KNIVES?????? a question@@@@@@@@@@@@@?

Question

with all these great knives available these days, i am confused. do i get the whole set? or just some main individual ones?

Answer 1

Well it does depend on your budget. Cutco is a great knife. I picked up one of there butcher knives at second shop for a buck. And it handles all I throw at it. But the knife I use the most is the Farberware Pro with a 7 inch Santoku blade that I picked up at Walmart for under 10 bucks. I spent many decades in the restaurant business, so I am picky about my knives. I think the link below for Target is a pretty good set. Chicago is of good quality and holds there edge well. Something like this set contains just about everything you need for basic kitchen work. If price is no issue then go to restaurant supply place and order something by Boker, Trident, Forschner, Henckel or Victorinox. They are among the top brands out there.
http://www.target.com/gp/detail.html/ref=sc_pgb_r_2_0_1041736/602-1152564-4679860?ie=UTF8&frombrowse=1&asin=B000EE1LEG

Answer 2

I would have to agree with Cutco. My daughter sold them while in college and they are GREAT. Although if you are clumsy, they will cut you and you won't notice until you've bled all over everything - they're that sharp.

I would suggest a set. I have the set of eight utinsels - six knives and two forks - that comes in a block (although SOMEONE misplaced my little paring knife).

They are expensive, but Cutco will sharpen them free - and I've used mine, a lot, for at least four years and they are still fabulously sharp.

I have tried other good knives, but nothing can hold a candle to these. They also feel really good in the hand.

By the way, they also make an ice cream scoop that slices hard ice cream like a hot knife through butter!

Answer 3

I don't think you would use all the stuff that comes in a set. Also, my experience has been that different manufacturers make knives that "feel" best to different people. Figure out what type of knives you use for the type of cooking you do. Go to a cooking store and see how each knife fits in your hand and make your choice based on that. A good knife will last for your lifetime. Don't waste money on cheap knives! My knives aren't all from the same manufacturer because I think different knife makers excel in different knives.

I have several (good) knives, but mainly use these: a 6"chef's knife, a 7" Santoku knife, and a paring knife. Less often, I use a serrated bread knife, a boning knife, and a pair of good kitchen shears to cut up poultry.

Answer 4

It is a tough choice. I went to a really good cookware store and played with a bunch of knives to pick the ones I liked.

Since the good ones are a bit expensive I bought 4 basic types that I knew I would use a lot.....after a few months I decided I needed a bread knife I hadn't bought originally. So I picked it up next time they went on sale.

It seems to me the big sets in the blocks have a bunch of stuff I don't need and I'm a semi-serious cook.

I'll pass along the best advice I was ever given...buy the best knives you can possibly afford...you'll have them forever.

Answer 5

My fave brands are Henckels or Wustof. The only knives I really truly use in order are the following:

8" santoku knife (like the style rachael ray uses)
8" chef knife
Small paring knife
Small serrated knife
bread knife
kitchen scissors

I would rather have better quality knife than the whole set. I have a set with block but rarely uses any of it. If I had to pick which knives I couldn't live with out it would be the Santoku and the small serrated.

Answer 6

We have a cheap set at home that's good enough for most things...EXCEPT I'm very picky about my chef's knives. I have 4-5 that were bought individually. And those are the ones I use the most often. I really don't need most of the ones in the set.

Answer 7

I think unless you're a professional chef or baker, you don't need a whole set. I went to Chicago Cutlery (when visiting my son in Tennessee but you can go on line also) and order just the basics. The knives ranch in all prices but I bought some inexpensive ones and they come with a guarantee.

Answer 8

specific knives are essensial to a cook or chef a good cleaver that chops or a french knife a boneing knife for that and other uses and a good paring knife, and peeler for decorations and so on ,,chicago cutlery is a good price ,but most chefs desire a knife with polymer handles or plastics so the germs dont store up in the wood ,, knife sharenong and safety are taught on the food sites or on the cutlery sites i was a cook for 6 years in the army price the sets then the individuals it may be better to buy the set

Answer 9

It took a long time for me to be able to afford a whole set, but I bought my German Henckel knives individually and love them. I've had them 20 years+ now. It's not a complete set, but I have a dozen that I like and use.

Answer 10

Just get a couple, one or two. And what ever you do stay away from the "stainless steel" surgical steel knifes. There is a reason they are called surgical steel, cause when a doctor is done with it he throws it away.
High carbon stainless is the best, high carbon is second best only because it stains. I agree with Chef Don on Chicago cut. After 20 years in the kitchen you learn a thing or two.