No tool is as important in preparing food as a good, sharp knife. It's easy to choose a good one, and while the best knives are expensive, good ones are still affordable.
Assess how much you cook. You'll need a few decent knives even if you cook infrequently. If you cook a lot or plan to, it might be worthwhile to invest in fine cutlery.
Step2
Visit a kitchen store or an online retailer and look through the selections.
Step3
Look for a chef's, or French, knife. This is the standard workhorse knife of Western kitchens. It's a wide knife that tapers to a fine tip and can be used for cutting, chopping and slicing.
Step4
Select a chef's knife with an 8- to 10-inch blade. Long knives are actually easier to use than smaller ones because there's more blade to do the work.
Step5
Look for a chef's knife with a stainless-steel blade. The entire blade should be sharp and should continue for the entire length of the handle.
Step6
Select a thinner, 6-inch utility knife and a 3- or 4-inch paring knife. Almost all kitchen tasks can be accomplished with these basic knives.
Step7
Augment your basic set with a serrated knife for cutting breads and fruit and a honing steel to keep your knives sharp.
Step8
Expect to pay $20 for the least-expensive knife of serviceable quality. Such knives often have plastic handles and are made from stamped steel.
Step9
Plan to pay from $50 to $100 per knife for the finest kitchen cutlery. These knives have molded or riveted handles and are made from forged steel. They will cut well and last a lifetime with proper care.
Tips & Warnings
Sharpness matters more than cost. Sharp knives are safer and easier to use than dull ones (you'll need to use more force with a dull knife, and you might apply that force to yourself if you slip). Even good knives will need to be sharpened from time to time.
Avoid serrated knives that are said to never need sharpening. They're not technically sharp. They work by sawing through food instead of cutting cleanly and will make a mess of many ingredients.
Chinese cleavers are becoming more popular in Western kitchens as a substitute for the chef's knife. These are wide, thin-bladed knives meant for delicate chopping and slicing of vegetables, herbs and soft meat. They are not heavy meat cleavers.
Always be very careful when using or cleaning sharp knives.
Beware of gimmicks. Except for better materials, knife technology hasn't changed in hundreds of years.
on 9/7/2007
Nice article, though somewhat brief. Selecting the right materials, design, and size for your first few knives is very important. http://Www.cookingknives.weebly.com provides a few more details.
on 8/8/2006
All Chefs, and those who have held a great knife, will tell you that how the knife feels in your hand - the way it's balanced and how it fits in your hand - is just as important as quality of the blade. Good knives, well kept, can last many years and are a good investment for the serious cook. So maybe spend a little more money if you think you'll be using them for a few years.
on 2/12/2007
Cutco knives are high quality and they will sharpen them for free, but please be careful. You can't treat a Cutco knife like a regular knife or you could end up in the emergency room.
on 11/22/2005
Cutco blades offer the finest in materials, design, and craftsmanship and have a forever guarantee. They still cost less than every high-quality blade. Visit www.Cutco.com for more information.
Comments
Bedeo said
on 9/7/2007 Nice article, though somewhat brief. Selecting the right materials, design, and size for your first few knives is very important. http://Www.cookingknives.weebly.com provides a few more details.
Anonymous said
on 8/8/2006 All Chefs, and those who have held a great knife, will tell you that how the knife feels in your hand - the way it's balanced and how it fits in your hand - is just as important as quality of the blade. Good knives, well kept, can last many years and are a good investment for the serious cook. So maybe spend a little more money if you think you'll be using them for a few years.
Anonymous said
on 2/12/2007 Cutco knives are high quality and they will sharpen them for free, but please be careful. You can't treat a Cutco knife like a regular knife or you could end up in the emergency room.
Anonymous said
on 11/22/2005 Cutco blades offer the finest in materials, design, and craftsmanship and have a forever guarantee. They still cost less than every high-quality blade. Visit www.Cutco.com for more information.
Anonymous said
on 11/22/2005 When you finally use a really sharp chef's knife to cut a tomato, you'll understand why you don't need to use a serrated one.