A chef knife needs to be light enough so it does not tire you easily, sharp, and requires less maintenance. It should perform various tasks easily may it be cubing meat, chopping carrots or slicing onions. Best of all, the knife needs to be durable so that it can give you service for a long time.

So, how do you know which is the best chef knife?

The knife with a well-balanced blade and handle

When choosing the knife, check the grip. The knife should have a comfortable grip and it should feel good when you hold it in your hand. The blade and the handle of the best chef knife should be well balanced to provide an excellent grip. It should have a good balance such that it does not put a lot of weight either on the handle or on the blade. The knife should not place a lot of weight on your wrist so you do not tire quickly.

To check the grip, try the knife by placing your finger on the handle in the grip groove and hold it horizontally with the edge down. Most people find the 8-inch chef knife more comfortable since it has the best ratio of mass to the cutting surface and it can perform most of the kitchen tasks such as cutting vegetables and meat.

However, if it feels a bit long for you or if your kitchen is small, you can opt for the 7-inch one. It does not mean that the bigger the knife the better it will be, it all depends on how comfortable you are while using it and the intended task.

It does not require frequent maintenance

The best chef knife does not require frequent sharpening and maintenance. It should remain sharp for long. Knives that require frequent sharpening end up losing their shape, which affects their effectiveness.

Made from durable material

A chef knife should be made from a material that can withstand a lot of use without being damaged. Choose a heavier knife with thicker blades and that can endure the work, rather than a knife with thin blades that are brittle and can chip easily if they come across a hard surface like that of a bone.

Most chefs prefer knives made of high-quality stainless steel since it is easy to care and can remain sharp for long. While most chefs opt for heavier knives on the notion that they ‘feel’ right, make sure you choose a knife that you can use for a long duration without being tired. You may opt for a lighter knife that can perform as well as the heavier ones, provided you keep the blade sharp to compensate for the lack of weight.

Choose the right handle

The handle of the knife should be comfortable, provide a sturdy hold, and not cause bruises on the palms. You can opt for a handle made of fiber, wood or steel depending on what you prefer and the ‘feel’ of the knife that you prefer. Just make sure that the knife has full tang so that it can have a good balance.

Fire ants are definitely one of the most annoying things we can have in our yard. They can be a big nuisance in our homes as well as outside. If you have kids and pets spending a lot of time outside, you have to keep them away from these fire ants to avoid their pustule-causing stings. A single sting to a person with allergies can ultimately cause an anaphylactic shock. These tiny troublemakers can also put a toll on our livestock. That is why to solve this; we find ways to get rid of these pesky fire ants before they kill us. The easiest way would be to spray insecticides to illuminate them, but using harmful chemicals can harm our kids and pets. But the good thing is; there are safe ways to do this.

Here are five tips for keeping your kids and pets safe from fire ants.

1. Use non-poisonous methods.

If you have kids and pets, you would want to use ant deterrents that are friendly to the environment and is safe to use. Using homemade insecticides will allow you to eradicate the fire ants without having to worry about poisoning your pets and kids. Most of the ingredients in making a homemade insecticide can be easily bought in the market. It is even possible you already have it in your pantry. Some examples would be orange peels and club soda. Ants are repelled by citrus oil and the carbon dioxide in the soda can suffocate the ants.

2. Use hot peppers.

Another safe way of keeping fire ants away from your pets and kids is by locating their nest and pouring boiling water with hot chili peppers in it. All you have to do is bring a teapot to boil and place about 4 hot chili peppers. Do this away from your kids and pets to keep them from getting burned from the pepper and hot water. After that, pour the hot chili pepper juice into the ant’s nest. It will automatically kill the ants and prevent other ones to live in it.

3. Use effective fire ant treatments immediately if your kids or pet are stung.

A fire ant’s sting can cause a lot of trouble and annoyance to both humans and animals, which are why if your kid or pet gets stung, use fire ant treatments right away. Applying a cold compress immediately can reduce the swelling and adding a hydrocortisone cream can relieve the itching.

4. Look for the ant queen.

In order to prevent more eggs from being hatched, look for the ant queen and eradicate it first. That way, you don’t need to worry that your kid or pets could meet more ants in the future.

5. Cover the entry points in your home.

Any cracks and crevices in your home should be sealed to avoid ants from getting inside your home. Also, make sure to wash the surfaces that have been walked upon by ants to eliminate the pheromone trail they leave behind. This is what they use to find their way back.