Here’s Why You Should Never Try to Cut Your Parmigiano Reggiano With a Normal Knife

Parmigiano Reggiano is more than a cheese—it’s an Italian treasure. This savory, nutty, and deeply flavorful hard cheese brings depth to everything from pasta and risotto to salads and soups. But while it’s a staple in many kitchens, slicing through this aged delicacy isn’t as simple as grabbing any knife. In fact, forcing your way through a chunk of Parmigiano Reggiano with a regular knife could be a rookie mistake, leaving you with crumbled shards rather than the cheese’s signature rough-hewn chunks. So, let’s talk about why not just any knife will do and the right way to handle this culinary icon.

Why a Regular Knife Can’t Handle the Job

At first glance, you might think Parmigiano Reggiano is like any other cheese, just a little drier. But its firm, crystalline structure requires a delicate approach. A regular knife is designed to slice, not break, and pushing one through the dense texture of Parmigiano often leads to cracks or unintended crumbles. The harder you press, the more you risk shattering the cheese instead of coaxing out the naturally rugged wedges. This can result in wasted cheese and a less-than-ideal experience with one of Italy’s finest exports.

Cutting Parmigiano Requires Breaking, Not Slicing

What sets Parmigiano Reggiano apart from softer cheeses is its granular, almost brittle consistency, created by aging for at least a year and often much longer. Unlike Brie or Cheddar, which respond well to slicing, Parmigiano’s crystalline structure actually craves a break. By breaking rather than slicing, you preserve the cheese’s unique texture and allow it to separate naturally along its internal lines, which enhances both flavor and visual appeal. When you use a standard knife, you’re fighting against this structure instead of working with it, dulling your blade and risking injury—or worse, wasted cheese.

The Cheese Needs Its Own Specialty Tool

So what’s the ideal tool for cutting Parmigiano Reggiano? Enter the Parmigiano Reggiano knife, also known as an almond-shaped cheese knife. This tool is small, with a short, sturdy blade that looks more like a chisel than a kitchen knife. The short blade allows you to insert it into the cheese and apply gentle pressure, which breaks the cheese into rustic, bite-sized chunks. The tool isn’t designed to slice through the cheese, but rather to split it naturally, maintaining the cheese’s structure and texture. Its shape and design make it easy to apply just enough pressure to get the perfect wedge without compromising the cheese’s taste and appearance.

Cheesemongers, chefs, and the artisans behind Parmigiano Reggiano recommend using the almond knife to cut this cheese. The tool is a staple in Italian kitchens, where respecting the cheese’s texture is as essential as honoring its taste. And, really, using the right tool is a small price to pay for an authentic experience with one of Italy’s most celebrated flavors. So next time you reach for a block of Parmigiano Reggiano, ditch the dinner knife. You’ll not only make cutting easier but also enhance your enjoyment of this culinary marvel, just as the cheesemakers intended.