Knives are crucial for every kitchen but there have been recent advancements in the knife department. This is because people have been using scalpels and Exacto knives in cooking and cutting. So, if you have been seeing a lot of scalpel vs. Exacto knife discussions, we have got you covered with the differences and details!
Scalpel vs Exacto Knife
Exacto Knife
Exacto knife is known for the replaceable blade which can be easily switched out and are easy to use. These knives have been popular for cutting through plastic and wood materials but professional chefs have started using them for carving the edibles and design the recipes. Exacto knives tend to have thin blades and tips are extremely pointy which promises precisions. These knives are made from fine blade materials which aren’t only thin but precise as well.
Exacto knives are popular for thin and small blades while the tip is extremely sharp. These blades have the capacity to make clean cuts and can cut out the details (these factors make them perfect for cutting specialty meats and carve details on fruits and vegetables for presentation purposes. In addition to cutting precise patterns, Exacto knives are also great for cutting sharp details. What’s best about these knives is that they are easy to find and are inexpensive, so they are available for everyone.
These knives are made with carbon steel blades which make them sharp. However, they can dull down with time which means you need to replace the blade every time it gets dull. As far as the handle is concerned, these knives have aluminum handles that look pretty nice. The handle is designed to offer better control over the knife which makes it suitable for making artistic touches on the food. In addition, Exacto knives are available in various sizes, so you can use them for different cutting functions.
On top of everything, these knives do a pretty nice job of chopping. As compared to the cooking knives, Exacto knives are sharper and cheaper, so it’s a win-win. The blades are extremely sharp and have serrated edges to make them suitable for cutting small vegetable stalks. All in all, you need to be extremely careful while using the knife since it’s sharp. These knives cannot replace vegetable knives but it’s great for adding artistic touch on food!
Scalpel
To be honest, scalpel has always been associated with surgeries and the medical field but they have become popular in the culinary industry as well. This is because the scalpels have blades that can hold the edge a long time as compared to utility knives. The scalpels are integrated with number 1 and number 2 blades. Generally, the blades have a length of 146mm. They are designed with a knurled collar which tightens up and loosens down on the aluminum collet. In addition, it helps hold the blade in place.
There are different designs in scalpels available. However, they have a small and sharp blade which makes them suitable for making intricate details on meat, fruits, and vegetables. There are single-use scalpels available in the market but there are reusable ones in the market but they have replaceable blades. Some people also re-sharpen the blades but it’s not the right approach. Some people know scalpel has a hobby knife which makes it suitable for arts and crafts as well.
When we are talking about scalpels, it’s important to outline that there are double-edged scalpels for better precision. As far as the blades are concerned, they are made from high carbon steel, tempered steel, and stainless steel. In addition, some brands have ceramic, titanium, and obsidian knives to meet the different needs of the users. However, the traditional scalpels were made with silver but that’s not used anymore because it didn’t deliver enough sharpness.
Scalpels have the capacity to retain the edges, so you can make sharp cuts. In addition, some blades are coated with a polymer which improves lubricity during cutting. The scalpels are designed with two different grips, such as pencil grip and palmar grips. The pencil grips have smaller blades that help make accurate cuts while the palmar grip is known as dinner knife grip. The palmar grip scalpels are perfect for making large cuts as well as make incisions.