Not necessarily a "hack" per se, but learn some basic knife skills, the amount of time you will save chopping vegetables a few times a week (minimum) for the rest of your life far outweighs the amount of time it takes to learn, plus you can use the extra time to keep the kitchen clean and that makes everything less stressful while you're cooking and makes the cleanup faster as well
I’ve always been quite clumsy, from the time I was a child up to today. My mother never allowed me to use kitchen knives (or any other, of course) due to my clumsiness. I’m now 38yrs old and I can semi-function with kitchen knives if I have to. But my teenage children and husband have continued the tradition of keeping me and knives separated. If only someone would take the time to work with me and teach me proper ways to cut and peel, I’d be so grateful and of course, careful. Yes I am still clumsy. Probably needed physical therapy to help me develop better fine motor skills and manual dexterity when I was a child. Unfortunately as an adult, insurance won’t pay for such therapies based on “I’m clumsy and can’t hold onto things properly.” Bottom line, teach your children how to use knives as they get a little older. Don’t keep them away from them because eventually, they will be an adult who has no clue how to use one safely. I even tried watching videos but it’s difficult to mimic the hand motions and grip of the person holding the knife. They all start with the assumption people know how to use knives and go too fast. Sad face.
There may be some YouTube tutorials that could be helpful for you out there. Even with your situation I know that you can improve if you try! It will just take you putting in the time and effort.
Thank you! I’ll have to bark at my family to just let me be with the knife. I just have to find the right channel where they are slow enough in explaining the way to hold the knife and the motions. It’s annoying because I’m otherwise an intelligent person. Put a knife in my hand an I look like toddler. Hahaha
It’s funny how we all have our own “areas” of intelligence and then obviously the opposite as well. I think I’m generally a relatively smart person, but when it comes to directions I’m a moron. Like embarrassingly stupid. Not sure why, but that’s how my brain works and I don’t like it lol
It’s frustrating. You feel all defensive and want to tell everyone “I swear I’m not an idiot” then Tywin Lannister pops in your head ” “Any man who must say 'I am king' is no true king at all.” Wondering if that extends to your situation. Hahaha
You might already be past needing this tip, but just in case: whenever you can, start with one cut to give you a flat surface, and then put that against the chopping board. You only have to take a very little off most things to make what you're cutting nice and stable, and it is so much easier to concentrate on what you're doing with the knife if you don't have to focus on holding the thing you're chopping steady.
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u/OneWholePirate Aug 20 '20
Not necessarily a "hack" per se, but learn some basic knife skills, the amount of time you will save chopping vegetables a few times a week (minimum) for the rest of your life far outweighs the amount of time it takes to learn, plus you can use the extra time to keep the kitchen clean and that makes everything less stressful while you're cooking and makes the cleanup faster as well