There are 3 main things to consider when choosing different sets of kitchen knives. These 3 key factors will determine your satisfaction with a particular set.
How it feels in your hand
Think about how you interact with the knife when you hold it in your hand. It’s true that some sets of kitchen knives will feel uncomfortable in your hand, even if you spend thousands on them. To find the right feel for a knife, you have to constantly watch it and be able to make mistakes. You will have to try many different knife grips to find the right one for you. The key is to find a set that is comfortable and enjoyable to use.
- Blades
Kitchen knife sets consist of a variety of blades. Carbon steel is a soft metal that melts easily but is easy to sharpen. Ceramic sets require more care, but stay sharp longer and are resistant to rust and stains. Stainless steel is an excellent choice because it is durable and easy to care for. The key is to decide what performance you want from your set.
- Using
Knives are designed to do certain jobs. It is important to choose the right knife for the job. For example, don’t use a steak knife to carve America, use an American carving knife and a steak knife to carve steak, and you’ll thank me later. The great thing about kitchen knife sets is that they have different knives for different uses. Knife sets usually come with a block, which makes the set easier to store and visually appealing. Finally, kitchen knife sets are an investment that will last a very long time, so make sure you find one that meets all three key requirements.
How to Choose Your Kitchen Sets
There are many knife sets to choose from and different price ranges. Even if you don’t want to spend more than your budget allows, there are some things you should look for when buying your new knife set:
Quality
if you buy a knife set that is of poor quality, it won’t last long and you will find yourself back where you are now…. If you are looking for a knife set and need to spend more money! No one wants that, and there are some quality sets that don’t cost hundreds of dollars, there are even some that are pretty cheap, so read on.
If you are looking for a quality knife set, make sure it is:
- Full Tang – This means that the steel of the blade and the steel of the handle are one piece.
- Fully Forged – This refers to the way the knife was made. (Some are sealed, I don’t recommend them unless you only want to cut small vegetables) The better quality knives are fully forged from high carbon stainless steel. Fully forged knives also stay sharp longer than others.
- Guaranteed – Each quality knife comes with a lifetime warranty.
What will you do with your knives?
If you plan on cutting a lot of bread or tomatoes, you may want to choose a set with a serrated blade, as it makes it easier to cut through the skin of a tomato or the crust of bread than a regular knife blade. I only have a serrated knife and rarely use it because the knife sets I have are very sharp and can handle even the softest breads and even cheese. More on that later.
- Storage
Not much is said about this when buying a knife set, but a large set in a wooden block storage box can take up quite a bit of countertop space. Nothing is better than buying a great new knife set and then not having enough countertop space to use it. Make sure the set you choose will fit on your countertop, or possibly look for a set that stores in a sheath instead of a knife block.
Knife Types
- Most sets contain different knives for different tasks. Look for at least one set that includes a chef’s knife, a utility knife and a paring knife. Many also include kitchen shears, a sandwich knife, a bread knife, steak knives and possibly a sharpener.
Knife brands like Damascus1 (known as very high quality knives) are very well known, and while I would highly recommend these brands, they can be expensive and may not fit everyone’s budget, but there are definitely great knife sets that you can use for years without them having a high price tag.
