The Shun Classic Paring knife is a kitchen essential. In a way, you can think of it as the mini version of the Chef's knife because, like the Chef's knife, the Paring knife is quite versatile. Its compact size makes it ideal for peeling, coring, trimming, decorating, and other detail work. Generally, you'll use this knife in your hand rather than against a cutting board, though paring knives can also be used for chopping small foods, such as garlic cloves.