The paring knife gets its name from what it does. To pare is to cut away the outer surface. Paring knives excel at removing peels and outer layers from vegetables and fruit. ... That's the beauty of a paring knife.

What makes a paring knife?

Paring knives are small with a short blade so they travel easily, whether you want to take one along on a picnic or to work and use it for slicing up fruit at lunchtime. Plus, they're often inexpensive, so you don't have to worry that they aren't the most versatile of kitchen knives.

What do you call the knife used in paring?

A paring knife is a small all-purpose knife with a plain edge that is ideal for peeling (or "paring") fruits and vegetables, and other small or intricate work (such as de-veining a shrimp, removing the seeds from a jalapeño, 'skinning' or cutting small garnishes).