Introduction:
Who isn’t aware of the fact that knives are paramount in every kitchen? But a best ulu knife with a unique design, good-looking, historic knife increases your kitchen splendor. It also makes sense of reliability & charm for a kitchen lover’s eyes.
These knives have a great history; they were initially used by the women of Inuit, Yupik, and Aleut tribes of Alaska up to 2500 BC. Now you are thinking a question;
What Does Ulu Mean?
Right? It is an Indigenous language word in North America spoken in the Canadian Arctic; the ULU means women’s knife. They used it for all purposes like hair cutting of her children, cutting food, cleaning and skinning animals. And an exciting usage is to trim snow for shaping blocks and also for creating an igloo.
At that time, its features were different from today’s ulu knives, like its handle was made by the horn of animals or bones, and the attached unique curved blade was made by iron or copper.
But don’t worry if you don’t like animal bones or copper etc. Its blade is made with steel and handles with durable plastic and modified wood in modern life. Sometimes a wooden bowl or cutting board comes with it.
Best UlU knives are very easy to use, where a normal man uses them there due to their one-handed use; the disabled person also uses them efficiently. Because its handle is in the middle of a curved blade, so the hand’s force impacts the knife’s blade equally, this means you can use it to cut from corner to corner of the blade easily.
A good quality ulu knife is used for cutting and mincing vegetables, meat, fish, and for cutting pizza with one hand and without a lot of effort. It is not similar to any knife except the Mezzaluna knife.
After ulu review, we have discussed a detailed guide below for your best selection, where the suitable sizes, types, its uses, how to use it, how to sharpen it, ULU knife VS Mezzaluna Knife, buying factors are discussed.
Comparison table of best ulu knives
PRODUCT IMAGE | PRODUCT NAME | PRICE | RATING | CTA |
 | 44.44$ | |||
 | Exotic Wood Handled With Stand | 14$ | ||
 | Best Ulu Knife- With Sheath | 29.95$ | ||
 | Best Ulu Bowl Knife Set- Birch Handle | 43.99$ | ||
 | 48.99$ | |||
 | DKC-1100-ULU-440c ULU Knife | 125.00$ | ||
 | 42.95$ | |||
 | 42.54$ | |||
 | 44.99$ | |||
 | 55.87$ |
Now for your quick selection, let’s dive into ulu knife reviews.
10 Best Ulu Knives Of 2021-Quick Glance
1. Alaska Ulu Knife Set-With Wooden Chopping Board
Features:
The three-piece ulu knife set is an interesting Made-in-Alaska product, including Alaskan Birch and American Pecan wood. It is used as a one-handed Mezzaluna. An intersected blade is honed on one side due to the tradition of Alaska native fashion. In size, it is almost 8 x 8 x 1.5 inches.
Enjoy this rocker tool for chopped salads and veggies. For its durability, wash it by hand only. The dishwasher will damage the bowl and knife, so be careful in cleaning an ulu knife.
It comes in the standard size only and is made in Anchorage, Alaska. But some bowls come from China. The size of the bowl is almost 5 inches in diameter and 1 inch in depth. After buying, use mineral oil on it, then wash it. Oil will not dry out its wooden handle but don’t worry; it will not affect the food.
Pros:
- Sharp, small, convenient.
- Comfortable grip
- Ulu has its wooden stand
- The set comes boxed and wrapped with plastic
Cons:
- Not for medium and small hands, but it’s easy to hold, rating is 5.0
- One-sided sharpened
2. Multi Colored Ulu Knife– Exotic Wood Handled With Stand
Specifications:Brand : Arctic Circle | Model : 07695 | Color : Multi-Color | Dimensions : 7.8 x 5.71 x 0.98 inches | Weight : 7 ounces | Handle material : Wood | Blade size : 6 inches | Blade Material : Stainless steel | Blade edge : Straight | Rating : 4.7 out of 5
Features:
Arctic Circle has made this knife super easy to use. Even disabled people with arthritis can have easy access to its users. It has a multi-color exotic wooden handle and a 6-inch blade intersected with it. The handle has such adorable colors that you will surely fall in love with its colorful design.
You will get a stand with this knife. This good-quality ulu knife has a single edge to use. You can opt for this knife for easy chopping of vegetables, cutting meat, and shaping pizza as well.
Furthermore, you can also use it to chop pork butts, chicken, ribs, bread, etc., daily. We must say it is suitable for cutting any food item. We haven’t used it for lettuce but have used it on a variety of foods.
Fast Food usage:
Fast food sellers use it professionally as a tool. All the fast-food shops and pizza points possess this tool as it is a must-have for them. Ulu knives create twice the downward force as compared to the conventional cutlery. Also, this is more of a fillet and herb cutter. We are sure you could cut up a fryer with it or cut ribs.
As the blade of this knife is with razor sharpness, you have to take great care of its usage. We use this tool for herbs because we don’t want to bruise them to mush. You won’t need to sharpen it after a few times of use. Its sharpness will serve you for so long. But if you feel that your ulu has lost a slight sharpness, you can easily sharpen it with knife sharpeners.
For your convenience, we have mentioned a few sharpeners along with their reviews. Head towards the reviews of sharpeners to get the best one.
You must know that this knife was designed in Alaska and made in China. The traditional uses of the ulu were skinning games and cutting leathers for clothing and culinary purposes. We know of a couple of leather workers who use them successfully. And it would work just as long as you kept it razor sharp.
Pros:
- Works well for both the tiny hands as well as for large hands comfortably
- Slice frozen chicken easily
- Good looking Ulu due to its design and style
- Reasonable price
Cons:
- No leather sheet with it
- Made in China
3. Best Ulu Knife– With Sheath
Specifications:Brand: Bubba | Model: 1989606 | Color : Red | Blade Material: Alloy Steel | Dimensions: 6.25 x 1.25 x 2.7 inches | Weight: 0.7 Pounds | Rating: 4.9 out of 5
Features:
The next knife that we are going to review is with a non-slip grip handle and sheath. Moreover, an additional feature in this product is the bottle opener. Its height is 5 inches, and the blade has 5.75 inches in length.
You won’t find any ulu knife more reliable than this one. Its non-slip grip ensures a firmly gripped hand even when the knife is wet. This ulu model is also a durable product due to its full tang Tin(titanium-nitride)-coating. But this doesn’t mean that the product is heavily weighted.
The bubba’s ulu knife is easy to use because it has been designed for maximum comfort. The knife has a curved blade for easy cuts. Also, it has a bottle opener. Through this fantastic feature, you can enjoy your drink with a fresh meal in the kitchen or during your best camping trip.
You may call it the best ulu hunting knife due to all of its inspiring features. With the help of a thumb grip, you can easily remove the sheath from the knife. It is advantageous as a kitchen tool for cutting meats, vegetables, cheeses, pizza, and even cleaning fish. The curved blade of this ulu knife is perfect for slicing and dicing in the kitchen.
Pros:
- Grade 420 steel
- Easiest blade to sharpen
- Heavy-duty blade
- beneficial for fish and chicken bones
Cons:
- Normal plastic sheath
- Not available with bottle opener whole
4. Best Ulu Bowl Knife Set– Birch Handle
Specifications:Brand: ULU Factory | Model: SYNCHKG019684 | Color: Brown, gold-silver steel light wood dark wood walnut | Dimensions: 7.99 x 7.91 x 1.5 inches | Weight: 1.7 Pounds | Rating: 4.8 out of 5 |
Features:
Most of the knives made in Alaska are considered the best among all other cutting tools. And this ulu bowl knife set is also made in Alaska, so it is also of the utmost quality. A normal-handed man or woman or disable(with arthritic hands) person uses it efficiently because its handle exerts force downwards.
It is the best option for cutting veggies like garlic, herbs, chilies, onions, fruits, meats, chicken, and fish. Yes! It is perfect for chopping lettuce and other soft vegetables.
The bowl helps to chop anything quickly without any issue. Apart from this use, you can also utilize the bowl as an excellent-looking plate on the table. , you can cut, mince or chop anything that will fit in the bowl. You have to practice a little in the beginning to get the right angle for moving the knife. But once you find out the right way, you will never want to be without it.
Pros:
- The set comes with a slotted block stand so you can store and display the knife when not in use.
- Used wood in the handle is of good quality
- This works wonderfully for a one-handed person
- The blade is 440 stainless steel
Cons:
- No sheath with it, but ulu factory sell it separately(you may keep it in a drawer)
- Don’t want to use it for ice skating
- One-sided traditional knife
5. Gil Hibben Legacy Ulu Knife– Best Design For Ulu Knife
Specifications:Brand: Gil Hibben | Model: GH5074 | Color: Black | Blade Material: Stainless Steel | Size: 8″ | Item Weight: 1 Pound | Number Of Pieces: 1 | Made is China | Rating: 4.7 out of 5
Features:
This Gil Hibben’s ulu knife is a multifunctional tool. It won’t just serve you in chopping veggies. But this inspiring tool can also inspire you by cutting pizza, cutting meat, chopping nuts, and mincing veggies. So if you have this knife, you won’t need a complete set of knives.
The leather sheath of this knife makes it super comfortable to hold. Even if you are a beginner, you can use it with much ease. Plus, it is crafted using high-quality materials. You will find it with a black-colored pakkawood handle. This knife is made to fit in all hands as its size is about 8 inches throughout its length.
Top-notch stainless steel is used in the manufacturing of the blade, and it has high durability. This product is made in China by Gil Hibben.
Pros:
- The handle has durable finishing.
- Available with bottle opener hole
- Razor sharpened edge
- Multifunctional knife for cutting, scaling, mincing, and skinning.
- The handle is so comfy and gives you ergonomic fitting in your hand.
Cons:
- There may be a small gouge in the blade of this knife.
- It is made in China.
- The blade is just one-sided sharpened.
6. DKC-1100-ULU-440c ULU Knife– Best Quality Ulu Knife
Specifications:Brand: DKC Knives | Color: Olive | Blade Material: Stainless Steel | Dimensions: 8 x 3 x 2 inches | Item Weight: 15.3 ounces | Rating: 5.0 out of 5
Features:
DKC-110-ULU-440c knife comes with a high-quality stainless steel blade. It comes with a length of 6 inches and a height of 4 inches. The whole YAKIMA series comes with a sheath and is hand-made. The most crucial point to note is, these are not machined knives. These are made with hard work of many hours. This product from the Yakima series has olive wood handles contributing to the beauty and comfort of the knife.
The crucial point to consider when choosing a knife is its weight. And this knife is15.3 ounces in weight. Once you buy this product, it will serve you as your family heirloom. So you won’t need to invest in purchasing new knives again and again. Furthermore, this ulu knife is an all-rounder functioning as cutting, skinning, scaling, and mincing.
Pros:
- This Knife is made using high-quality 440c stainless steel.
- It’s the perfect gift to present to your chef friends.
- Light in weight
Cons:
- Not suitable for ice skating
- Not ideal for small-sized hands
7. LAMSON 34270 Ulu Knife– Ulu Skinning Knife
Specifications:Brand: Lamson | Model: 34270 | Color: Brown | Blade Material: Stainless Steel | Dimensions: 7.25 x 5.5 x 1 inches | Item Weight: 5.3 ounces | Rating: 4.7 out of 5
Features:
Lamson has solved your problem of buying separate knives for various purposes. This ulu knife is perfect to use for cutting all kinds of veggies, meats, fish, seafood, and cheeses. Furthermore, it can also serve you as a mini pizza rocker.
Its tempered high-carbon 420HC stainless steel blade makes it unrivaled in the market of ulu knives. Moreover, the walnut handles are rugged and durable enough to serve you for years. You must know that the ulu knife dates back to 2500 BC and has ancestral secrets. And those secrets are passed from generation to generation and ultimately reach this model.
Their versatility and simplicity are the key factors that make them preferable to other knives. Thus it is considered a valuable addition to home culinary. Plus, it is the first choice of all the expert chefs.
You are directed to just hand wash this knife. And when you feel that the walnut handle is dry, treat it with mineral oil.
Pros:
- It’s the most versatile blade among all your kitchen knives.
- The blade has extra sharpness to cut all your food ingredients like veggies, raw meat, and nuts.
Cons:
- The handle is a bit rough.
- Size is smaller and is not sufficient for average-sized hands.
8. Large Alaska Ulu Bowl Set– Best Ulu Knife From Alaska
Specifications:Brand: The Ulu Factory | Model: G7BBSS | Blade Material: Stainless Steel | Dimensions: 8.66 x 8.31 x 1.81 inches | Item Weight: 2.2 pounds | Number Of Pieces: 3; knife, stand, user guide | Rating: 4.8 out of 5
Features:
The Inupiat-styled ulu knife from The Ulu Factory is made in Alaska. Alaska artists have made this with etched handles making it more classy in appearance. The whole knife is with a blade size of 6.25 inches, and the blades used are made from stainless steel. Its uses include chopping, dicing, mincing, filleting, skinning, slicing, and more.
The quality of the blade brings it among the top ulu knives on the market. You will know its size from the dimensions of products from the specifications mentioned above. But it also comes with a block. And the dimensions of the block are 8 x 8 x 1.5 inches having a deep dish in it. This block is with a deep-cut bowl to hold the knife in it.
Alaskan birch and American walnut are used in making this block. One side of the block is with a cut, while the other side is flat so that you can chop veggies on it. The set includes a bowl with a knife, stand, and user guide.
Pros:
- The blade is with razor sharpness.
- The design is so unique as well as valuable.
- It’s the best housewarming gift for your family chefs.
Cons:
- You may have to sharpen the blade after some time of usage.
9. RK-TTC-110 Handmade Ulu Knife– Small Ulu Knife
Features:
The brown-colored handmade knife is made using 440C stainless steel. You can use it to perform multiple functions like chopping, cutting, mincing, slicing, and this can even be used as a pizza cutter. You can also opt for this knife in Damascus steel and can present it to your friends as a gift.
The blade of this knife has a sharp edge along with a perfect grip. This edge provides perceptive cutting abilities, and the rosewood handle makes it comfy to use. A handmade leather sheath is available with a knife.
Pros:
- RK-TTC-110 is an excellent knife with a fantastic look to give as a gift.
- It comes with a high-quality leather sheath.
- The blade is of soft stainless steel.
Cons:
- You may get this knife dull out of the box, so you have to do work on it.
- The process of resharpening this knife is a bit tricky.
10. Alaska Ulu Knife And Chopping Bowl Set– The Alaska Ulu Knife
Features:
This Alaskan curved knife comes in a complete set, including a chopping bowl and an ulu knife sharpener. You can use it as a mezzaluna chopper, a bolo rolling knife, and a chopping tool for salad. So you have various options for its usage. When coming to its weight, it is not that heavy and is easy to carry in all-sized hands.
Its weight is about 2.4 pounds. So if you are looking to have the best ulu knife with a complete set, then go for this one.
Pros:
- The knife comes with its sharpener, so you can easily sharpen the tool yourself.
- A sharpener and a cutting bowl are also in the set.
- Easy to use and comfy to hold.
Cons:
- This knife is a bit tricky and difficult to sharpen.
- Its blade may quickly lose sharpness even after using for a few times.
What Is An Ulu Knife Used For?
An ulu knife is a multipurpose and handy tool used in various tasks. This versatile knife can help you out in,
Ulu knife uses
- Skinning and cleaning animals
- Cutting food
- Cutting child’s hair
- Trimming blocks of snow and ice
If we go deep in the uses of this knife inside the kitchen, then you will find this helpful knife in following tasks,
- Chopping
- Dicing
- Mincing
- Fileting
- Skinning
- Slicing
How To Sharpen An Ulu Knife?
Having a perfect ulu knife in your kitchen essentials is a boon. But having a blunt ulu in your kitchen is not less than a bane. Blades lose their importance when they become dull. But bringing a knife back into its original sharpness can save their life. To sharpen your ulu, you must know the whole procedure.
- Take a whetstone or a piece of 400 grit sandpaper.
- Start the process by only sharpening the bevel.
- Apply a little pressure and hold a consistent angle.
- Initially, sharpen the side that has a bevel. Then move the carbide edge on the bevel side and the metal guide on the flat side of the blade.
- Repeat this process for a few minutes until you get the desired results.
- Once you have completed sharpening, the edge must look polished.
- There will become a slight burr on the other side. Now remove that burr.
- Pull the knife against the stone as mentioned above. Don’t apply pressure or do not push.
- You can also opt for a leather strop to get rid of that burr.
- Try the knife on a piece of paper.
Best Sharpener For Ulu Knives:
Looking for the best sharpener for your ulu knife? Here you go. We have provided you a detailed review of the best three sharpeners. Have a glanced look at these.
1. 1 X Ulu Knife Sharpener
Specifications:Brand: The ULU Factory | Item Weight: 1.44 ounces | Dimensions: 4 x 1 x 8 inches | Rating: 4.5 out of 5
Features:
Ulu knife sharpener from The Ulu Factory has made something amazing to sharpen all your dull knives. Now you want to rush to buy new ulu knives as you can sharpen your worn blades staying at home. The product is available in a green-colored handle. Most of the sharpeners are so heavy that they cannot be easily carried. But this sharpener is amazingly light in weight. It is with a weight of just 1.44 ounces and dimensions of 4 x 1 x 8 inches.
Pros:
- This sharpener can even work on an ice auger blade.
- Ulu knife sharpener is easy enough to use.
Cons:
- A little pressure using this sharpener can ruin the edge of your knife.
- Small in size, thus not suitable for all sized hands.
2. Alaskan Ulu Blade Knife Sharpener
Specifications:Brand: The ULU Factory | Material: Tungsten Carbide | Color: Yellow | Grit Type: Coarse | Item Weight: 2.08 ounces | Dimensions: 5.04 x 4.13 x 1.14 inches
Features:
This sharpener is with a 2 step sharpening system. High-quality tungsten carbide or Ceramic is used in its manufacturing. This yellow-colored sharpener has the coarse grit type with a 2 ⅞ X 2 ¼ X 1 inch lanyard hole. And the crossed tungsten carbide blades are for the coarse cut. In contrast, the crossed ceramic rods are for a fine cut. Furthermore, there are non-slip rubber feet to provide you a safe experience.
Pros:
- A simple handheld product and super easy to use.
- Not just best for ulus but works like a pro on other types of knives as well.
Cons:
- The sharpener may drag the blade, thus making the edge uneven.
- It requires a lot of time to sharpen your ulu knife.
Specifications:Brand: CWINDY | Material: Corundum | Color: White/Blue | Item Weight: 2.31 pounds | Model: 09082020 | Dimensions: 9.17 x 4.69 x 3.07 inches
Features:
The next sharpener that we are going to review is from CWINDY. And this sharpener is made with premium white corundum. It has inspiring self-sharpening features, and this sharpener is inspected thrice to provide you a top-notch product. In the kit, you will get a double-sided premium quality whetstone that is 1000/6000, a non-slip bamboo base, one fix stone, a manual, and a knife sharpening guide to help you.
As there are two grit types, the lower one is for refining while the second one or the higher one is for polishing the edge. This one is the best solution for all your dull knives.
Not just for the ulu knives, but they are also perfect for the straight razors, all kinds of knives, precision tools, chisels, and planer tools. But you must know that these are not suitable for serrated blades and ceramic knives.
After finding a lot of features, you may think that it will have a high price. But you will get inspired to know that such a fantastic featured product is available at a very reasonable rate.
Pros:
- Best Value
- Good quality at this price-point
Cons:
- No leveling stone and angle guide included
How To Use an Ulu Knife?
Okay, so you have bought an ulu knife along with its sharpener but do you know how to use it? Knives are something that must be used with great care. Any negligence in usage can result in facing severe results. Here we have discussed the detailed usage of this ulu knife.
Initially, hold the handle in the center of your palm. Make sure that it is suitably fitted because if the product is not according to your hand’s size, it will become tricky for you to use that ulu. Then place your four fingers on one side of the blade. But your fingers must not be very close to the cutting edge. Keep them near to the handle. Now place your thumb on the other side of the blade.
Now place the knife on the board and place the item you want to cut or slice. Move it so that the front edge of the blade goes up from the board and the back edge keeps on the blade. Thus you will easily slice vegetables in this way.
Ulu Knife VS Mezzaluna Knife:
- An ulu knife has a 15 cm long blade that counts the curve. And the height of this blade is about 10 cm. While on the other hand, a mezzaluna knife is with a blade of 7 inches in length and a height of 5 ½ inches.
- Ulu consists of a single curved blade. But a mezzaluna knife has one or more curved blades with a handle on each blade.
- An ulu knife has more functionality, i.e., for cutting, slicing, chopping, scraping, mincing, and more. But a mezzaluna knife has limited functions.
- Both the knives rock back and forth for mincing.
Buying Factors To Consider For The Best Ulu Knife:
When looking for the best ulu knives for your kitchen culinary, you must consider a few critical points in your mind. Almost all the blades are somewhat different from each other. Some are with unexcelled features that everyone looks to have in the knife. But not all the peeps are aware of those features. Here we have discussed the prime points that you must know before buying an ulu for your cooking area.
- Size
- Shape
- Purpose Or Usage
- Curved Blade
- Material Of The Blade
Size:
Size matters a lot as all hands cannot hold all-sized knives. If the knife you are buying is too small and your hands are standard-sized or larger than the standard size, you cannot have a good grip over that ulu knife. Always opt for the one that is suitable for your hands. Plus, you must know that a 2 inches long ulu is ideal for cutting purposes. Furthermore, A knife 6 inches in length is considered suitable for all general chores.
Shape:
Ulu knives are with curved-shaped blades. Opt for average-sized and with a standard curved cut so that it may rock back and forth easily. The one that is with less curve doesn’t have many pointed edges. But a deep curved cut of an ulu possesses sharp and pointy edges.
Your Required Usage:
Irrespective of the design and size, ulus are for various tasks. The top point you must know is, for what purpose are you going to buy an ulu knife? Different ulu knives are for other purposes, so you have to select one for your specific task.
But if you want to perform the majority of your kitchen cutting tasks with a single tool, then go for the standard ulu knife. It is made to perform multiple tasks. A single ulu is more than enough to perform the duties of slicing, mincing, cutting, dicing, and chopping.
Curved Blade:
The type of the blade depends upon the purpose of using the knife. If you need an ulu for slicing and dicing purposes, opt for one with a more curved blade than the normal one.
Blade Material:
If we go back into history, the blade of an ulu was made using flat and slender rocks, slate, or jade. And the handle was made of ivory, wood, and bone.
But in the present time, these blades are made using stainless steel and handled with hardwood or even caribou antlers. You can choose other options if you don’t want to go with caribou antler or animal bone. But all these are durable.
Types Of Ulu Knives:
- East Greenlandic
- West Greenlandic
- Canadian Ulu Knife
- Alaskan Ulu Knife
The most famous ulu knife is the Alaskan ulu knife. But apart from this one, there are other three types. Each of the four types is named for its native area where they originated.
East Greenlandic:
The East Greenlandic knife features a small-sized curved handle with a large rectangular-shaped blade.
West Greenlandic:
This ulu possesses a small-sized thin handle attached to a pointed oval-like blade. This attachment is through a slender stem.
Canadian Ulu Knife:
This type of ulu knife has a blade attached to the handle with a thin stem. This knife has two other versions. One is with a triangular blade favored in the western part of the Canadian Arctic. Simultaneously, the second version is with a more pointed blade that is more utilized in the eastern region.
Alaskan Ulu Knife:
An Alaskan knife is also called an Inupiat Ulu knife with a section cut out of the blade. And both the ends are firmly fitted into the handle.
How To Wash Ulu Knives?
For good performance, thoroughly wash the cutting board with a mild detergent. Avoid using steel wool or any kind of scouring sponges. That’s so because they will scratch and damage the wood. Rinse it with water and set it aside.
Use a soft cloth and white vinegar to wipe the board. Vinegar has the power to disinfect things.
For cleaning purposes, you have to cut a lemon in half and rub it on the cutting board’s surface. Completely squeeze the lemon so that all the juice gets on the surface. You must know that lemon is a natural cleanser, and it will also work to neutralize odors.
Before the board gets dry, immediately sprinkle 1/2 cup of kosher salt over the board. Now start massaging the salt on the surface. Now let this mixture of salt and lemon on the board for about four hours. For better results, let it sit overnight. The fantastic mixture of salt and lemon will remove all the odors out of the wood.
In the next step,
you have to remove the mixture from the board and place it aside to become dry.
Use a clean cloth to rub two tablespoons of mineral oil over the entire cutting board. The coating of mineral oil will protect the board and create a seal to prevent strong odors from being absorbed.
If you want a simple answer of How do I care for the wood?
Make a coating of mineral oil after each washing to prevent the wood from drying out and splitting.
Bottom Line:
We have presented a complete review of ten of the ulu knives, which are at the top in the whole knives’ market. We hope that this review helps you out in choosing the best ulu knife for your kitchen. We recommend picking the multi-colored ulu knife with a 6 inches blade because a 6 inches blade is considered ideal for performing multiple tasks.
