Chopped Jr. Grand Champion, talking about how to choose a knife.
Knifeworks Giveaway
Next Friday (8/5), we'll draw the name of one Bittman Project subscriber who will receive a 7-inch Teton Edge Santoku, a $389 value.
Best of all, this knife comes in 8 different color combos which our winner can choose from.
By becoming a paid Bittman Project member today, you TRIPLE YOUR CHANCES to be the winner. All new members will have their name entered three times in our drawing.
There is no purchase necessary to enter this drawing, simply enter your email here to let us know you'd like to take part.