Favorite Things: The Tomato Knife

Unlike little pitchers or vintage flatware, the tomato knife is not just a favorite thing. It’s a necessary thing. I get bedazzled by all of the kitchen tools available that can make cooking easier and even more fun than it already is, but as with anything else, there are “nice-to-haves” and “must-haves” in the kitchen. The torch that caramelizes meringue for a tart or sugar for crème brulee is arguably a nice-to. The tomato knife, a must-have.

The serration on the tomato knife is engineered in such a way that it will cut through tomato skin like a dream without much pressure, and therefore without bruising or damaging the precious flesh—which, when perfectly ripe, is also perfectly delicate. You’ll get a similar effect using the knife with ripe plums.

Two prongs on the tip of the knife handle tomato slices with kid gloves. They allow you to gently lift slices of tomato from the cutting board without smashing the flesh.

You can get away with your tomato knife for about $50. Check them out here and here.

What brilliant mind thought this knife through with such empathy, such kindness for the tomato? That person ought to be writing tomes on relationships and how to be a better husband, wife, sister, brother, son, daughter, friend….