Kitchen knife set?

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klhayes77

Joined
Nov 28, 2008
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Hey guys, I would like to buy a nice set of kitchen knives. I don't know alot about kitchen knives, so i thought i would ask yall.I am wanting to buy a block set and 6 steak knives.I would like to keep it in a certain price range but i want to get my moneys worth.I would appreciate yalls input. Thanks in advance. Oh yeah i would like to stay around 250$.:confused: I checked out a kershaw set, but the reviews were not that good,but i am a big fan of kershaw. I hope i gave you enough to work with. Thanks again
 
Check out Victorinox Forschner, or Dexter Russel.
Some advice: buy a la carte. Pick the knives you need. You don't need a chef's knife, three sandwich slicers, and a paring knife. Get what you need.
s
 
Here's some I purchased this year as a gift. I have no experience using them, but they seem like great choice if you're looking for traditional American-styled and American-made products. They won't be like everyone else's knives, that's for sure.

http://www.warthers.com/kitchen_knives/
 
I recommend to combine a few brands to put together a sensible and interesting set:

- 4 small "kitchen essentials" in a box from Opinel, very affordable around 25 euro over here. No-nonsense but they cut as well as you expect from an Opinel. Possibly combine with a small knife from Wüsthof if you like something more luxurious in the hand. Opinel set:
A-OPINEL-001300-0002.jpg
A-OPINEL-001300-0004.jpg


Then a handy medium size (around 5") knife for chopping vegetables. These 2 are excellent and they cost around 60 euro each. I love both suggestions but to be honest you only need one of the two:

- A handforged carbon steel Roselli R-700 Little Cook is a great tool:
products_790_2_original.jpg


- Or, the slightly longer Global GS-5 is light and practical. One of my fave Globals.
large_GS-5.jpg


Then for larger knives, for the home cook I recommend one 7" to 8" Santoku knife instead of a large chef knife. I find them easier to use and they are versatile.
- The Victorinox (no personal experience) should be satisfactory at a reasonable price. The holes at the sides prevent sticking of food slices:
96215.jpg


Finally you will want a flexible fillet knife.
- For example the Global G-20 should suffice:
img_global_g-20.jpg


This set should be well in your budget and nicely usable.
 
I will say this- don't buy that Opinel set. You'd be better off buying Victorinox paring knives and a Zyliss peeler. Also, that Global G-20 probably won't do any better of a job at breaking down fish and the like than a Victorinox boning knife or a Rapala fillet, which would be a fifth of the price.
For a basic set, based off of some personal experience, Alton Brown's "Guide for kitchen gear", and reading Cook's Illustrated, I'd go with:
http://www.smkw.com/webapp/eCommerc...ext=&list=50&range=1&order=Default&SKU=F40715
http://www.smkw.com/webapp/eCommerc...t=&Mode=Brand&Brand=45&PriceStart=&SKU=F40020
http://www.smkw.com/webapp/eCommerc...t=&Mode=Brand&PriceStart=&Brand=45&SKU=F40645
http://www.smkw.com/webapp/eCommerc...t=&Mode=Brand&PriceStart=&Brand=45&SKU=F41604
http://www.smkw.com/webapp/eCommerc...t=&Mode=Brand&Brand=45&PriceStart=&SKU=F41799
http://www.smkw.com/webapp/eCommerc...t=&Mode=Brand&Brand=45&PriceStart=&SKU=F40550
You could probably handle-coordinate all of them, but the way I see it, the boning knife and the slicer are mainly going to be used to break down raw meats, so having a non-porous, sanitizable handle would be a plus.
 
norcalblacktail said:
I dont know if you can find a whole set for $250 but I would recommend Shun and Global for kitchen knives.
Click to expand...

We love our Global knives around here. Nice design. Sanitary handles. The knife set (no steak knives) was more than $250 but no regrets.
 
jim preston said:
Check out Victorinox Forschner, or Dexter Russel.
Some advice: buy a la carte. Pick the knives you need. You don't need a chef's knife, three sandwich slicers, and a paring knife. Get what you need.
s
Click to expand...

+1

Definitely buy a la carte, most block sets come with knives you will never use, so why pay for them. i was a butcher in a meat market and learned alot about what a good knife is. the Dexter-Russell's are fantastic, i have many of them and they are some of the sharpest knives i own. you can get them at most restaurant supply stores for very cheap. $10-$30 depending on the style. in addition to them i have a few specialized knives for specific tasks. (kyocera ceramic santuku for chopping for example) Just get what you need and buy what feels good in your hand.
 
I will say this- don't buy that Opinel set. You'd be better off buying Victorinox paring knives and a Zyliss peeler.
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Ok, I don't have personal experience with Victorinox kitchen knives, but what exactly is wrong with the Opinel "kitchen essentials" set? I have use them quite a bit in my cooking and I consider the set as a no-nonsense bargain, truly the Opinel approach as with their folders that we know and love.
Also, Global isn't cheap but once you experience how light in the hand they are and how well they cut, people typically see the value.
 
Thanks alot guys.The more input the better.This will be the first good set of kitchen knives i have ever purchased. Don't want to make a mistake.:thumbup:I really find myself liking the victorinox,do you agree that would be a good purchase.I really like those rosewood handles.
 
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First off, stay away from the sets. You don't get what you want and they are never really a bargain.

The Victorinox are decent knives and are a great buy for the money. I have a few in my kitchen for other people to use. ( I keep my good knives out of the hands of potential abusers.)

If you are willing to splurge on one knife that you use a lot, consider a Bark River.
I have the Chef's knife and a Canadian sportsman-II that I use in the kitchen. I haven't used a BRKT Santoku, but, a lot of people really like that knife as well.
I have use a lot of kitchen knives and the Bark River blow them all away!

Whichever knives you get, keep 'em sharp and have fun.
 
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I always advise against sets. The reason is that you are likely to end up with some knives you don't use. Go buy a good chef knife, bread knife and parer. You can always add things in the future. But a high quality knives in these patterns will always be useful.
 
Sharp Eye said:
First off, stay away from the sets. You don't get what you want and they are never really a bargain.

Whichever knives you get, keep 'em sharp and have fun.
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Agreed.
Forget the box set stuff.

This is a knife forum, get something decent.:D

Most serious home cooks or commercial chefs recommend three knives, which will do about 95% of what you want.

Bread knife (MAC gets mentioned as best value and utility)
Japanese chef's knife (gyuto) Tojiro, Hiromoto, etc.
Decent paring knife.

Use the above on a wood or softer plastic board.

Steak knives?
Sam's Club specials, since they will be most likely used on hard plates. :eek:
 
Agreed, no boxed sets here.

A sturdy butcher's knife and a very nice chef's knife does most of my work in the kitchen.

I've been eyeing a ceramic knife for fun. Anyone here have any experience with them? I have a ceramic peeler that works pretty well. I know I may get butchered (no pun intended!) for mentioning ceramic knives here in a hard core knife forum, but I thought they looked rather cool.

KyoceraKT-155-HIP-D
Kyocera KC130WH
 
Definitely buy a la carte, most block sets come with knives you will never use, so why pay for them. i was a butcher in a meat market and learned alot about what a good knife is. the Dexter-Russell's are fantastic, i have many of them and they are some of the sharpest knives i own. you can get them at most restaurant supply stores for very cheap. $10-$30 depending on the style.
Click to expand...
Definitely not a professional but my Dexter Russell boning knife beats many more expensive models in my experience. A.G. Russell's woods walkers make great steak knives and are $10 each unless they have gone up recently.
 
jdthompson said:
I've been eyeing a ceramic knife for fun. Anyone here have any experience with them? I have a ceramic peeler that works pretty well. I know I may get butchered (no pun intended!) for mentioning ceramic knives here in a hard core knife forum, but I thought they looked rather cool.
Click to expand...

I had a Kyocera years ago. It was pretty good for cutting softer foodstuffs. Potatoes never stuck to the blade like they did with steel knives. Ultimately, not having the necessary equipment to re-sharpen it got me back on to steel. That might not bother you, so in that case I'd say give a lil' one a try. :thumbup:

Lately I've been using all kinds of stuff in the kitchen. My very favourite is my Maynard Linder Fish River Ulu. After that is the French peasant chef's knife avilable through Lee Valley. They offer those big chinese cleavers that are pretty fun too, if you can get 'em sharp.

Hoping to try out a Valiant golok petok soon too. It's like a mini-cleaver.
 
jdthompson said:
I've been eyeing a ceramic knife for fun. Anyone here have any experience with them?
Click to expand...

they are fun, i have a five inch kyocera santoku that is scary sharp, i use it all the time for chopping vegtables. i stay away from meat fabrication with it. i have seen people chip them but i have had no problems with it, just dont toss it around. they have an unlimited lifetime warrenty so you just send it back anytime and they will sharpen it for free, just pay return shipping. i send mine out about once a year. got a new knife for free after the fourth year. great CS.
 
Bob W said:
Here's some I purchased this year as a gift. I have no experience using them, but they seem like great choice if you're looking for traditional American-styled and American-made products. They won't be like everyone else's knives, that's for sure.

http://www.warthers.com/kitchen_knives/
Click to expand...

:thumbup:

+1 for the Warthers. Good, American made, distitive, good value for the price. (I believe they are D2 steel) You'll need to sharpen them after they come, but they hold a fine edge for a long time.
 
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