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Middle East

Sikkin

Levant and the wider Arab world

A general-purpose kitchen knife used for everyday prep — vegetables, meat, and bread — the standard all-purpose blade in most Arab households before or alongside imported Western knives.

Material & Construction

Traditionally forged steel with a simple wooden or horn handle; modern versions are commonly factory-made stainless steel of similar proportions.

Traditional Uses

Everyday chopping, slicing, and trimming across nearly every dish, functioning as the default knife most households reach for first.

Modern Availability / Equivalents

A Western chef's or utility knife is functionally interchangeable and has become the more common choice in most urban kitchens today.

Care & Maintenance

Hand-wash and dry promptly, especially non-stainless blades; sharpen regularly on a whetstone as daily use dulls the edge.