Traveling Knife Gal
For peeling and precise work
Cutco 2-3/4" Paring Knife #1720
A short, straight-edge blade for maximum control: peel apples, hull strawberries, trim green beans and carve radish roses.
- Blade
- 2-3/4 inches
- Edge
- Straight edge, 15° per side
- Steel
- 440A high-carbon stainless
- Build
- Full tang, 3 nickel-silver rivets
- Made in
- Olean, New York
- Guarantee
- Forever Guarantee with free sharpening
A paring knife is a short knife for peeling, paring, garnishes and precise cuts. Cutco's 2-3/4" and 4" Paring Knives and 3" Gourmet Paring Knife have straight edges; the Gourmet has a broader blade, and the Santoku-Style 3" has a sheepsfoot shape for slicing small fruits, ginger and garlic on the board.
What a paring knife is for
Cutco's paring knives share one job description: a short blade for maximum control and precision cutting, and a super sharp straight edge for smooth slicing, peeling and paring, right down to decorative garnishes like radish roses and celery curls. Use one for:
- Peeling and coring apples, pears and potatoes.
- Hulling strawberries and coring tomatoes.
- Trimming green beans, Brussels sprouts and shallots.
- Deveining shrimp and scoring small fruits.
The Cutco paring lineup
| Blade | What's different | |
|---|---|---|
| 2-3/4" Paring (#1720) | 2-3/4", straight edge | The classic: shortest blade, most control for in-hand peeling |
| 4" Paring (#2120) | 4", straight edge | More reach for bigger fruit and work on the board |
| 3" Gourmet (#4120) | 3", straight edge | Broader blade, good for paring and slicing smaller foods |
| 4" Gourmet (#4720) | 4" | The larger Gourmet paring knife |
| Santoku-Style 3" (#3720) | 3" | Sheepsfoot tip for slicing small fruits, ginger and garlic on the board |
For round fruit and fancy garnishes, look at the Bird's Beak Paring Knife.
How to use one safely
- In the hand: hold the food firmly, keep your thumb below and behind the edge, and use short, slow strokes toward your thumb.
- On the board: for anything you can lay flat, cut on the board. It's safer than cutting in your hand.
- Use the tip for coring and the back third of the blade for control.
Care and sharpening
- Hand wash with warm soapy water and dry it right away. The handle is dishwasher safe, but the dishwasher is hard on any edge.
- Cut on wood or plastic, never glass, stone or a plate.
- Store it in a block, tray or sheath, not loose in a drawer.
This is a straight edge, ground to Cutco's 15 degrees per side, so a few light passes on the Cutco Knife Sharpener keep it keen between professional sharpenings. When it needs a real sharpening, Cutco does it free under the Forever Guarantee: bring it to Faith's service events or request sharpening. See how to sharpen kitchen knives.
Questions
What is a paring knife used for?
Peeling, paring, coring and other small, precise jobs, plus decorative garnishes.
Which Cutco paring knife should I get?
The 2-3/4" is the classic for in-hand peeling; the 4" adds reach; the Gourmet has a broader blade; the Santoku-Style 3" has a sheepsfoot tip for board work. Many people own two.
Are Cutco paring knives straight edge?
The 2-3/4", 4" and 3" Gourmet paring knives have straight edges, so they can be touched up at home with the Cutco Knife Sharpener.
Keep reading
Sources: Cutco: item 1720 · Cutco: item 2120 · Cutco: 3" Gourmet Paring Knife · Cutco: A New Paring Knife From Cutco · Cutco: Types of Knives