Articles from April 2010

Wedding Knife and Cake Server Set – 5 Reasons to Use Them

Have you been told that a wedding knife and cake server set is a necessity for your wedding or wedding reception? Almost everybody has and if you are going traditional, than yes it is a must. Why, you ask, is it necessary? There really is no point except to have fun, right? Wrong! There is more to the act of cutting and serving the cake than just having the fun and excitement in celebrating. Here are five reasons and explanations for why you must have a wedding knife and cake server set:

  • Cut Your Wedding Cake:

Cutlery Sets » j.a. henckels twin signature 7-piece knife set with …

Buy Cheap J.A. Henckels Twin Signature 7-Piece Knife Set with Block

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Block Set consists of: 2-1/2-inch peeling knife, 4-inch paring knife, 5-Inch serrated/utility knife, 8-inch Chef’s knife, sharpening steel, kitchen shears, and a hardwood block……..
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Technical Details

– Includes 8-inch chef’s; 5-inch utility; 4-inch paring; 2-1/2-inch peeling
– Also: sharpening steel, shears, 11-slot hardwood block
– Stamped high-carbon stainless-steel blades with laser-controlled edge
– Ice-hardened blades for strength; hand-honed for sharpness
– 7.8 pounds; lifetime warranty
See more technical details

 “J.A, Henckels Twin Signature 7 Piece Knife Set is “SHARP!” 2010-02-07
By Mrs. Huggies (Blue Springs, Mo. USA)
Although we’re had this set just a short time, we are quite pleased with the quality of the product. After making do with an old less than sharp knife set, this set is great.

 “Nice Entry Level Set” 2009-12-05
By Garry Balestracci
I never had a “good set” of knives before. They are good quality and are every thing that I had expected Henckel knives to be. I was not disappointed.

 “The knives rust” 2008-11-01
By M. Kim (LA, California)
I like the knife set in general. However half the knives have rusted and I have to throw them away. I only recently bought this knife 3 months ago.

 “Love the grip on these!” 2008-07-25
By Kristin (San Diego, CA)
My first Henkels’ purchase was a “one-man” and it was cheap in price and quality. It was so heavy, my mom couldn’t use it. I returned that one right away, and found the Twin Signature.

I loved it right away! The handle is the best part because it fits very well for a good grip and it doesn’t feel heavy. The knives are sharp and I use the scissors all the time for everything! Everyone that comes by my house comments on how they like the knives after using them. For a little more money, buy the “two-man” Henkel–it’s worth it.

 “Great Set at a Great Price.” 2008-03-28
By Emihole
The Twin Signature is the lower end of Henckels more professional brand. The knives are sleek, very sharp. Great Value for great price (when on sale).

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Buy J.A. Henckels Twin Signature 7-Piece Knife Set with Block Now

Kitchen Knives – The Skinny on Stainless Steel

Of all of the types of steel being used for kitchen knives none is more common than Stainless Steel. A word of caution not all stainless are created equal. A better understanding of them is important when considering buying kitchen knives.

Generally steel is considered stainless if it contains at least 12% Chromium. The amount of Chromium is a debatable point some say 10.5% is enough for a steel to be stainless but when looking at most better quality stainless steels 12% – 14% seems to be the norm. That said Chromium is not the only element crucial to here. The quality of a kitchen knife varies considerably with the type of steel that the knife is made from. Many knives that are simply called stainless contain virtually no Carbon. Carbon is the element that allows steel to be hardened, hard steel will hold an edge better than soft steel thus providing better edge holding. Low Carbon Stainless typically has less than 0.03% Carbon, these tends to be used on inexpensive kitchen knives and other kitchen cutlery. They do not hold a very good edge and require frequent sharpening. Some telltale signs are highly shinny blades, often they are very thin and flexible knives, and commonly have serrated blades such as those seen on a bread knife.

High Carbon Stainless Steel knives are ones that have between 0.1% and 1.0% Carbon as well as the needed amount of Chromium. They can be hardened through heat treating and will hold a good edge, requiring knife sharpening much less often. Typically these steels will also contain a combination of Molybdenum and Vanadium. Molybdenum is an element that increases a knife’s toughness while Vanadium helps maintain a sharp knife edge for a longer period of time. High Carbon Stainless kitchen knives tend to have thicker blades and be less flexible. These kitchen knives tend to be more expensive as high carbon stainless is more costly to use. Instead of buying an entire knife set buying kitchen knives individually can allow a person to acquire better knives over time. Some examples of High Carbon Stainless Steels are 440-C, ATS-34, VG10, and S30V.

When buying kitchen knives try to look for knives that are labeled as being high carbon stainless rather than simply stating stainless steel. Although never a guarantee typically high carbon stainless steels will be used on more expensive kitchen knives. Looking for knives with thicker blades that taper to a thin point may also be an indicator that the knife may be of better quality steel.

Chicago Cutlery Classic Chef 14-Piece Knife Block Set

Chicago Cutlery Classic Chef 14-Piece Knife Block Set

What people say about Chicago Cutlery Classic Chef 14-Piece Knife Block Set (by Chicago Cutlery):

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Buy 2 Sets and Be Practical. Look, for $30, throw them in the dishwasher, use them and when they start looking bad, throw out the first set and use the second set you bought together with the first set. Cannot recommend. These are probably some of the worst knives I have tried using. Very disappointing. The primary problem with these knives is the fact that they are serrated on one side (so they never need to be sharpened, purportedly) and smooth on the other. Larry l hough phx. az. kinfe set is good deal for such low cost,nice weight,very sturdy,quite sharp,best for me is i just put them in dishwasher with no rust yet(used 2 months now) they even look good on counter in the wood block–good bang for the buck i figure. Embarassing for Chicago Cutlery. Years of trusting Chicago Cutlery went down the drain with this purchase. In a word….TERRIBLE! My parents have a set of Chicago cutlery that they got for their wedding decades ago, and it’s still a great set for them. Excellent! I have had this knife set for just over a year, and I love it! Poor Quality !!!! I have had this knife set for just over 2 months and the knives are starting to rust! Classic Chicago Knife set. These Knives are so sharp and well constructed and they where a great deal on Amazon compared to other sources. For the price… You have to realize this is a full set of knives for 30 bucks.

Not a good set, not a bad set. I bought these a few years ago just to have a set in the kitchen.

Detailed Product Reviews

Features:

  • 14-piece knife set: 7-inch chef’s knife, 7-inch slicing knife, 7-inch bread knife, 5-inch utility knife, eight 4-1/2-inch steak knives, 3-inch paring knife, and hardwood block
  • Blades made of stamped, extra-thick, high-carbon stainless steel; lends strength and balance; resistant to rust and stains
  • Serrated edges never need sharpening; full-tang blades extend from tip of knife to end of handle
  • Triple-riveted polymer handles; durable and simple to clean
  • Hand washing recommended; made in China; covered by lifetime warranty

Detailed Product Description

Fields and Fire » Kitchen Organizing 2 – Man Your Stations

Whew, this week has nearly gotten away from me, but I’ve been thinking about you.  How did your kitchen tool purging go?  Are you feeling lighter, and finding what you need more easily?  Are you scared?  If you can’t bear to give all those tools away just yet, put them in a box and put them somewhere way out of reach.  Anything you haven’t gone into the box to get in six months, get rid of it

On to part two – creating “stations” in your kitchen.  In a commercial and home kitchens, this happens naturally, as different jobs happen in different places.  But it can be really helpful to truly think about what actions happen in what spots, and what tools/ingredients are needed at that station.

We have a cutting station in our home kitchen – an amazing wood chopping block made for us by our friend Rob

Varieties of Knives and Their Specific Uses | Knife Set Reviews

There are many types of knives around. Here you will find the most popular and the most useful.

Boning knives as it names implies is used for removing the bones from joints of meat. The typical blade on a boning knife is approximately 15 cm in length the blade. The blade tends to be narrow and quite rigid.

Butter knives are quite small and have a blunt edge as they do not need to be sharp. The blade also tends to be quite flat. These are used for spreading butter, jam and marmalade.

Cheese knives are used for cutting hard and soft cheese. The blade is usually quite narrow and flat with a curve at the end which has a forked tip.

Chefs knives are the most common knife in the kitchen and if you own no other knives this is the one you should have. Its main use is chopping, slicing and dicing. They come in various sizes the smallest being 15cm ranging up to 30cm for the more experienced cook.

A cleaver is a very broad knife with a blade of about 15cm in length. It is generally used for cutting meat, it also ideal for pounding due to its broad edge.

Filet knives have a thin flexible blade, which is about 30cm in length. This type of knife is ideal for filleting fish and removing its skin.

Mincing knives can be either single or double bladed. They are specifically designed for chopping food into very small pieces. They are a curved blade with a straight handle attaching to both ends of the blade.

Paring knives are also an essential knife to own after the chefs knife. Paring knives are quite small with a thin narrow blade, which tapers to a point. It is very versatile and can be used for peeling, chopping and coring. This is the best knife for use with small foods such as herbs.

Sandwich knives as the name implies are specially designed for cutting through bread because of their serrated blade. Not just for slicing through sandwiches, these knives can also be used for cutting pies and soft fruits.

Slicing or carving knives can vary enormously in shape and size but the most common being a rigid blade about 20m in length. The blade has a pointed tip and is specially designed for carving meat away from the bone. Often carving knives come with carving forks which are made to compliment the knife.

Electric knives can be useful too for the less experienced knife user. These work on the principle of two blades moving back and forth independently of each other. They cut through a multitude of foods from fruit, bread and meat.

Utility knives are similar to a paring knife only with a longer blade. It is used for items which are too large for a paring knife and too small for a chef’s knife.

Boker Fixed Blade Knives

The Cutting Tool of Choice Since the 17th Century

In 1829, because of the restlessness and turmoil in Germany, Hermann and Robert Boeker (now spelled Boker) decided to begin manufacturing sabers. The symbol of their company was an outline of a giant chestnut tree that shaded their small tool factory.

Demand for their production was so great in Germany and neighboring countries, the brothers realized that for optimization, the individual steps in their manufacturing process needed to be spread out. Hermann moved to New York where he founded H. Boeker & Co., and Robert emigrated to Canada, and later to Mexico, where he founded a branch of the company in 1865. A market leader in Mexico, Casa Boeker is still producing some of the highest quality cutting implements in the industry.

Heinrich, another member of the Boeker clan, moved to Solingen, the center of the German cutting tool industry, and in 1869 founded Boeker & Co. with cutting tool specialist Hermann Heuser.

The relationship among the various components of the Boeker was, and remains, close, with the chestnut tree logo shared among the factories in many countries.

Among the many cutting tools manufactured by present-day Boker, perhaps the best known is the Boker Fixed Blade Knife. A multi-purpose implement that can be used in a variety of environments, Boker’s fixed blade knives come in a wide range of styles and sizes. In addition to use by the military, these implements are handy for hunters, fishermen, campers, divers, and just about anyone who is an outdoorsman. Boker also makes fixed blade throwing knives for those who engage in competition. Finally, knife and sword collectors will find limited edition Boker fixed blade knives a handsome addition to their displays.

There are a number of different processes or combination of process in the manufacture of fixed blade knives, and Boker uses most. Typically, the blades of these knives are made from carbon, tool, surgical, or stainless steel, but some are also forged from titanium. Some blades are layered steel, with as many as 300 layers of metal; others are a single layer of metal. While layered blades are flexible, the single layer of metal tends to produce a much stronger and durable blade. When being forged, the blade metal is heated and shaped with a hammer to achieve near the desired shape. Any layering is also done at this time. The final process is removal of stock to get the final shape, adding a handle, if any, and adding any decoration or folding.

Some fixed blade knives are cast as a single entity; blade and hilt. Others have a separate hilt, or handle, which can be made from stag horn, rubber, micarta, spauldite, or wood. The hallmark of the Boker fixed blade knife, whether a single piece or separate material in the hilt, is a handle that is constructed for ease of holding and using the knife.

Boker fixed blade knives are not inexpensive to obtain. Typically, the smaller single-case cutting tool will retail for prices starting at $40, with limited edition and larger more intricate knives selling for several hundred. For the knife collector, price is not the guiding feature, as really finely crafted knives appreciate in value. For the consumer who wants a quality cutting tool that will last a lifetime, Boker fixed blade knives are also good value for the money.

Electric Blanket & Pad Reviews and Ratings

Looking for real-world information on electric blankets or electric mattress pads?

If so, you’ve come to the right place because I have some unique and important information to share with you. My research team has collected data from over 765 actual owners of electric blankets and pads regarding what they think of the products. Below are the findings related to reliability and how the products compare in owner satisfaction.

Reliability

The biggest surprise of our research is that both the blankets and pads overall, and especially the blankets, have mediocre reliability. Overall, about half of the electric blanket owners in our research reported some kind of problem in getting their blanket to work correctly or at all. And overall about 25% of the pad owners reported a reliability problem. It should be pointed out, however, that some brands had fewer reported problems than others. The reason for the mediocre reliability is not clear, but it may have something to do with the enhanced safety features that the products have today.

Blankets Vs. Pads

Our research shows that owners clearly prefer electric mattress pads to electric blankets. 68% of those included in our research were satisfied with their electric pad, while 44% were satisfied with their electric blanket. It should be noted that these percentages are for the two product categories overall, and some specific brands had significantly higher satisfaction rates.

The data suggests that the pads do a more effective job of keeping a person warm, probably because heat rises. In other words, much of the heat produced by an electric blanket will mostly rise into the air, while the heat produced from an electric pad will rise around a person’s body.

Decorating the Kitchen With Wooden Furniture

Wooden kitchen furniture can be both decorative and functional. The options for kitchen furniture expand far greater than simply a table and chair set. If you have an eat in kitchen, you may want to include a square or wooden table and chairs in your design plan. However, if you could benefit from some additional work and storage space, you might want to select a kitchen island with eating space and matching stools rather than the standard table. Islands have storage space below their counter top and on the side of the island. Some have lift up sides that provide a good amount of eating space.

A wooden baker’s rack is an attractive addition to a kitchen. It provides open storage space for small kitchen appliances, decorative items, dishes, bowls, and cookbooks. When you need some added storage space in your kitchen, a wooden pantry could provide you with that space. An organized, free standing, wooden pantry can contain numerous grocery items, cookware, and various other kitchen items you prefer to store out of sight.

A wooden buffet and hutch attractively provides storage and display space. The enclosed cabinets and drawers are the perfect place to store table linens, extra dishes, and numerous other items. The open shelving on the hutch gives you a space for plates, canisters sets, or many other small kitchen items.

If you do not have space for a stationary kitchen island, you might want to consider purchasing a wooden rolling cart. These carts offer you a good amount of work space. They are also a good place to store cookware and bowls. Many carts have towel racks on their side. Some have a pull out cutting board, a knife block, and a wine rack. The ability to roll the cart to the area you need it most is a beneficial feature of this style of cart.

If your kitchen has the space available, a wooden step stool would be very convenient in the kitchen. If you have a dog, a wooden food and water bowl stand would be a nice addition to your kitchen decor.

The World of Chef Knives

Those who love to cook food know the importance of good quality knife in kitchen. A chef knife is a valuable tool in every kitchen. They are versatile and can be used for any job. It’s a humble transformation of butcher knife and also known as French Knife. It has become as one of the most general cutting tool of the kitchen now. It was developed to cut slice and beef. Nowadays, a Japanese upgraded version of chef knife named as Santoku is also famous among Western cooks. Santoku Knife can cut fish, vegetables and boneless meats such as chicken with equal excellence and precision. This knife is actually a sheep’s foot sharp blade with a strong handle. Another extension of these knives is steak knives which are used to cut steak and poultry meats. These knives sets are considered as popular gifts during holiday seasons and can do three tasks such as mincing, chopping and dicing.

These knives are of high quality, sharp and versatile. The two most important factors while buying them are the consideration of your requirements and budget. If the length or sharpness of your knife’s blade is not what you need, it can make your meal preparation seem a life long exercise. Generally they are affordable but branded knife could be costlier because their cutting quality and durability is much more than the ordinary. The cost of Chef knives depends on the bolster, tang and handle. The quality of these manufacturing elements not only creates variation in the costs but also in the life of knives. The handle of knife should be comfortable and shouldn’t have hard corner handles. Hard corners are uncomfortable and produce calluses on hands. Generally they are made of wood, steel, plastic or rubber. Rubber handles have an easy grip and are comfortable.

Knives Blade should be of stainless steel. Carbon steel blades are easy to sharpen, have better sharpness and more comfortable level on hands than stainless steel. Ideally the lengths of blade are 6 inches, 8 and 10 inches. 8 inches blades are more versatile and can be used for all cutting purposes. For more clear cuts and smaller pieces, 6 inches blades are better.