Some of the Best Kitchen Knives 01 November 2010

In the run up to Christmas I thought I would take the time and ouline some of my top 5 favorite kitchen knives of all time. Whilst this list is obviously my own opinion, it may help others decide which kitchen knife might suit them, or which knives would be a good present for a family member or friend.

5 of the best kitchen knives, in no particular order Global G2338 3-Piece Chef’s, Utility, and Paring Knife Starter Set

Global are often regarded as the manufacturer of some of the best kitchen knives in the world. Most of their products and knives have a very distinctive Japanese styling to them – largely because the company IS Japanese. Many other forgers have attempted to mimic Japanese knife styles in the West, but here we see a Japanese knife forger who is really well regarded on the international stage.

This three piece knife set from Global is one of the best you can buy for the money. It features a vegetable/paring knife and a medium and large chef’s knife, which I frequently say are the essential knives for any kitchen.

J.A. Henckels Twin Four Star 6-Inch High Carbon Stainless-Steel Chef’s Knife

I find – when it comes to chef’s knives – that 6 inches is a great size for it to double up as a very suitable general purpose utility knife. It means you can do more delicate operations as well as the more heavy duty chopping and slicing.

This Twin Four Star 6 inch chef’s knife is quite simply one of the best chef’s knives you can own. J. A. Henckels has a great track record at forging very high quality knives in Europe and the US, and this individually sold chef’s knife is no exception. I personally have a set of Henckles (though the Professional S series, not these more expensive Four Star), and will probably stick with them for life.

Shun DM0741 Classic U2 (Ultimate Utility) Knife

Shun make some great knives that follow a pretty strict Japanese styling mantra. This somewhat small-by-comparison utility knife is not going to suit everyone and all kitchens, but there are quite often tasks for which a utility knife and the serrated edge is perfect.

I have included this knife here, in a top 5 list, because I love the style and build of this kitchen knife. People may not agree that it is one of the worlds best, but it really is a beautiful – and very functional knife – to look at and use.

Wusthof 979783 Classic 8-Inch Cook’s Knife

Wusthof are another German knife forger (along with Henckels) that produce some amazing quality kitchen knives – some of the best knives in the world – but more often and not the price tag matches. Whilst I have included a set of three Global knives at the top of this list, I wanted to showcase this individual 8 inch chef’s knife. It can be considered a medium sized chef’s knife, and is a kitchen knife that will never let you down.

Victorinox 47521 10-Inch Chef’s Knife

Victorinox make some very good kitchen knives, but I know a lot of people have a love hate relationship with them. They are often synonymous in the kitchen with small utility knives, and that association probably stems from their heritage of making Swiss Army Knives. However, in recent years their Kitchen Knife offering has upped its game, and this 10 inch chef’s knife is an implement not to be reckoned with.

I personally prefer using a chef’s knife more in the scale of 8 inches, but this 10 incher is one of the best kitchen knives for the price, and will really get the job done! Whilst it may not be as high end as the Shun or Wusthof knives featured here, it has to be in the ranking because it is more affordable by far than some of the higher end knives on this page.

Definitely a great knife.

So, with that, go forth and buy your loved one a shiny present from Christmas, and get them one of the best kitchen knives in the world!

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J.A. Henckels International Eversharp Pro 9-Piece Steak Knife Block Set

What people say about J.A. Henckels International Eversharp Pro 9-Piece Steak Knife Block Set (by J.A. Henckels):

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Very sharp, well made knives. I really like these knives. Sharp but rusting issues. I purchased a set of these knives hearing good things about the brand but i was quickly disappointed as well. GREAT KNIVES. Great set of knives! Very Satisfied. I got these as part of our wedding registry here on Amazon. Pretty good steak knives, NOT the best Henckles out there though. To start with, I got this set mainly for the block. One of our best wedding gifts. I don’t know anything about cutlery and my wife knew a little; so when we received this knife set as a wedding gift, we were kind of “Oh. Great knives. It is great to have sharp knives around the house! Great value on steak knives. This is as good a steak knife as you will find in this price range. Great Set. I hesitated to buy these because the press was so good. Henckels Steak Knives. We own many Henckels’ knives.

Great Knives for the Price/Keep out of Dishwasher. These knives are great steak knives, but you MUST keep them out of the DISHWASHER to prevent spots and to keep them sharp. Exceptional value for the money. this is great knife set that is highly functional, durable and a cost effective solution. Good value. I bought some Eversharp Pro steak knifes a couple years ago. Outstanding knifes. These are very sharp knifes and so easy to find because they are in a block. Henckels Knife Set. The knives are very sharp and sturdy. Steak knives. henclels makes good knives. Chintzy, not worthy of Henckels brand name. We have nothing but Henckels in our kitchen, as we love to cook, and everyone who cooks knows the value of good knives. Best steak knives. I bought these for my mother because she’s been using the same beaten up knives for 30 years. Are they ever sharp and comfortable in the hand! I love these steak knives. Excellent product and value. We are very pleased with the product sharpness, design weight and holder.

Good Value. I was looking at another Henckels set for a couple of hundred bucks. Great Set for the money, plus Amazon is Awesome. The knife set is a great deal for the money. Decent….. As much as these knives are hyped up, I guess I was expecting a bit more. Not so hot… After only a few weeks and fewer than a half dozen washes, the knives appear to be developing rust spots and one has developed some crazy grayish dis-coloring.

Detailed Product Reviews

Features:

• Set consists of eight 4-1/2-inch steak knives with hardwood block
• Stamped, stainless-steel micro-serrated blades
• Three-rivet polypropylene handles with full tangs
• Lifetime warranty against defects
• Convenient storage block

Detailed Product Description

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If you are looking for quality cutlery for the home or for your business kitchen you will find that there are a lot of different options to choose from. Not only are there different sizes and styles, you will find that there are a lot of brands that are competing for your attention. Which ones are quality? Which ones are worth the money that you will need to pay for a quality set of knives? It can be overwhelming when you start shopping because there is so much to choose from and knives really are an investment if you do it right.

When shopping you will most certainly come across Henckels, which is a brand of well known knives. When you begin looking at this manufacturer you will find that they have many different tiers or collections of knives for you to choose from. They range from the most elite which are generally meant for the chef or restaurant kitchen all the way to the set that is made for and priced for use in the home. This will give you a broad assortment of knives to choose from, allowing for you to choose items or sets that will most definitely fit your needs so you don’t get more or less than you need but you can also choose something that fits into your budget.

Wusthof is another great brand that you might want to look at. This brand is not as well known as Henckles, but this manufacturer brings as much quality and durability to the table as Henckle, but they are a bit different. If you have never tried this manufacturer before, you should be sure to hold one before you buy, just to make sure that it works well for your specific uses and the way that you like to hold a knife.

These are not the only brands for you to consider when shopping for cutlery, they are just two of the most well known and the most well respected because they are durable, reliable, and generally very high quality. You will find that they are a bit more costly than a lot of the other brands out there, but when it comes to cutlery you really do get what you pay for and if you invest a bit more you are going to get a lot more use out of the knives.

If you aren’t sure where to buy these brands in your area, you can generally visit your local knife shop and they can show you a nice assortment. If they do not have the knives on hand, chances are they will be able to order them for you, or will be able to direct you to a resource that will have everything that you need. If there is a brand that you know you like, you can often order straight from the manufacturer, which may or may not allow you to get a better deal on the purchase.