The Wusthof Classic Gourmet 3-Piece Knife Set is the perfect choice for the cook who is just starting out; they also make a great gift. I recently needed a new set of knives, so I began looking around to find something that would work for me. The 14-Piece International Ginsu knife set was one of [...]
How to Buy the Best Kitchen Knife Set
Most kitchens have some type of knife set because without the knife set there would be no slicing or dicing of the ingredients needed for dinner. The hardest part with knife sets is making sure that you choose the best one available. Here are so many different choices out there in terms of knife sets it is hard to know where to begin.
One of the first things that one must think about when choosing a knife set is the type of knife sets available. One type of knife set available is the 3 piece knife set, which includes the most basic knives that consumers would need for their kitchen. If you do opt for a 3 piece set you will want to make sure that a bread knife is included or purchase a bread knife separately.
Another type of knife set is the one that includes a knife block, most of these are a 14 to 17 piece knife set. This type of knife set comes complete with a block that is used to store the knives, most of them are wooden blocks, but there are also glass blocks available. Some knife sets come with serrated knives, such as Ginsu knives, while others come with non-serrated blades. This is a personal choice between the two types because both styles of knives allow for slicing fruits and vegetables, as well as cutting meat.
Once you have decided one what type of knife set you are looking for you need to look at the must have features in knife sets. These features are important to have in the knife set you purchase because they allow the high quality knife sets to stand out from the cheaper ones that might break after a few months of use.
Must Have Features of the Best Kitchen Knife Set
- Handle Material – What the handles are made of is actually rather important, it is a feature that many people over look. Different knife sets have different handles, such as wood, rubber, or plastic. One thing that you need to think about is the pros and cons of each type of handle. Wooden handles can rot over time or even corrode, which can cause the blade to become loose. The best type of handles are micarta or titanium because they add to the durability and strength of the knives.
- Blade Material – Different blades are made from different materials. The best material for blades are stainless steel because they are strong and can resist corroding, plus its cost is cheaper when compared to other quality materials. The best ones to purchase are blades made from high-carbon stainless steel because of the added flexibility.
- How Many Knives Are Needed – How many knives one needs is important when choosing a knife set. Consumers can find 3 piece knife sets to 18 piece knife sets, not to mention everything in between. However, the more pieces the knife set has doesn’t mean it is better than any other knife set. When looking at knife sets consumers need to make sure that at least 4 knives are included in the set, which are peeling, boning, chopping, and a bread knife.
- Design of the Knife – Consumers will also want to look at the design of the knife itself when choosing a knife set. Looking at the design is important because it shows how durable the knife is going to be. The most important thing to look at in terms of the design is the tang, consumers should choose knives with a full tang because that ensures the blade doesn’t come loose. A full tang is where the section of blade that enters the handle goes all he way to the end of the handle. If the blade only goes halfway into the handle it is called a half tang. If the knife has rivets they should be of similar quality to the rest of the knife itself.
While knowing the features to look for in a knife set is important, so is knowing about the most popular brands of knives. Knowing about the popular rands of knives is nice because consumers can rest assured that they are high quality knives or have some type of outstanding feature that makes them a great choice. In terms of knife sets any done by Wusthof is a great choice. Wusthof makes high quality knives that are sold piece by piece or in sets, which range anywhere from 3 to 18 pieces.
Wusthof blades are made from a stainless steel alloy that helps prevent staining, but are also triple-riveted for extra durability. Henckels are another popular choice when it comes to knife sets. One thing that makes these knives stand out from others is the ice hardening process used to improve the strength of the knives, but also how they are forged from a single piece of steel.
