I purchased this product three years ago when I got serious about cooking to hold some of my then-new Forschner (now Victorinox) knives. I had one knife and block set we’d been given as a wedding gift (now 20 years ago), and another “regular” block I picked up on closeout somewhere, and both were full with my existing cutlery (yes, I’m a knife-nerd). The Kapoosh looked like a good way to store a wide variety of pieces in a relatively small space. The exterior finish is very nice, and the insertion/withdrawal angle is a little more comfortable for me at 6′2″ than my “standard” blocks.

Sadly, I can’t recommend this block to anyone who keeps a keen edge on their knives – the plastic “fingers” are easily cut and mine is beginning to become loose from the “shedding”. Another issue some have run into is sharp knives shaving bits of plastic finger on their way out, and what look like bits of pepper aren’t. Some have replaced the plastic insert with bamboo skewers, but that doesn’t seem like much of an improvement to me.

Another issue is the depth, or rather, the lack of it. My 8-inch chef’s knife will not insert completely into the Kapoosh, leaving about 1/2 inch of edge exposed – not great from a safety perspective. I’ve finally resorted to keeping my longer knives in magnetic covers laid atop the Kapoosh, and save the fingers for my cheap serrated steak knives and a couple of cleavers.

If you have a lot of small or serrated knives with no other home, the Kapoosh may work for you. — Great, flexible storage – for dull knives

Here’s a list of our favourite gadgets and novelty items. Any of them will make a great birthday or housewarming gift, and all of them will leave your friends talking.

1) The All in One

Back to Basics Egg & Muffin 2 Slice Toaster, TEM500 ($34.00)

If you have any friends who are particularly uncoordinated in the kitchen, this all-in-one contraption is literally the perfect gift. Breakfast will become a no-brainer, since it serves up golden brown toast and poached eggs in one foul swoop and with no maintenance required. The wide slot toasting compartment can accommodate bagels and croissants so you aren’t limited to slice width and its removable crumb trey is a clean-up godsend.

2) Voice Printing Grocery List

SmartShopper Deluxe Grocery List Organizer ($99.95)

Making a “To-Do” list is a pain the YOU KNOW WHAT! The Smartshopper Deluxe Grocery List Organizer runs on speech command to record and alphabetize your household needs. It has 2500 preloaded items, and a customizable library for whichever commands it might not recognize and a built in printer so you can grab-and-go when you’re headed on a grocery run.

3) Knife Sets and Voodoo Dolls?

Raffaele Lannello’s The Ex ($95.00)

Knife sets are a great gift, be it for housewarmings or for friends who enjoy cooking; finding one with personality is the trick. In addition to five gourmet knives (8-inch chef’s knife, 8-inch bread knife, 8-inch carver, 5-inch utility, 3 ½ inch paper) this set comes with a human-figurine holster and transparent protective sleeves out the backside. We sort of look at is as a modern-day voodoo doll, only less witchcraft and more comedy.

4) Ice Cubes for Ice Haters

Andrew Hellman’s Whiskey Stones ($19.95)

Filling the ice trey is a little bit of a fuss, and having any drink on the rocks will inevitably become diluted. Andrew Hellman’s soapstone cubes were designed to keep beverages cool, and sip-worthy, without jeopardizing the liqueur experience. Soapstone, by the way, is too soft to scuff, so don’t think you’ll have to use Pyrex products or a mouth-guard to drink with these in-glass.

5) Steak Brand and Board Set

William Sonoma’s Monogrammed Steak Brand & Carving Board ($69.95)

Yesterday we talked about a monogrammed cutting boards so today we’re upping the ante monogrammed Steak Brand. For any barbecue master this set is the ultimate. It comes with a monogrammed cutting board and a wall-mount, so when it isn’t being put to use it will be on display as a rustic ornament in the kitchen décor.

Amazon.com Review

Many associate Ginsu knives with the product  ’s kitschy infomercial from the ’70s  karate kick start with the
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watermelon and act on this example of a knife cut Through anything in the house. Products like the original Ginsu  ’s International. Festival is designed to make home not attuned to the maintenance of ด more high – end this call, but the original proposal to improve weight and balance characteristics of a knife commercial. Quality while meeting current design trends and performance expectations, this 14 piece set stocks a kitchen knife is most needed and set knife block all current black wood storage. Set includes: 8-inch chef ด s  ‘, cutting 8 inch, 8 inch bread knife, a knife boning 5-inch utility knife 4-1/2-inch, 3-1/2 inch paring knife and six have ด 4-1/2-inch steak cut leaves plus pair of Ginsu create stains.

Farberware Pro Forged 5-Inch Chef’s Knife, black handle Review

Farber knife makes a great product, “Pro 6″ forged chef with a sturdy black handle, which is really easy to hold, you do not want to not accidentally left the knife slipped from yours. It feels just as well made by my friends and I feel that last product is almost always Farber knives.

If you are looking for more info on Insignia2 18-Piece Knife Block Set with In-Block Knife Sharpener – you have come to the right place

• 3- and 3-1/2-inch parer, 5-inch boning, 5-1/2-inch utility, 7-inch serrated bread, and 7-inch Santoku knife
• Plus, 8-inch chef’s, 8-inch slicer, and 8 4-1/2-inch forged steak knives; shears; and block with sharpener
• High-carbon stainless-steel full-tang blades; heavy-duty forged bolsters
• Triple stainless-steel rivets secure ergonomic polymer handles to the blades
• Measures approximately 8 by 7 by 13 inches; limited lifetime warranty; hand wash

Chicago Cutlery Insignia2 18-Piece Block Set with In Block Sharpener includes 1-each 3-inch Parer, 3.5-inch Parer, 5-inch Boning, 5.5-inch Utility, Shears, 7-inch Serrated Bread, 7-inch Santoku, 8-inch Slicer, 8-inch Chef, 17-slot block with In-Block Sharpener
Review by D. Hoffman for Insignia2 18-Piece Knife Block Set with In-Block Knife Sharpener
Rating:
Bought this as my first set of knives. Appreciated the price. A little surprised at the craftsmanship. The knife handles are not made to perfection and there are some rough edges where the handle meets the metal blade of the knife. This does not cause much of a problem other than appearance. The knife block is well made. The slots for the knives go completely through the knife block allowing for ventilation, should you want it.

+ Great starter knives

+ Convenient storage block

+ Poor visual craftsmanship

Review by D.S. for Insignia2 18-Piece Knife Block Set with In-Block Knife Sharpener
Rating:
I just got these knives and I love them. Regarding the rust problem, all quality knives are made of high carbon steel. They will all rust if left in water. This includes henckles, shun, wustof ect.

Regarding the spaces that others have been complaining about, high quality knives are forged out of a single piece of metal. It is impossible to get a uniform shape for every knife this way. Chicago Cutlery uses a poly handle that has uniform in shape (unlike wood handles), hence the spaces.

These knives are very sharp. You can see how sharp a knife is by holding it loosely by the handle and pulling it over a tomato without applying pressure. I have done this with the sontoku from this et and it slices through like butter.

Handles are a matter of taste. these are thick handles, I like them this way. If you like thinner handles go with Shun. Of coarse one chef’s knife will cost you twice as much as this whole set.

The only minor complaint is the steak knives. Steak knives should be serrated; the steak knives in this set are basically long paring knives.

These are great knives and %99 of users will be just as happy with these as with a 0 set from henckles.

Review by Bob for Insignia2 18-Piece Knife Block Set with In-Block Knife Sharpener
Rating:
I bought these to replace a set of Mundial 5100′s that was lost. I wasn’t expecting such high quality from this set, but Consumers Digest selected these above many sets costing hundreds of dollars more (including the Mundial set that they reviewd) and I have to say this set is more than I expected for the price. I am not claiming they are better than the Mundial 5100 block set, but so far they’re pretty close.

Unlike some of the other reviewers, I haven’t found anything to complain about. The handles and blades are perfectly matched with no gaps or any other errors that I’m aware of. The blades are sharp, but to get them to the point of slicing produce paper thin they do need a couple of swipes through the built in knife sharpener (which I found works better for these knives than my Henckle dual sharpener). After I sharpened the utility knife I was slicing onions so thin that you could see through them. So I tried cutting tomatoes with the same results with very easy pressure the knife slid through the tomato literally as thin as you could possibly want to slice it.

I know that there are better knife sets out there but you are going to pay for them.

This set is perfect for the average home kitchen and again for the money they can’t be beat.

Rating: (out of 68 reviews)

Price: Our $ 119.95

Inexpensive Mundial Olivier Anquier 10-inch Chef’s Knife with Hollow Edge

22 August, 2010 (17:51) | Kitchen

Ginsu 4817 International Traditions 14-Piece Knife Set with Block, NaturalList Price: $49.99Sale Price: $34.65You save: $15.34 (31%)  Eligible for free shipping!Availability: Usually ships in 24 hoursAverage Rating: Description

The GINSU 04817 International Traditions Bakelite 14 Piece Cutlery Set features the Symetric Edge design which integrates identical serrations expertly matched to each side of the knife’s blade. This produces a two dimensional serrated surface capable of precision center cuts. The result is no maintenance, never needs sharpening, serrated edge that perfoms with the accuracy of fine edged professional cutlery. This design is ideal for both righ and left handed use! Made of professional quality 420 series satin finished stainless steel blades, provide consumers the perfect combination of performance, balance, and style – all supported by a lifetime limited warranty.

Many associate Ginsu knives with the product’s kitschy infomercial from the ‘70s that begins with a karate kick to a watermelon and proceeds with a demo of these knives cutting through just about anything in the house. Like the original product, Ginsu’s International Traditions is designed for the home cook who is not attuned to the maintenance required of a more high-end knife. However, this line is an improvement on the original, offering the weight, balance, and style of a commercial-quality knife, while meeting current design trends and performance expectations. This 14-piece set stocks a kitchen with most cutlery needs, and packs all knives in a contemporary black hardwood storage block. The set includes: an 8-inch chef’s knife, an 8-inch slicer, an 8-inch bread knife, a 5-inch boning knife, a 4-1/2-inch utility knife, a 3-1/2-inch paring knife, and six 4-1/2-inch steak knives, plus a pair of shears. Ginsu blades are constructed from stainless steel and feature a two-dimensional serrated edge that is symmetrically cut on either side for more accurate slicing and for either right- or left-handed use. Edges are still as low-maintenance as ever and never require sharpening. The blades have full tangs that extend through lightweight bakelite handles and are triple-riveted for strength. Ginsu covers these International Traditions knives under a limited, lifetime warranty and recommends manual cleaning with hot, soapy water to keep them in top shape. –Cristina Vaamonde What’s in the Box3-1/2-inch paring knife, 4-1/2-inch utility knife, 5-inch boning knife, 8-inch bread knife, 8-inch slicer, 8-inch chef’s knife, six 4-1/2-inch steak knives, shears, hardwood block

Features

• Set includes 7 kitchen knives, 6 steak knives, and natural colored hardwood block
• Symmetrically-cut, two-dimensional serrated edges for precision slicing
• Stainless-steel blades never needs sharpening
• Full tangs triple-riveted to bakelite handles
• For left- or right-handed use; limited lifetime guarantee

Reviews

Great Knives for a Great Priceby Chris Patenaude from on 2010-08-13 I ordered these knives based on the price factor, but also the quantity factor as well. I was trying to get as much as I could for as little money as possible. I was lucky enough to accomplish both! I had heard of Ginsu knives before as being sold on TV, but had never actually owned any. These are some great knives for the price! They come razor sharp out of the box and so far they have stayed that way for me. The knife block was a huge attraction as well. I am really happy with these knives, and while there are certainly much better quality knives out there, you will also be paying an arm and a leg and get half of what you get with this set.

I love these knives!by Susan from on 2010-08-12 I love these knives. They are perfect for what I need them for. The steak knives are very handy and the chopping knife is the best! I highly recommend these knives.

Better than expectedby Granny from New Jersey on 2010-08-08 When I received this knife and block set I was thrilled. Was hesitant to order because of the low price not knowing the quality but the reviews were good.When I opened the box I was not dissappointed. The knives are well made and look more expensive than they were. I don’t put them in the dish washer, a habit I have developed over the years with my more expensive knives. They look as good as the day I received them. The block is well made and looks good on my counter.

good for the priceby tim from on 2010-08-05 I just got my ginsu knives a week ago. They are not bad. I thought for the really low price something would be wrong. I must say for the price best knife set I’ve ever run across. The block functions but I think they make them to fit a variety of knife sizes.. some slots are way too big. Steak knives are good but not as sharp as the others.. I believe It’s on purpose.. can cut through tough meat no problem..any sharper and they could be dangerous… cut myself washing them. Chef knife takes some getting used to..no chopping. The boning knife is awesome if used for the right application. Overall can’t be beat for the money.

Well worth the price.by Snoogadooch from on 2010-07-31 I may be biased because I was using a set that should have been thrown out a couple years ago before I got these. Wow, a world of difference. These knifes are extremely sharp and feel like a quality construction. We are pretty novice cooks in this household so I dont have the frame of reference to compare to top-quality but they will be perfect for what we need.

Buy Cheap Top Chef 9-Piece Knife Set including Wood Butcher’s Block

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Officially licensed Bravo TV-piece Knife Set (7-inch Santoku, 5-inch Santoku, 6-inch Fillet Knife, 8-inch Chef Knife, 8-inch Bread Knife, 3.5-inch Paring Knife, Shears, Sharpening Stick and Butcher’s Block). Each Knife features Ice-Tempered Stainless Steel Blades w/ precision cut sharpened cutting edge, hollow grounds to reduce sticking, full steel handles w/ seamless bonded and polished bolsters, non-slip surfaces and laser etched Top Chef Logo on each blade and a colorful Top Chef logo on the Butcher’s Block……..
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Technical Details

– As Seen on Top Chef
– Laser-etched Top Chef Logos on Blades and Top Chef Logo on Butcher’s Block
– Precision-sharpened cutting edges
– Ice-Tempered Stainless Steel Blades
– Full-steel non-slip surface handles for easy use
See more technical details

Images Product

Buy Top Chef 9-Piece Knife Set including Wood Butcher’s Block Now

I have been researching cutlery and have determined that there is a wide disparity between knives of quality and those considered serviceable. Wustoff versus Chicago Cutlery as an example.

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Tags: chicago cutlery

image from istockphoto.com

While I’m away on my imaginary vacation, I’m leaving the pantry stocked with posts from Exit 51 that would have been part of the Flashback Friday series. The following originally appeared on 7/29/09 at Exit 51.

Sharp

We have accumulated an odd assortment of knives here in our kitchen.  Some were wedding gifts.  Others were random purchases.  We’ve even inherited a couple that are probably almost as old as I am.  My grandfather was a meat cutter and every so often some of his A&P work knives would find their way home with him.    After he passed away, two of those work horses found their way to our house.  Funny how that happens.

I wouldn’t say that I have any one favorite knife.  They are all good for different things.  The 10 inch chef’s knife is the only thing I’ll use to cut up sweet potatoes.  But the paring knife is the best tool I have for finely dicing shallots.   Knowing how important it is to take care of your tools, I decided that it was time to have them properly sharpened.  Sure, we have a home sharpener but it’s just not the same.  Somehow, I even managed to knock a chip or two into (or out of) the blade of the 10 incher.  My home sharpener isn’t going to fix that.  No, a professional was definitely in order.

Do you know how hard it is to find someone who sharpens knives?  Even more, do you know how hard it is to find someone who sharpens knives while you wait?  I scoured the internet and there were plenty of service providers but they all involved me sending my knives to them.  I don’t know about you but I tend to use my knives almost daily so shipping them off to Arizona to be sharpened wasn’t really an option.

The topic of knife sharpening comes up fairly regularly on the Washington Post’s Home Chat.  They often recommend Stronsider’s Hardware, which is a lot closer than Arizona.  But when I called to ask about sharpening services, I was told that it takes two to three days to get the knives back.  So in addition to being without a knife, I’d have to make two round trips from Baltimore to Silver Spring.  There had to be a better solution.

And there was - Frank’s Cutlery Service.  Located in a small shop in Baltimore,  Frank does his thing for many restaurants in the area.  He’s got boxes for his commercial customers stacked by his grinding wheel.  Of the dozens of boxes, the one that caught my eye was labeled Andy Nelson.  Yeah, that Andy Nelson.  So I figured that if the folks I trust for my pulled pork bbq trust their knives to Mr. Frank, then I was in pretty good hands.

Depending on where you are, he might be a little out of the way over in Hamilton.  And his shop hours are only Tuesday and Thursday afternoons and it’s advisable to call before you head over just to make sure he’s there.  But seeing him transform my beaten up knives back into precision cutting tools was worth it.  His grinding wheel alone was impressive.  I didn’t ask but it must have been at least two feet in diameter and two inches thick.  Of solid stone.

Best of all, I got to see a skilled craftsman in action.  It was the best $14 dollars I could have spent.

Frank’s Cutlery Service

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