Kitchen knifes

[jims plan b]

I am looking to invest in a set of knifes for the kitchen ...I dont want to brake the bank but want a good set that will hold a edge as what i have now need sharpened often ...

 

[halfmoa]

Re: Kitchen knifes

I adore my Calphalon chef's knife. It wasn't pricey (maybe 50 bucks) and I've never regretted the purchase. Sure, there's way, way nicer and more expensive knives out there but this one does the trick for me just fine!

 

[dlngr]

Re: Kitchen knifes

We have a couple of CERAMIC blades probably twenty years old. They are still as sharp as ever.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Kitchen knifes

The wife has a real mixed bag of knives in the kitchen.

We have Wustof and a few other brands. We have a Swiss Army carver and it was rated the best by Cook Illustrated and two separate size santoko knives.

Bed Bath and Beyond has a decent selection (and they always have decent coupons too)

We have found if you buy a true set of knives that will end up with many you might not like so we just bought each one individually

 

[Fishing Dude too]

Re: Kitchen knifes

We don't have any, my wife throws them at me. lol

 

[tswiczko]

Re: Kitchen knifes

how long the edge stays on a blade often is due to the surface you are cutting on, Glass cutting boards are the worst. They dull knives quickly, Formica on a counter also dulls the rather fast.

I have a cheap set of knives (just 3 and 5 dollars each) and I don't have to sharpen them very often (maybe once a month I need to hit them on a stone) but I use a maple cutting board.

Also the angle you put on the edge when you sharpen it has a lot to do with how long it stays sharp.

 

[joewithaboat]

Re: Kitchen knifes

This
http://www.amazon.com/Zwilling-J-Henckels-9-Piece/dp/B00004RFLW

Had them for 6 years now, sharp as the day we got them. I touch them up maybe once every 3-4 months on a diamond rod. just a few strokes is it. Hand wash only no dishwasher or clanking around in sink.
Henkels makes several lines, pro S seems to be the better ones. We have their steak set as well, nothing better than a good steak and a sharp knife.

 

[chriscraft254]

Re: Kitchen knifes

Its funny, I have spent many dollars over the years on knives, and have a full set in the kitchen. But always grab one of the three ceramic knives I bought at Kroger for most my food prep. I think they were 6 bucks for the set.

 

[Tim Frank]

Re: Kitchen knifes

You didn't actually mention $$$, but these are comparable to Henckel in cost and a bit better (IMO) in quality. But once you get in to this price bracket you are getting a lifetime of service at a high level....unless you buy a pig in a poke.
I have a set and they are the finest knives I've ever owned, by a fair margin.
Lots of good comments on the importance of care....no dishwasher....sharpen occasionally on a water stone....etc.

http://www.leevalley.com/en/garden/page.aspx?p=45507&cat=2,40733,40738&ap=1

 

[hrdwrkingacguy]

Re: Kitchen knifes

Brands matter a little bit but the thing is to look for certain features...Forged blade with a full tang for any kitchen knives is the way to go...(I was a professional chef before I started doing HVAC work) My main chef's knife is a 10" Wusthof that I call "the judge"...I have a 7" santoku from global that is called "The jury"...Also I use a 12" wusthof called "The executioner"...I have had them for almost 20 years and I use them everyday and I plan to give them to the kids when I die...

Stamped knives like some of the henkel ones are really sharp at first but they are so light you will cut off a finger...Cutco makes good knives...heavier is better with kitchen knives...

 

[hrdwrkingacguy]

Re: Kitchen knifes

This
http://www.amazon.com/Zwilling-J-Henckels-9-Piece/dp/B00004RFLW

Had them for 6 years now, sharp as the day we got them. I touch them up maybe once every 3-4 months on a diamond rod. just a few strokes is it. Hand wash only no dishwasher or clanking around in sink.
Henkels makes several lines, pro S seems to be the better ones. We have their steak set as well, nothing better than a good steak and a sharp knife.

Henkel pro and 5 star are about as good as knives get...That is a nice set...I have the same set in a wusthof classic that was $700 my mom brought back from germany for me for christmas...Those will last forever...When it comes to honing steels you want to use one every time you use the knife...It doesn't sharpen it, it just straitens out the blade...Use a tri-stone once a year or so depending on use and you will have a razor sharp knife, for a long time...

 

[JB]

Re: Kitchen knifes

I have an "entry level" set of Henckels Swilling knives that one of my girls gave me about 30 years ago. I steel them regularly and stone them a couple of times a year. I could shave with them if I was so inclined.

 

[joewithaboat]

Re: Kitchen knifes

Brands matter a little bit but the thing is to look for certain features...Forged blade with a full tang for any kitchen knives is the way to go...(I was a professional chef before I started doing HVAC work) My main chef's knife is a 10" Wusthof that I call "the judge"...I have a 7" santoku from global that is called "The jury"...Also I use a 12" wusthof called "The executioner"...I have had them for almost 20 years and I use them everyday and I plan to give them to the kids when I die...

Stamped knives like some of the henkel ones are really sharp at first but they are so light you will cut off a finger...Cutco makes good knives...heavier is better with kitchen knives...

I also have a set of Cutco. I sold them for a couple months while in college in the early 90's. My mother also bought a set back in 1972. She still has them. They are amazing but, they are what they are tough, a knife that must be sent back to the manufacturer to sharpen. I prefer a traditional edge that can be user maintained to be nearly perfect. I also have a Tormek wet stone system i use in my mill-work shop for chisels. I occasionally use it to fix a knife that has been let go too long. Talk about sharp.... Ouch

http://www.tormek.com/en/jigs/svm140/index.php

 

[JB]

Re: Kitchen knifes

I sold Cutco very successfully in Honolulu in the late 1950s. That was before they went to the scalloped edges. SIL, in her 80s, still brags about her wonderful Cutco knives.

Ten or 15 years ago I was at a garage sale of some newlyweds who were selling off unwanted wedding gifts, including the top line set of Cutco knives. Bought them for an obscenely low price and gave them to daughter #2.

This past weekend she was telling me that they are still her favorite knife set.

I wouldn't trade my Henkels for a set of Cutco, but for less than half the price they are really good cutlery.

 

[joewithaboat]

Re: Kitchen knifes

I wouldn't trade my Henkels for a set of Cutco, but for less than half the price they are really good cutlery.

Apparently you haven't priced Cutco in awhile.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Cutco-Homemaker-8-/220907070469?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item336f166405


Good story!! Vector Marketing, my boss could sell you your own dirty underpants. Lol I tried to quit 4 times he kept selling me on staying.
I need to drag out my sales kit and find the certificate to get my mothers set sent in and touched up. The "Triple D edge"
My favorite knife of theirs is the Spatula Spreader, best peanut butter sandwich knife in the world!

Whitt is awful close for me never having heard of it. Howdy neighbor.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Kitchen knifes

We got really tired of worthless knives. My sister bought my wife 2 Cutco knives. A santoku and a chef's knife. She absolutely loves them and they are sharp as s&%t! I'm afraid to use them since I was cleaning one once and got the wrong angle on the sponge and it sliced right through the sponge and into my finger.

 

[hrdwrkingacguy]

Re: Kitchen knifes

Not all cutco knives are serrated garbage like Ginsu or those stupid things that can cut a can, hammer, shoe, and fillet the skin off the skin of a tomato at once...My order of makers of kitchen knives is Wusthof -> Global -> Henkel -> Cutco...All have different lines and qualities and costs...But those are the big ones...BTW As a former pro, I am not a fan of ceramic...I know Ming Tsai made them popular, but you can only drop it once...

 

[timdan94]

Re: Kitchen knifes

Check out rada knives. I have a few sets of them. they stay sharp and are reasonably priced

 

[JRJ]

Re: Kitchen knifes

We use about 5 filet knives 4" to 8" and a couple heavy 8" kitchen knives. Nothing fancy, but a long way from starving
I would like to have a nice set though. Have fun shopping.

 

[MTboatguy]

Re: Kitchen knifes

I have a set of Gerbers that were made for me many years ago, they do double duty for hunting as well as work in the kitchen, but to be honest with you the knife that gets used the most is the 4" pocket knife I keep on my belt at all times.

Have been looking at the ceramic knives as of late, might pick up a set of them for Christmas.