F. Dick 1905 6-inch Granton Edge Utility Knife

Prep cooks who cut potatoes, parsnips, beets and carrots know how starchy slices cling to a blade. This 6-inch 1905 utility knife has a granton edge, a row of hollow dimples that lets those slices fall away with each cut.

Grinding the dimples is an extra step in manufacturing, and it pays off in speed on the board, since the cook does not have to stop to scrape food off the knife. The slim blade still makes delicate cuts and handles fruit and small cuts of meat like any utility knife.

The 6-inch length suits cutting potatoes for a gratin or slicing carrots on the bias. A thin, even slice keeps those dishes cooking evenly.

If sticking is not a concern, the plain-edged 1905 6-inch utility knife is simpler to sharpen. For larger volumes of vegetables, the 1905 7-inch granton edge santoku has the same hollows on a taller blade. The Premier Plus 6-inch granton utility knife is the modern-handle version.