I consider myself a pretty competent home cook, but I also know that no matter how comfortable you feel in the kitchen, safety should always come first. Emergency rooms see more kitchen-related injuries than you might think, everything from burns to serious knife cuts. In fact, cuts to the hand are one of the most common accidents, often caused by slips while cutting everyday ingredients—avocados, large squash and, yes, even cheese.As cheese board season approaches, it’s worth remembering that even something as simple as slicing cheese can be risky if you’re not careful. Hard cheeses can cause knives to slip, while soft cheeses may tempt you to use the wrong tool altogether.To be honest, I hadn't put too much thought into my at-home cheese safety—until I saw a simple trick from Top Chef alumn chef Sara Bradley. Her simple yet effective knife safety tip will help you stay safe while still creating that perfect, crowd-pleasing grazing board.Related:Fans Love Aldi Cheese—We Ranked Our Top 15?? SIGN UP to get delicious recipes, handy kitchen hacks & more in our daily Parade Eats newsletter. ??
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You might know Bradley from her turns on food TV. The chef/owner of Freight House in Paducah, Kentucky, is a two-time runner-up on Top Chef (Seasons 16 and 20) and has also appeared on Top Chef: Last Chance Kitchen, Chopped and Tournament of Champions.
When she's not on TV, she's at her restaurant, which provides plenty of inspiration for the practical kitchen wisdom videos she shares on her social media feed. We were impressed by her cake pan-spinning video that went viral and have been tuning in ever since.
This time around, Bradley appears on screen with a big hunk of Parmesan cheese, a kitchen towel and a knife. In the video, Bradley talked about the "gnarly" cuts she's seen people get while cutting large pieces of cheese with a chef's knife and shares how to avoid that same fate.
First, she recommends using a large serrated knife (like you'd use to cut bread). Place the knife on top of the block of cheese and wrap the sharp end of the knife with the folded kitchen towel. Next, wrap the kitchen towel over the end of the knife. Rock the knife through the block of cheese, using a gentle rocking motion. In the video, you can see Bradley slice right through the cheese and break off a nice wedge.
By draping the towel over the end of the blade, you create a soft barrier between your hand and the knife. If the knife slips, the towel absorbs the impact instead of your skin.
“A towel is a pretty protective item because it just stops that knife from hitting your hand. It’s pretty hard to cut through a towel,” she tells Parade. We love smart cheffy tips like this that are easy to bring home to our kitchens.
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Why a Towel Is Great for Kitchen Safety
Bradley tells Parade that she first learned this safety technique while working at a catering company, and it’s one of the first things she teaches new staff in her restaurant kitchen. The logic is simple: sharp tools aren’t going away, but protective habits can drastically reduce the risk of injury.
And the towel method isn’t just for cheese. You can use it when you're cutting with a mandolin slicer, one of the most notoriously dangerous tools in the kitchen. By wrapping a towel around your hand or using it as a buffer, you minimize the chance of a deep cut. (Home cooks can also consider buying a cut-proof glove for using a mandoline.) Bradley even recommends the towel trick for slicing fruits and veggies, like avocados.
Related: 7 Best Grocery Store Cheddars, Ranked
Another big part of her advice is using the right knife for the job. Many people assume a chef’s knife is the best all-purpose tool, but in certain cases, a serrated knife can be safer.
“A serrated knife doesn’t tear the cheese because you are simply cutting through the cheese and using weight to push down, rather than sawing through it,” Bradley explains.
Plus, the tip of a serrated knife is naturally more blunt than other knives, offering one more layer of protection, she adds.
Kitchen confidence doesn’t just come from making delicious meals. It also comes from keeping yourself safe while making them!
With Bradley’s serrated knife and towel trick, you can dramatically cut down (pun intended) your risk of painful injuries. So the next time you’re prepping avocado toast, putting together a cheese board or making a fruit salad, remember this simple protective step. Your hands will thank you.
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Source:
• Chef Sara Bradley, Chef/owner of Freight House in Paducah, Kentucky; Top Chef contestant seasons 16 and 20; Tournament of Champions 6 runner-up; Chopped grand champion; first-ever Chopped legend
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