How to Use a Cutting Utensil for Food Prep in the Outdoors
A cutting utensil is a compact, serrated food-safe tool shaped like a slim butter knife or mini camp knife. You’ll find this style of cutting utensil on survival cards, compact cook kits, and wallet-ready EDC tools because it’s easy to carry, safer than a bare blade, and perfect for food prep without needing a full-size knife.
This guide teaches you how to use a serrated cutting utensil safely for slicing fruits, vegetables, cooked foods, small fish, soft meats, spreads, campfire meals, trail snacks, and field cooking.
What a Cutting Utensil Is
A small, flat tool with:
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A short serrated edge
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A rounded or blunt tip for safety
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A flat body for easy gripping
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A design meant for food, not heavy cutting
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Enough bite to slice through soft material
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A compact shape for EDC kits and camp meals
Serrated edges make it perfect for:
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Cutting rope-like plant fibers in vegetables
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Slicing cooked meats
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Sawing through crusts
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Preparing fruit
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Opening food packages
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Spreading foods
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Light fish prep
Primary Uses of a Cutting Utensil
Slicing Fruits and Vegetables
Soft Fruits
Great for:
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Apples
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Peaches
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Pears
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Berries (large varieties)
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Plums
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Bananas
Use a gentle sawing motion — serrations grip the skin.
Vegetables
Works well for:
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Cucumbers
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Squash slices
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Tomatoes
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Peppers
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Carrots (thin slicing)
Serrations help cut through skins without crushing.
Cutting Cooked Meats and Camp Meals
Excellent for:
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Cooked chicken
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Sausages
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Bacon
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Cooked fish
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Jerky strips (thin cuts)
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Campfire meals
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Freeze-dried meals rehydrated
Technique:
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Hold food steady
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Use short saw-like motions
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Let the serrations do the work
Pairs with:
→ How to Use Cooking Skewers
→ How to Use a Cook Pot
Spreading and Mixing
The rounded/blunt tip is perfect as a:
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Butter spreader
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Peanut butter knife
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Jelly spreader
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Honey spreader
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Cream cheese tool
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Soft cheese cutter
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Camp-dough spreader
Also useful for:
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Stirring small cook pot meals
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Mixing instant drinks
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Scraping food residue out of pots
Field Dressing Small Fish (Light Duty)
Not a fillet knife — but can:
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Descale small fish
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Cut fins
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Open cooked fish
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Separate meat from bone
Use serrated edge for scraping scales.
Camp Food Prep Tasks
Useful for:
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Cutting tortillas
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Slicing cheese
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Preparing wraps
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Cutting fruit for trail snacks
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Making bannock dough cuts
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Preparing vegetables for skewers
Easier and safer to use than a full blade around kids or groups.
Opening Food Packaging
A serrated cutting utensil can open:
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Freeze-dried meal pouches
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Snack bags
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Coffee/tea packets
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Seasoning packets
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Ramen wrappers
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Vacuum-sealed foods (carefully)
Slide the serrated edge along the plastic seam.
Keeping the Cutting Utensil Clean
Wash After Each Use
Use:
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Warm water
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Cook pot water
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Snow melt
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Clean sand
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Ash as scrub agent
Avoid Cross-Contamination
If cutting raw meat:
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Boil utensil in cook pot
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Or flame sterilize briefly
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Or scrub thoroughly with hot water
How to Use the Serrated Edge Properly
Light Sawing Motion
Let the teeth grip the food.
Don’t Push Too Hard
Pressure crushes soft food.
Let serrations do the work.
Short Strokes
Control keeps slices clean and even.
Angle the Blade Slightly Downward
Improves first bite into soft surfaces.
How to Improvise a Cutting Utensil
If you don’t have your EDC cutting utensil:
1. Split Green Wood Paddle
Carve a flat paddle, then carve micro serrations.
2. Bone or Antler Strip
Scrape teeth along one edge.
3. Flat Stone Flake
Not serrated, but workable.
4. Tin Can Lid (Careful)
Fold edges for safety, then serrate the rim.
5. Sharpened Stick + Serrations
Carve small teeth with your blade.
All of these work in a pinch — but a steel utensil is safer and easier.
FAQ
Q: Can this replace a knife?
A: No — it’s a food prep utensil. It handles slicing, spreading, and light cutting.
Q: Will serrations dull quickly?
A: Not on soft foods. Avoid cutting bone or hard objects.
Q: Can it handle cooked meat?
A: Yes — serrations make it easier to cut compared to a smooth utensil.
Q: Is it safe for kids to use?
A: Yes — it’s safer than a sharp blade when supervised.
Related Skill Series Posts
(© 2025 Grim Workshop. All Rights Reserved. Grim Workshop, Survival Cards, and all related marks are registered trademarks of Grim Workshop. This article is part of the Grim Workshop Skill Series educational archive. No content may be reproduced, republished, stored, or adapted without written permission. For compact cutting utensils, camp cooking tools, and survival-ready EDC kits, visit www.grimworkshop.com.)
