What Are The Best Kitchen Knife Sets?
As a cook, you always want the right kind of tools present in your kitchen in order to fulfil the desire and appetite of your customers and complete your duties properly. Not only for chefs, but right kitchen equipment’s are important for anyone who cooks food on a regular basis. And considered as one of the most important kitchen tools is a kitchen knife. A good collection determines how much time you will take to cook the food and at the same time, ensures your safety as well. Therefore, you need to understand the importance of choosing best kitchen knife set.
Selecting a set could be a challenging task for an enthusiastic cook to accomplish. After all, a good knife can ensure both the safety and quality of the food made by the cook. Therefore, if you are going to buy a high quality collection, you surely would not want to go for a cheap one, which could reduce the quality of your dish. But then the question arrives, “How are you going to find yourself a good kitchen knife set”? The answer is very simple. You just look for the qualities that you specifically need.
Why kitchen knife sets are needed?
Having your hands on a nice and a top-notch set is very important since you will be the using it almost every day. Fortunately for you, there are many brilliant selections available in the market, that too at a very reasonable price. All you need to do is follow some useful tips to find the appropriate set as per your usage and you will get the quality you are looking for without spending hundreds of dollars.
Before making a purchase, find out what types you would want in your kitchen: Kitchen knives can be found in great varieties of shapes and sizes and have the capability of meeting various requirements. However, you should always opt for the type that will suit your requirements. An average domestic assortment would include the following:
- A 5 inch long utility knife that can be used for many purposes. This product is often used as the first knife in the set due to its tendency to do many jobs.
- A chef’s knife, which is about 7.8-9 inches long, mainly used for dicing, chopping, cutting and mincing.
- A 3 inches long paring or vegetable knife usually used for cutting, peeling and trimming small items that can be held in hand, such as small potatoes and other vegetables.
- A bread knife, used to slice cake, bread, tomatoes and fruit.
- A carving knife that is used for cutting small and thin slices of meat.
- A filleting knife, which is helpful in filleting fish. Buy it only if you intend to fillet, otherwise it will be useless. Most people don’t bother with filleting anymore and go for food that is already filleted.
While looking around, you may often find knife sets that contain many of the above knives. It will be quite cheaper compared to buying them individually. However, there is no use buying a cheap set that would just ruin the quality of your food. So, choose wisely before making a final decision.
Now how would you know if the assortment you are going to purchase is of good quality and suit you well? To know that, here are the things you need to take care of before buying:
1.) Hold the knives in your hand before buying
The grip must be at ease and fits well in your hand. Know that even if one person is feeling quite comfortable holding it, it doesn’t mean that it will suit you well too. Although advice is useful, but first make sure to use it with your own hands. You must go for the ones that are comfortable in your hand. After all, you are going to use it for a long time.
2.) Look for how much steel is present
Make sure to look for any signs of welding or joining, mainly in the area of hilt. This is a point where knives are weak and are more likely to bend or break. The best knives are made from a single hand-forged steel, while cheap knives tend to have thin and weak hilts.
3.) Examine the weight of the knives
A light weighted product is suitable for accuracy and speed while a heavy product is best for chopping a bunch of light ingredients. However, things get different while chopping hard and solid foods such as palm sugar, fresh ginger, nuts and other similar ingredients.
4.) Examine the balance
Balance is another vital factor that needs to be considered. Good quality knives tend to have a brilliant balance with not too much weight on either side of the handle or the blade. It must be evenly spread and properly concentrated at the right points. In order to judge the balance, the same old fashioned way can be used where you need to put your finger on the finger grip or at the blade end of the handle, holding it horizontally with cutting edge down. A good quality product will balance at that point and won’t fall off from your finger. It will ensure that you can use the knives efficiently without losing the grip.
5.) See the hilt
The hilt should be solid, easy to clean and well joined. It is the hardest part of the knife where the strain on the handle goes into the blade. See if it is extra thin or is there any signs of join or weld present. If any gaps are visible, it will not only weaken it, but can also trap some portion of the food and raise bacteria.
6.) Examine the materials used to make the handle
Often handles are made of plastic, wood, resins or any other hard material. Don’t go for the knives with handles made from bones since they tend to become fragile after some time. It can also cause some serious injuries as it might crumble in the user’s hand. Soft woods or low density materials are also not suggested for handles.
7.) Consider the material and the quality of the blade
Ceramic is unquestionably the best material for the knife’s blade. It can easily be sharpened and does not rust while holding its sharpness for a long time. The only problem with such a blade is that they are very fragile and can easily be broken. The good ones are normally very expensive. Therefore, while going for cheap ceramic knives, examine the blades cautiously. Other than ceramic, carbon steel is also used to make a blade that gives a nice edge, but requires to be taken care of so they gets rusty as well. Stainless steel is very much in fashion nowadays as due to their capability to avoid rust.
8.) Focus on quality, not the brand
It is natural for you to go for a brand in order to ensure you are buying a good quality product. However, if you are going to buy a high quality assortment at a reasonable price that doesn’t fall under the category of any brand, it doesn’t mean you are making a mistake. You need to focus more on quality instead of the brand value.
9.) Safety
The primary concern for everyone while selecting any kinds of tool is safety. Particularly in the kitchen, safety is a very important aspect since it can affect everyone in the household. That is why you should be very serious when choosing. Examine the grip of the handle by holding it tightly. Try not to let anyone else use your knives. Most injuries are sustained by using tools, which the users are not familiar with.
10.) Sharpness
The main purpose of the product is to chop the food. Therefore, make sure that all the knives in the set are nicely sharped for their proposed purpose.
Other than all the above qualities, there are many more things that need to be focused before making a purchase for the best kitchen knife set.
11.) Full Tang
This means that the steel of the blade and handle are of one piece.
12.) Full Forged
It refers to how the knife has really been made. Few are stamped, but the best quality knives are completely forged with high carbon stainless steel. They also tend to stay sharp for a long time compared to others.
13.) Warranty
A good quality product comes with a lifetime warranty.
Purchasing a collection is surely a hard thing to do as it requires a lot of time in examining the qualities of knives. However, keeping it safe is equally important and challenging as buying it. With proper care, it can last for years and give you its perfect service every time you use it.
Keep the knives in good place
Dry the knives well before putting it into the drawer. It will ensure the durability and keep it rust-free. In order for you to use them for a longer period, you should place them in a knife block or in a drawer so that they won’t get damaged. Some come in their own storage box. Many chefs wrap each knife separately with an apron so that they won’t touch each other. A good place to keep the knives also ensures the safety of the people. A regular utensil drawer is not recommendable for storing the knives.
Keep them in good and sharp condition
If you are looking around, spend a little more on steel and sharpening stone. The stones will help you in restoring and improving the cutting edges while steel will maintain the edges.
Use it properly
Don’t use the knives on glass, stone or any other steel like cutting surfaces. This can permanently damage the knives. It may also lead to some serious injuries. The most appropriate cutting surface would be made from wood or any other rigid substance.
Knives are considered as the most vital kitchen utensils. People use them on a daily basis to chop, cut and slice the food. Therefore, it is essential for a household to have an assortment. A good set of kitchen knives lasts for a lifetime, if used appropriately. If you wish to have one for yourself, you have so many options to choose from. A golden rule of buying one is to figure out your budget and search according to it. However, it is always recommendable to spend as much as possible as it will definitely provide you the worth of your money. The expensive assortments consist of good and hard blades, brilliant grip and handles and looks very stylish as well. They are less prone to get damage and provide you with extra safety and comfort. However, it doesn’t mean that cheap sets are completely useless. Cheap collections are mainly used by people who use them for some specific purposes only. Make sure you check all the knives before making a purchase. It could be little difficult if you are buying it online. Therefore, see if any of your friends has one.
The best kitchen knife set includes all kinds of blade types needed to prepare food and also provide a block in order for you to store them. Many manufacturers also sell them individually so that you can add one to your collection if any of the pieces gets lost or broken. Looking around online is ideal if you want something that suits you at a very decent price range. At online stores, you will be able to look at all the sets with all the information associated with it right at your fingertips. You can even compare the price range of similar sets on different websites so that you get the best possible deal.
1.) Gourmet 18 Piece Cutlery Set
Depending on the level of preparation, cooking can be a bit hectic (if one does not have the right tools) or fun. Wüsthof Gourmet has, however, committed to making cooking quite a fun experience. When it comes to knives, Wüsthof has offered a solution for all cutting, chopping and / or trimming by offering an amazing product: Gourmet 18 Piece Cutlery Set which has been specifically made for people who want a piece of the state of the art knife series but are on a tight budget.
Specifications
The set comes in a handy storage block that organizes the knives in such a way that storing and picking the right blade is easy even for the visually impaired cook. The set includes the 4010 / 7cm – paring knife, 4022 / 8 cm – paring knife, 4030 / 7 cm – trimming knife, 4034 / 6 cm – peeling knife, 4045 / 12 cm utility knife, 4050 / 12 cm – steak knife, six (6) 4101 / 20 cm – kitchen knife, 4130 / 20 cm – kitchen knife, 4143 / 20 cm – bread knife, 4562 / 20 cm – cooks knife, 4461 23 cm – sharpening steel and a 5558-1 – kitchen shears. All the blades are made of high carbon steel with an alloy that makes them stain resistant. The entire set of blades in the storage block, only occupies a little space measuring 17 inches * 10.4 inches by 4.7 inches and measures 10 pounds in weight.
Pros:
The blades are laser cut for precision unlike other blades in the Gourmet series that are cut by hand. They are triple riveted to ensure that they are strong and durable. They are also backed with tangs that extend the entire synthetic traditional handles. The blades in this series are ground and polished by a computer to ensure that they are perfectly tapered from tip to bolster.
In addition, the blades are dishwasher safe offering more convenience to those who may prefer not to hand wash the blades. For convenience, the cutlery set comes in a long lasting and beautiful looking 17 – slot oak block. This makes it easy to identify and pick the right tool or blade as one proceeds with the cooking or preparation process. The package dimensions make it both convenient for storage in a drawer and occupying of a little space on the cooking surface, say a kitchen counter top.
Cons:
The cheaper price at which the knives are offered compromises the blades in that they are made of thinner quality metal as opposed to other blades in the Wüsthof Gourmet series. Though this does not affect the overall quality of the blades in terms of performance and / or sharpness, the thinner blades could wear out faster than thicker blades though to some, it would be considered an advantage to have thinner metal as this makes the knives in this series lighter.
Conclusion:
Yes, it is a great purchase because for a lesser amount, one affords a complete set of the high quality Wüsthof Gourmet knife series that would outlast many other knives while offering a touch of class. Convenience and class have, in the Gourmet 18 piece cutlery set, been availed to the ordinary person who appreciates the value of a convenient kitchen set but is on a tight budget.
2.)Wüsthof Gourmet 12-Piece Knife Set with Block
A good set of knives would make a big difference in your kitchen cutting activities, in eating meals, and in the joy you get out of using it. The Wusthof Gourmet 12-Piece Knife Set with Block indeed makes that difference and does not cost a fortune. These are forged knives that went under a thorough 40-step process, combining both human expertise and technology which has proven very successful when put together.
The final outcome knives included in this set bear the famous mark of the Trident logo of the Wusthof Company, with the knives being manufactured in three different plants in Solingen, also known as the City of Blades. They have precision blades that are extremely sharp and which are made full tang, that is, which goes the full length through the handle’s tip. This is the foundation for proper balance, perfect handling and being able to maneuver the knife.
The blades are made from high-carbon, stainless steel which is made for long-term use and executes top performance. This also makes the knives stain-resistant and rust proof. It also has vanadium, which makes it hard, really sturdy, and guarantees the sharpness of its edges. The handles are three-riveted and are made of polypropylene which is resistant to high heat and has a convenient and comfortable grip.
It comes with a wood block for safe storage and gives utmost care of your knife set. This knife set exhibits high quality, practicality and durability.
- Its blades are non-corrosive.
- It has ergonomically designed handles.
- The versatile come-apart kitchen shears have various useful functions.
- Both knives and shears are easy to clean.
- It is made in Germany.
- It has a lifetime manufacturer warranty.
- The blades are very thin and can be flimsy.
- It is very light and may seem weak to hold and use.
- The handles are made from plastic which can break, especially when dropped.
Conclusion:
These high caliber knives make everyday kitchen cutting tasks easily accomplished with confidence. The handles give a good feel of control and lets you almost effortlessly control the knife, ideal for those who don’t mind the weight of their knives and also those who prefer lighter ones. The razor-sharp keen blades yield superior results for any meal or dish you are preparing.
The Wusthof Gourmet 12-Piece Knife Set will give an elegant, world-class look to your kitchen countertop and has all the essential knives you’ll need. It is ideal for simple home cooking to catering large groups and is expected to last for generations. It has averaged 4.0 out of 5 stars in the Amazon reviews, more people are satisfied and have testified to great experiences with the product.
It is definitely a great purchase and is an excellent choice for your money’s worth. There’s no question of its durability and long-lasting qualities. It is also perfect as a timeless gift, for special occasions or for any chef who would surely appreciate its beauty.
3.) Victorinox 8-Piece Knife Block Set
This is a block set of 8 kitchen knives manufactured by Victorinox, one of the top names in the world for cutlery and its iconic Swiss Army Knife. With well over one hundred years of experience in producing top quality wares, the eight featured here form part of a current lineup of over 300 knives. You’ll regularly see the Victorinox 8-Piece Knife Block Set and other Victorinox products favorably reviewed in style, lifestyle, and specialist food magazines.
If you’re a keen cook or have aspirations to be a home chef this is a wonderful set of kitchen cutlery in a convenient block set. Whether it is size, style, function, or performance – all factors are important, but what really matters is that it works for you. In this regard quality and thought are crucial in making a classic product.
Specifications
Housed in a hardwood block the set consists of: a Paring knife (4 inches), Boning knife (6 inches), Chef’s knife (8 inches), serrated Bread knife (8inches), Slicing knife (10 inches), some Kitchen shears, and finally a 10 inch Sharpening steel. All are made of steel that is high carbon and doesn’t stain. In fact, they are manufactured as stamped blades, meaning that they are stamped from cold steel, ground down, tempered, and only then sharpened – this makes for a great finish and a really effective knife. All of the handles are made out of Fibrox. The Chef’s knife is probably the most important to use regularly and truly appreciate.
Pros:
They are razor sharp and can be easily maintained at a professional standard with the sharpening steel. The tempered Forschner steel means the knives will keep their sharp edge throughout their long working life.
There are no problems with the dishwasher as they are all dishwasher-proof, but you’ll probably want to hand wash them.
Each knife has its own custom slot in the block.
They fall easily to the hand and are perfectly balanced so you’ll feel no tension in the wrist even if you’re a heavy user.
The Fibrox handles give an attractive ergonomic feel to holding and using the knives.
All the knives have figure guards for safe use, whether preparing, dicing, or carving.
One of the more unusual knives in the collection is the Santoku, which is a combination of a Chef’s knife with a Cleaver. This works great for those more specialized tasks like preparing garlic or taking food from chopping to the pan,
it’s also ideal for really fine carving work on special cuts of meat or for those eye-catching effects. Victorinox is an amalgam of the best of Europe and R H Forschner of New York. Their provenance is clearly marked on the blade a constant reminder that you’re working with one of the best sets of knives available.
Cons
The only real problem is working out which one becomes your favorite. Plus, you won’t want to lend them to anyone.
Conclusion:
For quality and longevity, for peace of mind and the pleasure of using a top-quality utensil, and for the sheer quality of design and manufacture this 8 Piece Knife Block Set is a great purchase.
4.) Chicago Cutlery Fusion 18pc Block Set
Have you grown tired of using knives that repeatedly fail at getting their job done? Anyone who has used or uses knives frequently would know how much wear and tear these kitchen cutleries can go through over time, leading to blunt sides and broken grips. Also, there are not many brands that deliver as promised, which results in you ending up with under performing knives that are a complete waste of time and money.
What’s the solution? Chicago Cutlery Fusion Knife set, Stainless Steel is here to save the day and even possibly prevent an injury or two.
Specifications
Super build quality: This set consisting of 18 knives is made of professional grade carbon stainless steel, which makes the blade amazingly sharp. You can slice through fruits, veggies, cakes, and other types of materials swiftly and with the least bit of effort.
Excellent grip: Every knife has a non-slip cushion grip that lets you hold it firmly regardless of knife size or the size of your hands. These black colored grips will give you the confidence to chop faster and prepare home-cooked meals at record times.
High durability: Taper grind technology on the knife edges provides maximum sharpness, making every cut precise and easy. It also makes the knives easy to resharpens, while stainless steel blades prevent stains from pitting and rust.
Attractive looking: The stainless steel plates that are located at the handle ends convey contemporary styling and gives every knife a sleek look.
Contents
This knife set consists of almost every type of knife that you can buy in the market, thus eliminating the need to buy any knife separately. With every Chicago Cutlery Fusion Knife Block Set, Stainless Steel set, you get the following knives:
- Chef Knife – 7.75 inch
- Paring Knife – 3.25 inch
- Utility Knife – 5 inch
- Bread Knife – 7.75 inch
- Slicer – 8 inch
- Partoku Knife – 5 inch
- Santoku Knife – 7 inch
- Sharpening Steel – 8 inch
- Steak knives – 4.25 inch (8 units)
Additionally, you get a Honey Maple Block that gives you a complete chef experience inside your very own kitchen room.
- Extremely sharp and easy to hold
- Lots of knife types that suit variety of purposes
- High-quality stainless steel that assures durability
- Contemporary style with sleek design
- Lifetime manufacturer warranty
- Might require high maintenance
- Warranty does not cover knife damage due to falling
Conclusion:
You do not need to ask this question because Chicago Cutlery Fusion Set, is one hell of a purchase! These knives are extremely sharp and are perfect for cutting vegetables or meat within minutes. The stainless steel blades offer excellent protection against damage and rusting, as well as make the knives look modern and stylish. And the best part is that these knives are affordable and can be used by anyone.
It doesn’t matter if you’re a professional chef or a regular person who’s just learning to cook; making use of these knives is a breeze as they have been designed to be more user-friendly. Get the necessary assortment for hassle free cutting and achieve the performance level of a professional chef with this 18 piece knife set.
5.) Cangshan Y2 Series 59212 6-Piece
Knives play a significant role in any kitchen. There is no single serious meal that you can make without the use of a knife. Purchasing single pieces end up costing you a lot of money than it would when you purchase your knives in a set. There are different knife manufacturers on the market today offering you different types of knives. The most important thing is looking for the best knife sets that will work well in your kitchen.
If you are confused about the right brand to choose from, you can go for the Cangshan Y2 Series. This is a quality set of knives from a trusted brand that helps you cut anything with ease in your kitchen. These knives feature a durable construction and they remain sharp to offer the best cutting experience. This knife set can be a great gift for a person starting their new kitchen and they are also ideal for any other type of kitchen too.
Here are some of the qualities that make this knife worth investing your money in. Read this review and you will be in a position to make an informed decision.
Ergonomic Handle
A good knife should provide you with a comfortable handle so that you can cut perfectly well without any problems. This set of knives features an outstanding patent pending design that makes it the best knives on the market today.
6-Piece Set
When you are cutting different things such as meat, vegetables and bread in your kitchen, you will probably need to use different types of knives.
This 6-piece knife set provides you with 8-inch chefs, 7-inch Santoku, 8 inch bread, 5-inch serrated utility and 3.5 inch paring and block knives. Each of the knives is designed to perform a different function to deliver the best results.
Quality Construction
When you are purchasing any knife set, it is important to consider the construction. This will ensure that you get the best product with a quality construction for durability.
Fortunately, this set is designed with a durable material that makes them long lasting. You will use the knives for a long period of time without them breaking or corroding.
Patented Pending Cutting Edge
This provides the knives with a very good design. The edges of the knives are built from solid acacia wood block that work with the knives perfectly well. Once you purchase this set of knives, you equip your kitchen with very essential cutting equipment that will deliver perfect cutting all the time.
- They have a comfortable handle
- The knives are durable
- They are affordable
- Easy to work with
- Come in six pieces for different types of cutting
- They are a little heavy for a secure hold
Conclusion:
Purchasing this set of knives is definitely a great purchase. You will end up saving a lot of money as compared to buying individual knives. Get this affordable set of knives for all your cutting needs. You can also give the set as a present to a person who is starting their new kitchen.