What Is A Scalloped Knife Used For Exactly? (2021 Guide)

Scalloping on knives refers to the shallow, oval-shaped depressions on the blade’s face. Some people call these dimples, kullens, or Granton indents. This functional feature is added to knives to increase the efficiency of chopping board chores as this prevents sliced food from sticking to the steel.

Before we start, we must be on the same page…
Scallops in knives refer to two things: the serrated edge and the dimples on the blade’s profile.

This write-up will touch on the latter.

Scallops, also known as dimples, kullens, or Granton indents, are placed on knives because these craters minimize the friction between the blade and the food getting sliced.

Designed and patented in the late 1920s by a Wm. Grant & Sons Ltd., this was used primarily to slice cooked meat. However, a whole lot of knives now including the incredibly versatile Chef’s knife and the famous Japanese Santoku have this feature.

The main use of a scalloped knife

Most of the time you will use a scalloped knife to prevent your food from tearing.

The scalloped shape makes it easier for you to retain the same shape for your food slices.

That’s the thing you want to take into consideration, and the results can be nothing short of unique.

Thanks to the scallops, you are able to slide over the food without bending or catching any of its parts.

It just makes the entire process better and more convenient, while eliminating any issues that might arise.

When you use it, any clingy or moist food will just step away from the blade.

It will make the experience more cohesive, and the food will look better from a visual standpoint.

That’s a true benefit all around, and one of the reasons why you want a great scalloped knife.

In addition, it is also very flexible.

It can be used to cut hard and soft veggies.

A lot of people use it to cut squash, tomatoes, but also cabbage, lettuce, and meat.

This shows just how versatile such a blade can really be, and it does bring in front a very good trial and error approach.

With that in mind, the recessed curve along the edge also has sharp points so it can make linear cutting better and a lot more cohesive.

On top of that, it is designed so you can basically cut freely without worrying about any problems.

It just flows adequately and in the end, the results can be very impressive.

You always want a bit of a trial and error, and the results can shine more than you might imagine.

Will the food stick on its surface?

When you try to cut a piece of meat or any kind of food, the last thing you want is to deal with situations where the food itself sticks to the knife surface.

You want to prevent that as much as possible.

Thankfully, this type of cutter will help prevent such issues, and it will convey a very good value for money.

You’ll find it the most versatile knife to use especially when you prepare to add slices of food to your plate.

It’s the ideal knife for this, especially if you must cut meat.

As you can imagine, such a knife is very sharp, and it can cut through everything.

That’s why you need to pay a lot of attention when you use it.

You never know how you can mishandle it, and then you will deal with injuries.

It does take a bit to learn how to use it properly, but it will certainly be worth it every time.

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Is it suitable for everyday cooking?

If you can get used to its shape and specifics, then you can use it for cooking.

However, its focus is to mostly cut the meat and vegetables without tearing.

Ideally, you want to have other knives that will help you do these other tasks.

It’s important to understand the role of every knife type, and results can indeed be well worth it if you do it right.

That alone can make a huge difference in the long term.

Does it need sharpening often?

It depends on a multitude of factors.

One of them is how often you use the scalloped knife, and another one is the type of stuff you cut with it.

If you just use it with meat, then you don’t really need to sharpen it that often.

However, keeping it sharp does have its advantages.

Yet it’s important to focus on personal safety if you attempt using this type of knife, to begin with.

Conclusion

The scalloped knife is a great investment for any kitchen.

Not only is it very durable and high quality, but it brings in front a really impressive blade and stellar cutting power.

We recommend you to give it a try, because not only is it convenient and professional, it gets the job done nicely and you will find it to bring in front an astounding quality.

Take your time as you try to find the ideal scalloped knife to suit your needs, but remember that you do need one for your kitchen, as it makes it easier to slice and prepare foods in an adequate manner!

Ryan Leavitt

Hi my name is Ryan Leavitt a Marine Corps Veteran and currently an over the road trucker (Long Haul). I am no expert chef but am enjoying preparing my own meals on the road and testing all the different knives.