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Best Kitchen Knives?
- Thread starter Lucky Strike
- Start date
Cutco makes an excellent product but they are waaaay overpriced. My parents have a set that is over 25 years old and still cutting. However, even though they make great knives I wouldn't pay the price they ask for them. (Something like $1400 bucks for the full set)
I would suggest buying a 3 piece set of Global knives and a Spyderco Sharpmaker to keep them razor sharp. you just can't beat the Sharpmaker for the money. The Globals are thin and make outstanding slicers. They also hold an edge quite well. (7" Hollow Santoku Knife, 3-1/2" Paring Knife, 5-1/4" Utility Knife)
- Joined
- Jul 9, 1999
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- 3,316
I am very fond of Tojiro after I bought several at, of all places, EPCOT. The Japanese pavillion in the World Showcase has them at about the same prices you'd pay at an internet store with shipping.
Here's a link to Japanese Chef Knife,
http://www.japanesechefsknife.com/TOJIRO2.html
a 'net store that has a huge selection of top shelf Japanese kitchen cutlery. I tell you, if you try Japanese kitchen knives, you likely won't go back to the top end European knives. I gave away all of my Henckel's, Forschner's and various other makers after using the Tojiro's.
Here's a link to Japanese Chef Knife,
http://www.japanesechefsknife.com/TOJIRO2.html
a 'net store that has a huge selection of top shelf Japanese kitchen cutlery. I tell you, if you try Japanese kitchen knives, you likely won't go back to the top end European knives. I gave away all of my Henckel's, Forschner's and various other makers after using the Tojiro's.
- Joined
- Jun 30, 2006
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- 2,069
I'd recommend the Spyderco Pro Culinares if you can still find them. I love mine and they perform just as well as knives 2-3 times their price. They aren't pretty though...
I'd get a Santoku, a 6" serrated bread/utility knife and a pairing knife. Some dealers still stock these at nice prices. These knives can do most kitchen tasks very well.
Sverre
I'd get a Santoku, a 6" serrated bread/utility knife and a pairing knife. Some dealers still stock these at nice prices. These knives can do most kitchen tasks very well.
Sverre
- Joined
- Sep 29, 2002
- Messages
- 2,965
You're right...in fact I haven't even used the knives and I'm sure they work just fine. It's just that i'm new to this whole knife collecting thing (just found this site about a week ago and I already bought two knives, EnduraWave and Leek).....when i get into things I kind of tend to go nuts
The whole collecting thing is now spilling into the kitchen. After checking out some of those site i didn't realize kitchen knives could be that expensive....I'm looking for stuff in the $30-40 per knife range (i do really like the looks of the Shun series). I agree knives are down the importance scale for a new marriage (i'm currently putting my new wife through nursing school)...it'd be a case of saving my change till it adds up to $35 and then getting a new knife till I have a nice little 3-4 knife set of the larger chef's and boning knives
I just wanted to get an idea of what was quality and was wasn't and people have steered me in the right direction which is why i love this forum.
You have a set. Cool!
Use this set, see what you use the most and what you don't use.
Of what you DO use, see what you like/dislike about the ergonomics of these knives. Don't worry about the blade steel, this will be corrected down the line.
Find out what works best for you. This will give you a good start on what to look for when you upgrade.
Rob
- Joined
- Dec 31, 2004
- Messages
- 117
Dumb question: If you're buying one kitchen knife here, another there ...
How do you store 'em? If you're not buying a block set, I mean.
How do you store 'em? If you're not buying a block set, I mean.
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- Oct 2, 2006
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- 131
They sell magnetic racks for kitchen knives...or you could buy plastic covers with slip over the blade and put them in a drawer.
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- Oct 18, 2003
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- 1,592
Actually not a dumb question at all. You can pay anywhere from $35-$75 dollars for a new wooden knife block at a local cutlery store or walk into any Goodwill Store and get one for $5 bucks or less.
(I've picked up several wooden knife blocks for myself and my buddies at Goodwill - all in excellent condition for $3-$5.)GMT-7, You can find quality individual paring knives for sale at any cutlery store that sells good kitchen knives. Check out the link below.
http://www.chefknivestogo.com/
- Joined
- Aug 21, 2006
- Messages
- 116
I meant peeling knife, not paring, unless I've got my terminology wrong? Those 2 piece jobs that prevent you from peeling too deeply. BTW: I'm GMT+7 not GMT-7...that would put me in N. America. (kidding)
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- Dec 20, 2005
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- 2,045
Don't mean to generalize, but anything "Made in Japan" is highly recommended, take a look here:
http://www.japanwoodworker.com/dept.asp?dept_id=13170
When they say "sharp" -these knives really are razor sharp. If you think Spydercos are sharp -these are monsters. Especially ones made from Cowry-X. Even the Blue steel ones outcut well heat treated O1.
http://www.japanwoodworker.com/dept.asp?dept_id=13170
When they say "sharp" -these knives really are razor sharp. If you think Spydercos are sharp -these are monsters. Especially ones made from Cowry-X. Even the Blue steel ones outcut well heat treated O1.
- Joined
- Feb 7, 2000
- Messages
- 6,684
A thousand amens to that!
I didn't buy a block set when I got married, but I DID make the mistake of going a little nuts on Ebay and buying too many Henckels knives, plus a Spyderco santoku. All the knives look a perform great, but we really only USE a few (and we cook all the time). I say buy fewer kitchen knives and use some of the extra dough to buy some quality poultry shears and a steel and a Spyderco Tri-Angle Sharpmaker to keep everything sharp with.
I for one don't think a blanket ban on block sets is necessarily gospel. Most moderate block sets contain a very sensible assortment of knives that likely all get used, and you can save a LOT of money by not buying open-stock.
I got a Henckels Pro-S block set myself, 9-piece with a 8" chef, 6" utility, bread slicer, peeler, serrated utility, carver, steel, kitchen shears -- for like $350, way, way, way below open stock value for all that. Even if you rarely use one or two of the knives you still make out.
Anyway I have added some open stock knives to that selection, a filet/boning knife and a santoku ... plus a cheap cleaver from some other brand, and I'm pretty set for just about anything.
For the OP, I like Henckels' stuff, just make sure to get Pro-S or better (the German stuff). High quality and tends to be common enough (i.e. not strictly botique) to have a reasonable expectation of finding it on sale, to fill out your set with open-stock stuff.
I got a Henckels Pro-S block set myself, 9-piece with a 8" chef, 6" utility, bread slicer, peeler, serrated utility, carver, steel, kitchen shears -- for like $350, way, way, way below open stock value for all that. Even if you rarely use one or two of the knives you still make out.
Anyway I have added some open stock knives to that selection, a filet/boning knife and a santoku ... plus a cheap cleaver from some other brand, and I'm pretty set for just about anything.
For the OP, I like Henckels' stuff, just make sure to get Pro-S or better (the German stuff). High quality and tends to be common enough (i.e. not strictly botique) to have a reasonable expectation of finding it on sale, to fill out your set with open-stock stuff.
Firstly, congratulations on your marriage.
If my life as a newly-wed with one partner going through college is any benchmark, $ is short. Everyone here as posted you some really great suggestions but they also tend to cost quite a bit.
If you are interested in some less expensive options, the swedish moras would make very inexpensive and highly functional kitchen blades. In fact, they are the standard kitchen knives of most scandinavians before they were popularised by the bushlore crowd. Frosts of Sweden, Kellam and Eriksson are popular companies. Most of these companies produce knives in a variety of blade sizes and shapes. They also offer a classic range in carbon steels with wooden handles and also an updated range in stainless and with polymer handles for industrial butchery/fishery use. The Brazilian company Tramontina also have a similar set -- look under their professional series.
They may not look as polished or well-finished as some of the other offerings but they are well-made knives and a good medium between price and quality.
Good luck to your wife on her studies and best wishes for your future together.
If my life as a newly-wed with one partner going through college is any benchmark, $ is short. Everyone here as posted you some really great suggestions but they also tend to cost quite a bit.
If you are interested in some less expensive options, the swedish moras would make very inexpensive and highly functional kitchen blades. In fact, they are the standard kitchen knives of most scandinavians before they were popularised by the bushlore crowd. Frosts of Sweden, Kellam and Eriksson are popular companies. Most of these companies produce knives in a variety of blade sizes and shapes. They also offer a classic range in carbon steels with wooden handles and also an updated range in stainless and with polymer handles for industrial butchery/fishery use. The Brazilian company Tramontina also have a similar set -- look under their professional series.
They may not look as polished or well-finished as some of the other offerings but they are well-made knives and a good medium between price and quality.
Good luck to your wife on her studies and best wishes for your future together.
Kitchen knives are somewhat to personal taste - so they are subjective - lots of people will have lots of suggestions.
Professional use is different from at home use.
However this link from ConsumerSearch where they review the reviewers -
Kitchen Knives
might be a good starting point.
The old saying "you get what you pay for" may seem true as the "Best" pick was Wusthof Grand Prix or Classic (*est. $170 for three).
But see also their Best Budget Knife set - Forschner Victorinox Fibrox (*est. $60 for three)
"In reviews, experts often express surprise when evaluating these stamped knives, as they run counter to the assumption that the best cutlery is forged. Some experts miss the bolster, a feature on forged knives that aids in balance and maneuverability, but they say the Forschner's sharp blade can compete with knives costing twice as much. In recent reviews, the Forschner chef's knife easily beats cheaper knives."
If you're not sure - then I suggest NOT spending a lot/buying expensive first - try out some cheaper recommendations - when you do become picky - then go for the knives that feel most like what you know you want......
--
Vincent
http://clik.to/UnknownVT2006
http://clik.to/UnknownVT2005
http://clik.to/UnknownVT2004
http://clik.to/UnknownVincent
Professional use is different from at home use.
However this link from ConsumerSearch where they review the reviewers -
Kitchen Knives
might be a good starting point.
The old saying "you get what you pay for" may seem true as the "Best" pick was Wusthof Grand Prix or Classic (*est. $170 for three).
But see also their Best Budget Knife set - Forschner Victorinox Fibrox (*est. $60 for three)
"In reviews, experts often express surprise when evaluating these stamped knives, as they run counter to the assumption that the best cutlery is forged. Some experts miss the bolster, a feature on forged knives that aids in balance and maneuverability, but they say the Forschner's sharp blade can compete with knives costing twice as much. In recent reviews, the Forschner chef's knife easily beats cheaper knives."
If you're not sure - then I suggest NOT spending a lot/buying expensive first - try out some cheaper recommendations - when you do become picky - then go for the knives that feel most like what you know you want......
--
Vincent
http://clik.to/UnknownVT2006
http://clik.to/UnknownVT2005
http://clik.to/UnknownVT2004
http://clik.to/UnknownVincent
- Joined
- Oct 2, 2006
- Messages
- 131
Hmm...just received another wedding gift...a Hampton Forge 3 piece Santoku set from Target (that's one of the places we registered).
The whole set costs $15 so I'm assuming it's not the most high quality of knives but probably good enough for my needs.
Since I was gonna get 2-3 santoku knives anyway what I'm gonna do is take the money i was gonna spend on those and buy a Spyderco Sharpmaker. Use these for a while to see which sizes i use the most, practice my sharpening skills(which I'll need since i bought my first folders recently) and see if I really do like using that shape of knife. Then i'll replace them with higher quality stuff by saving up my pocket change till I get $60 worth or something
The whole set costs $15 so I'm assuming it's not the most high quality of knives but probably good enough for my needs.
Since I was gonna get 2-3 santoku knives anyway what I'm gonna do is take the money i was gonna spend on those and buy a Spyderco Sharpmaker. Use these for a while to see which sizes i use the most, practice my sharpening skills(which I'll need since i bought my first folders recently) and see if I really do like using that shape of knife. Then i'll replace them with higher quality stuff by saving up my pocket change till I get $60 worth or something
I have Hirotomo damascus santoku (50$) in white steel - http://www.japanwoodworker.com/prod...G4XW4NAW6C45U2&pf_id=05.008.170&dept_id=13170 - and I can honestly say that it is the best deal out there. Cutting performance is outstanding, on par with my Kansui Ink Pattern santoku in cobalt steel (75$) and Murray Carter Wabocho - white steel (95$). For comparison Wusthoff`s top of the line santoku IMO goes far behind... I spent quite some time this summer doing research for my ultimate kitchen knife (knives). I am not a professional cook or a millionaire so I limited my search to 2 types of knives - paring knife and santoku. Good paring knife is a must have and a santoku because of its lightness and shape of the blade, but thinness of the blade was a decisive factor. As a paring knife I bought an excellent Kansui in blue steel, which was confiscated immediately by my girlfriend, and I bought 3 santoku (Wabocho is not exactly santoku shape) to have some time for choosing the keeper. All 3 blades are awesome, all made by different techniques, but I fell in love with Hirotomo and it`s the one I want to use all the time.