Mezzaluna means half moon in Italian, so you can imagine what a Mezzaluna Knife looks like. It is a curved knife that has a handle on each end and that you use to mince and cut vegetables into small pieces for soups and other dishes in your kitchen. They are sometimes called crescent knives in English because of their curving shape. They are not easy to use and at the beginning you may feel awkward with it. When you start using your knife, test it slowly and learn how it moves and what its uses are. Learn slowly and carefully, these knives are extremely sharp and have to be used with care.
The original Mezzaluna knife has wooden handles on each end of the blade. It is made of surgical grade stainless steel. Now, you can find them with plastic and ceramic handles but they may not work well because the wooden handles are perfectly balanced so the blade will swing effortlessly from one side to the other. Most of them can be bought with a special board that has special grooves in it where the blade fits and can move comfortably from one side to the other.
A professional chef or cook uses the Mezzaluna knife with only one hand and feeds it with the other. This is a skill that is difficult to learn and master; but with practice, it can be done. All you will need is to buy a bag of carrots or celery and use them to practice swinging the blade from one side to the other. You must do it slowly at first so that your hands find the cutting rhythm required to use the knife properly. You must use the weight of the handles to swing it, it is not necessary to make any efforts with your hands because the balance and the rhythm keep the knife cutting.
It would be easier and better for you to learn the swing with some soft vegetables like celery or tomatoes, carrots are hard and potatoes are too big. Start slow and gradually learn how to use it. Remember that the Mezzaluna knife is made of surgical grade stainless steel and it is extremely sharp. Never take your eyes of it while working because accidents can happen anywhere at any time. Once you get the hang of it, you will see that this is a great addition to your cooking gear and especially to your cutting collection.
The handles are made in different shapes. When you buy your Mezzaluna knife, make sure that the handles fit comfortably in your hands. They should feel good in your hands and should be made of any material that will not slip in your hands or fingers even when they are wet. Remember, it is better to buy them with wooden handles. The original Mezzaluna knife had wooden handles and they are easier to handle and use. They are also heavier than plastic so it is easier for the manufacturer to find a balance between the handles and the blade.