Emergency Recommendation: Kitchen Knives

Lenny

Lenny

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Oct 15, 1998
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Sorry, don't have the time to search through all the forums.
My daugter's birthday is next week and we want to get her a good starter set of kitchen knives.
$200 max.
What brand, and where should I purchase.
Thanks all,
Lenny
 
Spend your max amount on a 6-8 inch chefs knife instead of a set.

It will last your daughter a lifetime and will do the vast majority of the kitchen jobs she will ever do.

It's a great investment.
 
In theory, I agree with you.
But, she'll never buy any other knives if we don't get her a whole or at least partial set.
I'd like to get at least the Chef's knife, a small parer, and maybe
a medium sized boning knife.
Oh, and a block.
Keep in mind, she's not a knife nut or chef.
Lenny
 
As far as the paring knife. Victorinox makes a nice one for about $5. Wal Mart carries it. I like mine enough where it's become a camping utility knife.


$75 bucks or so will get you a Victorinox 3 piece set with a nice chef's, boning, and paring knife. $125 a full set. If you get the three piece, I would look into one of the magnetic strips instead of a block.
 
Get the paring knife (several types available) and the Trimmer from Cutco. They are on the steep side but the company has VERY good customer service. The double D edges cut like a laser for food prep. I also have one of their cleavers...amazing piece of steel.
 
Kershaw actually has an EXCELLENT block set that I highly recommend. I got my in-laws the set by Cold Steel, too, and they enjoy them quite a bit in spite of being--er--"cutlery care challenged." :p
 
For $200 you don't have to have "starter" knives, you can buy a pair of excellent knives from which she can build-up her cutlery set over time.

You can go to a kitchen store and buy a 2 knife set, typically a chef and paring knife combination. Some may want a santoku + paring knife.

Your other choice would be to hit the dept and home stores where there's always a sale for lower-end Henckels or Wustoff block sets in you price range.
 
5" petty knife and 7" santoku will do 99% of real kitchen tasks between them. Other useful items are a longer serrated bread knife and a short paring knife, neither of which need to be expensive. The best gift for most kitchens is a maintenance agreement where you, the knife nut, agree to periodically sharpen their knives for them.
 
I grabbed a vitorinox fibrox 8in chefs knife on the cheap, and my wife really likes it. Its not "amazing" but the grip is comfy and grippy even when wet, and it sharpens up well, and has even made non knife people notice how easily it cuts compared to theirs at home. In my book, thats a win. Maybe someday when funds allow, I'll get a nicer chefs knife out of VG10 or something like that.

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Because I'm not quite sure I can post a link without it being deal spotting, just google for "Victorinox 40520 Fibrox 8-Inch Chef's Knife" and you'll find it for the mid to upper $20's usually.

If I was to get a starter set going, I would go with one of those, and then some of the extra knives that would go along with it, like the paring knife, and the utility knife and then finding a bread knife and a steel if you think she'd use one. I think that would be a great little set for very little money.
 
Please don't listen to these people. Wustof just came out with two new sets in their Classic and Gourmet line. They are a 5 piece set. Includes a 6" Chef Knife, Utility Knife and Paring knife with the scissors and block. The Gourmet runs around $90 and the Classic runs about $150. They sound perfect for your daughter.
 
The best knives in the world are pretty useless if they're dull, how will your daughter be sharpening/maintaining these knives?
 
Last edited:
Kainzow said:
Please don't listen to these people. Wustof just came out with two new sets in their Classic and Gourmet line. They are a 5 piece set. Includes a 6" Chef Knife, Utility Knife and Paring knife with the scissors and block. The Gourmet runs around $90 and the Classic runs about $150. They sound perfect for your daughter.
Click to expand...

Kainzow has spoken.
 
Lenny said:
Sorry, don't have the time to search through all the forums.
My daugter's birthday is next week and we want to get her a good starter set of kitchen knives.
$200 max.
What brand, and where should I purchase.
Thanks all,
Lenny
Click to expand...

I just got 4-star Elephant Sabatiers.

I don't know if they are good or not, I use my EDC for most kitchen duties.
 
Forschner does get rave reviews from food industry types who aren't knife nuts, so they are, no doubt, a good choice on the "low end."

Another option, and this is blasphemy on a knife forum, is the F. Dick Offset Serrated knife. Anhony Bourdain rants about it, and says its a food industry staple. So, it's worth considering.

I'd still shoot the works on one good chef's knife and maybe a decent, easy to use sharpener like a Sharpmaker. And don't get one of those butcher's steels! Worthless. They don't work despite all the "steeling" theatrics of TV chefs. (I'm talking to you, Ramsay.)
 
I would look at a 8" chef and paring Shun Classic. The VG10 based Damascus is going to have better edge retention over most brand name knives such as Wustof and Henckels that I've owned. The RC of 60-62 retains an edge for quite a bit of use before needing a touch-up.
 
So.......my two cents.
A block/set is indeed a nicer gift, in terms of presentation, and also it can be nice to "show", assuming her kitchen is open to the dining room.
But, in terms of function, I recommend that you choose a couple of good knives (maybe three: a chef's, a santoku, and a paring knife) and leave the rest behind.
As for sharpening, any knife eventually will need sharpening.
As for keeping them, magnets are much better than blocks.
As for brands, Victorinox/Forschner is a good choice with a very reasonable price. I use Global, and I'm pretty happy with them.

:cool:
 
Skip the Block.. Go search 3 piece set @ Ebay or GOOGLE
I as a Chef prefer German knives..
You can score some nice GLOBAL..Very thin in the hand.. A Santuko-Chefs Knife and a Utility Knife for under $200
Not only get her a 3 piece set..Score her a Knife Steel to sharpen them as well..nice sharpening sysyems that sit on the counter are out there as well.
If she takes care of her knives. They will take care of her. Tell her to go SLOW and focus and she very will will keep all her digits..

Good Luck and HAPPY BIRTHDAY

-Chef Keith
 
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