Rating of the best carving kits for 2022

Carving refers to the artistic carving of wood, ice, vegetables, and even stones, but the name is also applied to the style of skiing and snowboarding, as well as perming hair. The article will talk about what culinary carving is and provide a list of the best, according to users, sets of tools that will be required for this.

From the history

Vegetable carving is an art that came from Southeast Asia, where it was used as a decoration for a poor table consisting of plant foods. Over time, in each of the East Asian countries, carving has its own features and characteristics. In China and Japan, craftsmen preferred to carve hieroglyphs, people, dragons, and animals presented in various scenes. Chinese masters used stencils, molds and recesses in their works. And in Thailand, the orchid was often the main pattern, and it was in this country that various flowers and compositions were most often cut out of vegetables and fruits. For work, a knife with cutters was used.

Modern carving is used both in famous restaurants and at home.

Fruit and vegetable carving

Details obtained during carving are used not only for table decoration, but also in floristry, they are perfectly combined with flowers, decorative greenery and also with floral foam. Exhibition compositions are assembled from separately cut parts, each of which is cut separately.

A special direction of carving is the creation of decorative containers from vegetables and fruits, such as vases, baskets, boxes. Often, such elements are not edible and they are painted and covered with varnishes and other additional decorations. If you are going to do cutting from fruit and vegetable crops, you should consider some points:

• flowers are best obtained from peppers and tomatoes, but leaves and cones - from cucumbers and carrots;
• if the composition is an addition to the dish, then it is best to create it from those products that will be combined, for example, lemons and herbs are suitable for fish, cucumbers and carrots for meat, and so on;
• when working with beets, it should first be soaked in cold water, watermelon requires room temperature or a little higher, at low it can crack;
• so that the compositions of apples, pears or eggplant do not darken, the products should be pre-soaked in a mixture of water, salt and lemon juice. As for the knife, it should also be moistened with lemon juice. Spray the result obtained with acidified water.

According to the recommendations of specialists, it is best from time to time to spray the resulting composition with water or appropriate solutions. And after the work is finished, it should immediately be immersed in cold water, so it is possible to add freshness to the resulting composition. Storing in the refrigerator will keep the product fresh for up to several days.

Choice of vegetables

An important role in carving is played by the right material. Therefore, experts recommend paying attention to vegetables and fruits that meet the following requirements:

• the surface should be flat, without depressions and bulges;
• the structure is dense, the less pulp and seeds, the better;
• there should be no overripe areas and friability;
• the peel must be whole, previously thoroughly washed and dried.

You should also know:

• that fruits and vegetables prone to browning should first be sprinkled with lemon juice;
• dense foods, such as potatoes or radishes, must be kept out of the refrigerator for a while before starting work, due to this they will become softer and more pliable;
• onions should not have green feathers, and potatoes should not have sprouts;
• when working with citrus fruits, preference should be given to those that have a thick skin
• but for melons and watermelons, on the contrary, it should be thin;
• it will most likely be difficult to choose a cucumber or tomato for work, since they must be very dense with a minimum number of seeds, which is rare;
• it should also be remembered that if the products require heat treatment, then it should be carried out only after the cutting process is completed;
• the resulting exhibits from vegetables and fruits, it is necessary to spray ice water every half an hour, this will help to maintain their freshness and color for a long time.

Flavor combinations are another point worth remembering, that is, a decoration made from potatoes will not work with desserts, and a product made from watermelon or an apple will not work with meat dishes.

Tools and methods of carving

In order to beautifully cut on vegetables or fruits, you will need to purchase a number of tools:

• Thai knife, an object that has a thin, narrow blade, pointed towards the end and having a small length in relation to the handle. On sale there are two types with a straight and sickle-shaped blade, the cutting surface, which can be smooth or have small notches, such as are usually used to work with soft products. Such knives are designed for cutting small elements of the composition.
• Carb knives are designed for making cuts and grooves, the shape of which will depend on the shape of the blades themselves. The most common at present are those that have a square, round, oval, V-shaped, triangular, semicircular and curly shapes.
• Engraving knives, at first glance, they do not look like ordinary ones, as they look like a closed edge of a complex profile with a handle. They are used for cutting grooves and linear patterns on the surface, which are repeated periodically.
• Noisettes, in their own way, are unique hybrids of a knife and a spoon and allow you to quickly and easily cut spherical and hemispherical details of compositions. Also, with their help, it is possible to extract the bones and pulp from fruits.
• Corrugated gauges are made in the form of an engraved comb, and with their help it is possible to cut pieces of food with wavy edges.
• Serpentine cutters allow you to cut products in the form of a serpentine, and work on the principle of a pencil sharpener. They are a funnel with blades placed inside.
• Spiral blades, like serpentine cutters, cut products in a spiral shape or zigzag. They have an hourglass or funnel-like appearance.
• Screw, used to remove the pulp and cut flowers or their elements.
• Zest, designed to remove the peel from citrus fruits.
• Curler, a device that cuts garlands from hard or oblong-shaped vegetables.

Products for fluting allow you to cover surfaces with even grooves, as well as cut them into thin strips or strips.

In addition to the listed knives, the cutter will need additional accessories for work:

• vegetable peeler, with the help of it it is possible not only to quickly and easily remove the peel from vegetables and fruits, but also to cut them figuredly;
• scissors, useful for decorating thin edges, for example, cutting flower petals;
• die cuts, with the help of them you can quickly get a large number of identical elements;
• tweezers, necessary for working with thin and small details;
• toothpicks are needed to connect various elements to each other;
• sprayer, helps to maintain the freshness of the resulting composition, by sprinkling lemon juice, water, or vinegar on it.

Musat, a device that helps to maintain the sharpness of the blades of the tools used.

The result of carving is influenced by the skill and imagination of the carver, as well as the quality of the product and the tools used for cutting. Experienced craftsmen usually have a wide selection of different knives, scissors and spoons, but a beginner needs only a few carving accessories.

Experts do not recommend using ordinary kitchen knives for training, as they are not suitable for curly cutting. In extreme cases, if you have a scalpel or woodcarving tools, you can use them.

Art is divided into two main areas, Chinese and Thai. The first is considered simpler, since it uses ready-made stencils, recesses and molds, and cookie cutters are also suitable. In Thai, all possible instruments are used.

Tool selection

Quality accessories for artistic carving on products are of great importance when working. So, before purchasing, you should pay attention to such points:

• lack of notches and burrs on the blades;
• the cutting part must be made of high quality steel, which will not oxidize and deform;
• the handles should be ergonomic and fit comfortably in the hand, not slip during operation, this contributes to safety during the cutting process;
• the material from which the handles are made: it is best to give preference to modern polymeric ones, unlike wooden ones, they do not absorb odors and moisture, do not slip like metal, but are durable, long service life and hygienic.

It is best to purchase accessories in sets, as a rule, they include all the items you need for work.

Rating of the best carving kits for 2022

On the shelves of shops and Internet sites, customers are presented with a large selection of products for working with fruits and vegetables. Tools are sold both individually and in sets. Below we consider a small list of those accessories that are sold in the kit and, according to users, can be considered the best among those presented.

Inexpensive

The list of inexpensive carving kits includes those that include a small number of tools and, in accordance with this, their cost is less than 1000 rubles. Such sets, as a rule, are purchased by those who are just starting to master this direction of art.

Carving knives with CD "Cheerful cook"

The set of products "Merry Cook" from a Russian manufacturer includes three knives and a disc for work. using these devices, the user will be able to prepare a variety of decorations for dishes. The set includes a decorator knife designed for cutting spirals from oblong-shaped vegetables. Blade for shaped cutting, as well as for removing cores and stuffing.

• affordable price;
• material quality;
• Explanation disc.

• small kit.

Stainless Dig Fruit, 3 pieces

Made in China, Stainless Dig Fruit is made in China with only three items, but despite this, they can be used to carve many different elements to decorate dishes. in order to cut something, the user does not need much effort, because due to their sharpness, the blades easily cut the surface of the products. For production, high-quality stainless steel is used, which is resistant to oxidation and physical influences.

• price;
• reliability;
• ease of use.

• no.

Expensive

The list of expensive ones includes kits that have a large number of different accessories for working with products. The tools are sold in convenient storage cases and are suitable not only for personal use, but also as gifts. Prices for such sets exceed 1000 rubles.

BergHOFF Studio in foldable bag, 8 pcs.

Country of manufacture BergHOFF Studio is Belgium, the set includes 8 pieces and a storage bag. All items are made of high quality stainless steel and plastic. They do not require special care, they can be washed both by hand and in the dishwasher. The kit includes a knife for working with zest, two spherical, having different sizes, decorative, for peeling vegetables, for removing cores. And also the one that is designed for figured cutting of butter. All this is packed into a convenient bag for storage and transportation.

• quite acceptable cost;
• quality material;
• reliability;
• ease of care and use.

• no.

PADERNO 2060235

The Italian company Paderno is engaged in the production of kitchen, bar, confectionery equipment, as well as various items for table setting and other high quality accessories. Among the goods there are kits designed for carving vegetables and fruits. All items are made of high quality steel resistant to moisture and juices. Accessories are easy to clean, it is possible to do it both by hand and in the dishwasher.

• durable reliable metal;
• easy to care for;
• many items included.

• high price.

MaxxMalus, 80-in-1 Carving Tool Gift Set

A huge set, which includes 80 items that allow you to cut out various elements and details from products. Russian-made MaxxMalus is suitable for use by both beginners and professionals. To store all available items, manufacturers have provided a high-quality and reliable storage case. The MaxxMalus set will be a great gift for lovers of this art.

• a huge selection of tools;
• convenient cover;
• ease of use and care.

• price.

Tescoma Presto carving with sharpener, 8 pcs.

Tescoma Presto carving is a universal set produced in the Czech Republic. It is ideal for working with both fruits and vegetables. It includes 6 tools for work and a special ceramic stone for sharpening. There is also a case for storing accessories and transporting them. The blades of the tools are made of high quality steel, and the handles are made of durable and safe plastic.The sharpener and blades, if they are only sharpened, must be washed by hand. The kit includes instructions for use and care.

• reliability and safety;
• convenience and simplicity;
• quality;
• the presence of a sharpener.

• price.

The art of carving is quite popular, but in order to master it, you will need to buy special tools. Their purchase can be either piece or in a set. It is not difficult to choose the offered accessories, you just need to take into account all the recommendations of experts, and you can also use user reviews. Thanks to a wide range of products, each user will be able to choose the right tools for the job in terms of price and functionality.