Find the Perfect Kitchen Knife Set
Deciding what kitchen knife set to buy for your kitchen can be quite a headache. Do you buy a chef's knife or a carving knife? Can you do without a bread knife? Do you really need a paring knife? Can you get all those in a set or do you have to buy them one by one? What if you don't use all of them?
You get the picture. If you really want good results with your cooking, you definitely need more than just one knife for your kitchen. You need a set of knives. In this article, we'll look at some examples of knife sets for both beginner and chefs who need a comprehensive set. But before that, let's first see some things to consider before buying them.
Factors to Consider When Buying a Kitchen Knife Set
The Essentials
A lot of cooks agree that you need a selection of 5 to 6 knives to cover most kitchen needs:
- The chef's knife for cutting up meat and vegetables.
- A paring knife for finely cutting small vegetables.
- A carving knife for making thin slices of meat.
- A serrated knife for bread and other things that are tough outside and squishy inside.
- A Santoku knife for precision dicing, mincing, and slicing.
- An all-purpose utility knife.
Heavy or Light?
Do you prefer heavy or light knives? Some people love to feel that they are holding a knife, and they go for the heavier German-style knives. On the other hand, Japanese knives have grown in popularity due to their lightweight yet durable nature.
The Material of the Blade
The material of the blade determines different factors like how often you will sharpen the knife and whether or not it will stain.
Carbon steel blades hold their edge longer but they are more prone to rust, so you have to be extra careful with them. Stainless steel won't rust as easily, but it will require more frequent sharpening. Stainless steel alloys common with Japanese knives retain their edge and will not rust, but they are pricey.
Forged vs Stamped
Forged knives are made from a single piece of steel and have a bolster to give a seamless transition between the blade and the handle. This makes them stronger and they retain their sharpness for longer.
Stamped knives are cut from a steel sheet and are usually lighter, cheaper, and less durable.
Most Popular Knife Sets
Now that we know what to look for when getting a kitchen knife set, let's see some top knife sets you can get to start your kitchen off:
FURI Pro Angular Knife Block 6 Pc Set
This set of Japanese knives consists of 5 key knives for all your kitchen needs:
- A 3.5-inch paring knife
- A 6-inch utility knife
- A 6-inch serrated multi-purpose knife
- A 7-inch East/West Santoku knife
- An 8-inch bread knife
The set comes with its own wooden knife block, which is angular in shape to help you choose your knives easily. It also has non-slip feet which give a stable base and prevent slipping. The knives feature razor-sharp blades and wedge-shaped handles for a comfortable and firm grip.
Furi Pro Acacia Knife Gift Set
Presented in a gift box made of acacia wood, this set consists of four knives:
- An 8-inch Cook's knife for general work like cutting meat and vegetables.
- A 6-inch Serrated Multi-Purpose knife for slicing tough-skinned foods such as hard cheese, sausages, and tomatoes.
- A 5-inch East/West Santoku knife for both large and small cuts.
- A 3.5-inch Paring knife for small fruits and vegetables.
ZWILLING J.A. Henckels Pro Knife 3 Pc Set
This German-made set consists of three high-quality knives made of German high carbon stainless steel. It contains three knives:
- A 9cm vegetable knife
- A 16cm slicing knife
- A 20cm chef's knife
These knives consist of blades forged from a single piece of special non-stain steel, with the blade running all the way through the handle to give optimum balance and strength.
They also feature ice-hardened FRIODUR blades that have been hand sharpened and polished to 15o on each side.
Wusthof Classic Ikon Black Knife Set 3 Pc
Another German-made knife set perfect for beginners and people who cook as a hobby. It consists of 3 knives:
- A 9cm paring knife
- A 20cm carving knife
- A 20cm cook's knife
The knives feature a double bolster for unmatched balance, with the bolster specially shaped to allow the whole blade to be used and sharpened. The blades are forged from a single piece of high-alloy steel and taken through a laser-controlled sharpening process for maximum sharpness.
F Dick Pro-Dynamic Starter Knife Set 6 Pc
If you would like to have a wide variety of knives in your kitchen, this set of six is worth it. It consists of the following 5 knives and a 12 inch sharpening steel:
- A 4.5-inch paring knife
- A 6-inch boning knife
- A 6.5-inch kitchen knife
- An 8.5-inch chef's knife
- A 10-inch utility knife with a serrated edge
Some knives in this set have the handles coming in different colors in compliance with HACCP regulations. The handle and the blade are fastened together during the manufacturing process to avoid having small gaps in which food and dirt can accumulate.
Shun Kai Classic 3 Piece Set
Shun knives are famous for their high performing razor-sharp blades featuring stunning Damascus cladding and ebony Pakkawood handles. Knives in this set are beautiful, sharp, long-lasting, and resistant to corrosion. As is usual with Japanese style knives, they are also light in weight and well-crafted. This set consists of three knives:
- An 8-inch Chef knife
- A 3.5-inch Paring knife
- A 6-inch Utility knife
Final Words
There is a great variety of top quality kitchen knife sets out there. Picking one, to begin with, can be quite daunting! However, with basic knowledge about what type of knives you need in the kitchen, shopping for knives can be fun, and you'll feel so proud of yourself when you start to use them.
All the knife sets discussed in this post are state-of-the-art and packed with excellent features. They are all by renowned manufacturers so you can easily take your pick.
Also Check Out: The Meat Lover's Favourite - Red Spirit 'AJAX' Chefs Knife by Friedr. Dick
Explore More Products: Messermeister Olive 12 Pocket Padded Knife Roll | Messermeister Olive 8 Pocket Padded Knife Roll | Messermeister Overland Utility Knife 11.4cm (4.5 Inch) | Messermeister Petite Messer Red Serrated Tomato Knife 11.4cm (4.5 Inch)