Cutting away from your body significantly reduces the risk of accidental injury. This direction ensures that if the knife slips, it moves away from you, preventing a cut.
The primary reason for cutting away from your body is safety. When you cut towards yourself, any slip of the knife blade is likely to result in a cut to your hand, arm, or body. Cutting away from yourself directs the force of a potential slip in a safer direction, minimizing the chance of injury. This principle applies to various cutting tasks, from food preparation to crafting and woodworking. Maintaining a safe cutting direction is a fundamental practice in preventing accidents and ensuring a safe working environment. It's also important to maintain a stable stance and a firm grip on both the object being cut and the cutting tool itself.
If you find yourself in a position where cutting away from your body is awkward or difficult, reposition the object you're cutting or adjust your stance. Never compromise safety for convenience.