Kitchen knife set. Good quality - Recommendations
Kitchen knife set. Good quality - Recommendations
My wife wants to buy a high quality fairly small (4 to 5 knives) set. Budget: approx $500. She has one Wustoff knife (tomato knife) which she thinks is way better than the others (mostly Chicago cutlery brand).
We eat a lot of veggies and two out of 4 in our family are vegetarians. The others mostly eat fish and chicken. None of us eats red meat.
She is considering the Wustoff classic line. Prefers forged blades. Considering the following sets which are about $350. Suggestions welcome. She is open to buying individual knives if it makes more sense.
https://www.amazon.com/Wusthof-Classic- ... f++7+piece
https://www.amazon.com/Wusthof-Classic- ... ID=T3V7GWJ
We eat a lot of veggies and two out of 4 in our family are vegetarians. The others mostly eat fish and chicken. None of us eats red meat.
She is considering the Wustoff classic line. Prefers forged blades. Considering the following sets which are about $350. Suggestions welcome. She is open to buying individual knives if it makes more sense.
https://www.amazon.com/Wusthof-Classic- ... f++7+piece
https://www.amazon.com/Wusthof-Classic- ... ID=T3V7GWJ
Ram
Re: Kitchen knife set. Good quality - Recommendations
I don't think you need to spend a lot of money on a knife set. I do 90% of food prep with a cheap $10 cleaver from the Chinese supermarket. You just need to learn how to use it, treat it well, and sharpen it. For more situational uses, you could look into a paring knife and bread knife.
50% VTI / 50% VXUS
- Thrifty Femme
- Posts: 562
- Joined: Sun Apr 12, 2015 1:54 pm
Re: Kitchen knife set. Good quality - Recommendations
I like the Wüstof Grand Prix II line. It looks nicer than the classic line.
Re: Kitchen knife set. Good quality - Recommendations
Cutco. A representative will come to your house to sharpen your knife.
Re: Kitchen knife set. Good quality - Recommendations
First option is perfect. 2nd option has some specialty blades I'd imagine you will use less frequently.
My posts represent my own opinion and do not constitute financial advice. I am simply a hobbyist. :)
-
- Posts: 7
- Joined: Fri Mar 10, 2017 4:22 pm
Re: Kitchen knife set. Good quality - Recommendations
I recommend the wusthof classic ikon. You can get a 7 piece set on eBay for a really good price.
http://m.ebay.com/itm/253102635777?_mwBanner=1
http://m.ebay.com/itm/253102635777?_mwBanner=1
Re: Kitchen knife set. Good quality - Recommendations
Wusthof Classic.
Re: Kitchen knife set. Good quality - Recommendations
We spent something like $2,500 on a beautiful shun made, Bob Kramer knife set 8 or 9 years ago - total waste of money and now sits in the cupboard as you can buy much more practical knives that hold an edge much better.
I would recommend going with Dexter Russell knives in the variety you want and if you want to splurge on a good cooks knife go with a hand forged Japanese cooks knife (Gyuto). We really just use the Guyto and a couple of paring knives.
I would recommend going with Dexter Russell knives in the variety you want and if you want to splurge on a good cooks knife go with a hand forged Japanese cooks knife (Gyuto). We really just use the Guyto and a couple of paring knives.
-
- Posts: 11647
- Joined: Sat Oct 04, 2008 11:42 am
Re: Kitchen knife set. Good quality - Recommendations
America's Test Kitchen really likes the Victorinox Fibrox 8" Chef Knife:
https://www.amazon.com/Victorinox-Fibro ... chef+knife
They test lots of knives and keep coming back to this one.
https://www.amazon.com/Victorinox-Fibro ... chef+knife
They test lots of knives and keep coming back to this one.
Last edited by DSInvestor on Sat Aug 19, 2017 8:08 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Re: Kitchen knife set. Good quality - Recommendations
11 years ago, I bought a JA Henckels knife set for under $200. It has seven kitchen knives, shears, sharpening steel and six steak knives. They still look like-new today, and they work great--despite the fact that I've never sharpened them.
Last edited by rocket354 on Sat Aug 19, 2017 8:12 pm, edited 2 times in total.
Re: Kitchen knife set. Good quality - Recommendations
A couple years ago, I bought a Wusthof Ikon Chef's knife and a Wusthof paring knive. Best kitchen purchases I ever made! I use both pretty much every day.
I originally bought a full set, but returned it when I realized that I'd only use these two knifes; So, then I just bought the Chef+paring knifes individually.
I went to a local shop and tried out a bunch of knives before settling on the Wusthof's. A lot had to do with my preferred cutting style (e.g. german-style vs japan-style blades). Then I narrowed it down to the top-of-the-line german knifes, and the Wusthof's won me over
I originally bought a full set, but returned it when I realized that I'd only use these two knifes; So, then I just bought the Chef+paring knifes individually.
I went to a local shop and tried out a bunch of knives before settling on the Wusthof's. A lot had to do with my preferred cutting style (e.g. german-style vs japan-style blades). Then I narrowed it down to the top-of-the-line german knifes, and the Wusthof's won me over
"Buy-and-hold, long-term, all-market-index strategies, implemented at rock-bottom cost, are the surest of all routes to the accumulation of wealth" - John C. Bogle
Re: Kitchen knife set. Good quality - Recommendations
Cook's Illustrated test kitchen a la carte knife set -- absolutely worth the money.
Re: Kitchen knife set. Good quality - Recommendations
Before spending money on knives, first learn to sharpen a knife. I'm very serious. My niece sold cutco cutlery for a while. They have a spiel, but the real secret to their demos is that their knives are sharp while practically all their customers have very dull knives. Your wife doesn't like Chicago cutlery, but that's actually good carbon steel. I'm tempted to ask, how long has it been since she sharpened them? Not trying to be snarky, but investing in a sharpening system, or just a plain stone, might be the way to go. Tim
"All man's miseries derive from not being able to sit quietly in a room alone. " -- Pascal
Re: Kitchen knife set. Good quality - Recommendations
Seriously consider buying exactly the knives you need, regardless of manufacturer. You can buy the block, sharpener, and a pair scissors separately too.
There is something satisfying about wielding good tools of identical, high quality manufacture - think Snap-On or Craftsman wrenches. Familiarity. But just like those wrenches, sometimes, perhaps more often than you might think, you need a better solution. Snap-Ons are thin and can cut into your hand for high torque applications. Craftsmans are thick and may not fit into some confined spaces. There is nothing like carefully curating your own set of tools that do exactly what you need in a way that is comfortable and good for you. It takes additional thought and effort but not that much additional money.
I have a Russell slicing knife that someone gave me and it is very good. It attains and holds an edge much better than Chicago Cutlery or anything low-mid grade that you will find in a department store. I also have a set of Victorinox/Forschner knives with Fibrox handles that hold an edge equally well and were far less expensive. They are more expensive now than they were several years ago, but still cheaper and better than many high-end knives. They feel good in the hand of almost anyone and are lightweight yet stiff, but don't look as good as a Wuesthof. I've never found them to be inferior for any task. I do not often use the slicing knife that came with the set because I don't cook many roasts or whole fowls, and the Russell is superior. I also added an extra chef's knife because I am lazy and sometimes don't do the dishes before I need another. In addition, I added a smaller paring knife with a wood handle. And a plastic cheese knife from a different manufacturer.
There's nothing wrong with buying a good quality set, but realize you will be compromising somewhere. (Same goes for pots and pans.) I had a Cutco-style knockoff set for many years and was very happy with it until cooking became a serious hobby.
There is something satisfying about wielding good tools of identical, high quality manufacture - think Snap-On or Craftsman wrenches. Familiarity. But just like those wrenches, sometimes, perhaps more often than you might think, you need a better solution. Snap-Ons are thin and can cut into your hand for high torque applications. Craftsmans are thick and may not fit into some confined spaces. There is nothing like carefully curating your own set of tools that do exactly what you need in a way that is comfortable and good for you. It takes additional thought and effort but not that much additional money.
I have a Russell slicing knife that someone gave me and it is very good. It attains and holds an edge much better than Chicago Cutlery or anything low-mid grade that you will find in a department store. I also have a set of Victorinox/Forschner knives with Fibrox handles that hold an edge equally well and were far less expensive. They are more expensive now than they were several years ago, but still cheaper and better than many high-end knives. They feel good in the hand of almost anyone and are lightweight yet stiff, but don't look as good as a Wuesthof. I've never found them to be inferior for any task. I do not often use the slicing knife that came with the set because I don't cook many roasts or whole fowls, and the Russell is superior. I also added an extra chef's knife because I am lazy and sometimes don't do the dishes before I need another. In addition, I added a smaller paring knife with a wood handle. And a plastic cheese knife from a different manufacturer.
There's nothing wrong with buying a good quality set, but realize you will be compromising somewhere. (Same goes for pots and pans.) I had a Cutco-style knockoff set for many years and was very happy with it until cooking became a serious hobby.
Last edited by tooluser on Sat Aug 19, 2017 9:33 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Like good comrades to the utmost of their strength, we shall go on to the end. -- Winston Churchill
Re: Kitchen knife set. Good quality - Recommendations
This is also top rated in Cook's Illustrated and a bargain. Some of the Japanese brands are very nice although you can buy 10 Victorinox for the price of one of them.DSInvestor wrote: ↑Sat Aug 19, 2017 8:05 pm America's Test Kitchen really likes the Victorinox Fibrox 8" Chef Knife:
https://www.amazon.com/Victorinox-Fibro ... chef+knife
They test lots of knives and keep coming back to this one.
Re: Kitchen knife set. Good quality - Recommendations
My wife and I are eat at home vegetarians. We do alot of vegetable and nut chopping. The best knife I've ever used is a ceramic knife.
Unlike steel knives, ceramic knives don't dull appreciably. They remain sharp a long time. Using a much heavier and always duller steel knife is something I loathe.
One obvious problem with ceramic knives is that they are brittle. We've never had to replace a knife because it dulled (they will sharpen them for free but you have to send the knife to them to do so). It has always been because they break. We are on our third one. The first one chipped when the blade hit the pit of a peach and then broke when it was dropped on the floor. The second one broke trying to take the pit out of an avocado. We've had the current one for a couple years.
They make different size ceramic knives, but none are very long and you can't cut anything hard, like bone or pits, and you can smash garlic with them.
They cost less than $100 for ones 6 inches long, or so.
Unlike steel knives, ceramic knives don't dull appreciably. They remain sharp a long time. Using a much heavier and always duller steel knife is something I loathe.
One obvious problem with ceramic knives is that they are brittle. We've never had to replace a knife because it dulled (they will sharpen them for free but you have to send the knife to them to do so). It has always been because they break. We are on our third one. The first one chipped when the blade hit the pit of a peach and then broke when it was dropped on the floor. The second one broke trying to take the pit out of an avocado. We've had the current one for a couple years.
They make different size ceramic knives, but none are very long and you can't cut anything hard, like bone or pits, and you can smash garlic with them.
They cost less than $100 for ones 6 inches long, or so.
No matter how long the hill, if you keep pedaling you'll eventually get up to the top.
Re: Kitchen knife set. Good quality - Recommendations
Duplicate deleted.
Last edited by tooluser on Sat Aug 19, 2017 9:32 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Like good comrades to the utmost of their strength, we shall go on to the end. -- Winston Churchill
Re: Kitchen knife set. Good quality - Recommendations
Another vote for the Wusthoff Grand Prix II.
-
- Posts: 362
- Joined: Sun Feb 12, 2017 5:50 pm
knife set. Good
Throw the Chicago into the trash.
Find the Wüsthof or Henkels that feels the best. Buy that one.
And, buy this https://chefschoice.com/product/chefsch ... model-130/
Find the Wüsthof or Henkels that feels the best. Buy that one.
And, buy this https://chefschoice.com/product/chefsch ... model-130/
Last edited by FraggleRock on Sun Aug 20, 2017 1:48 am, edited 1 time in total.
Re: Kitchen knife set. Good quality - Recommendations
I'm in my early forties and my mom still has the Cutco knives she bought when I was a baby. They just need to be sharpened every once in a while.
-
- Posts: 207
- Joined: Tue Mar 07, 2017 9:54 am
Re: Kitchen knife set. Good quality - Recommendations
I received the 7 pc Wusthof Classic set from the first link in the OP as a phenomenal wedding gift years ago. The knives are fantastic - they hold an edge very well and are perfectly balanced and comfortable to use. And they feel weighty and sturdy when cutting through tough items, as opposed to cheaper stamped blades. I'd recommend them to anyone. Just please do not let people put them in the dishwasher or use them on stone/glass cutting boards. And use the honing steel in the set.
If you don't want to get a whole set but want to spend money on one good knife, a perfect sized Wusthof Classic knife IMO is the 16cm (6in) chefs knife (not part of the above set). I have had that one for a few years prior to receiving the set and I use it for probably 8/10 of my food prep tasks as it's the perfect size and heft for most anything.
If you don't want to get a whole set but want to spend money on one good knife, a perfect sized Wusthof Classic knife IMO is the 16cm (6in) chefs knife (not part of the above set). I have had that one for a few years prior to receiving the set and I use it for probably 8/10 of my food prep tasks as it's the perfect size and heft for most anything.
-
- Posts: 50
- Joined: Mon Jun 10, 2013 2:03 am
Re: Kitchen knife set. Good quality - Recommendations
I see a lot of recommendations for Wusthoff, and they are definitely good knives, I have had a set of their "Classic" knifes for years and they have served me well. If I were buying value for dollar European style knives they would be what i would get. On the Asian knife side I would recommend Tojiro DP knives. These are real bargains among Japanese knives, and I highly recommend them if you want really sharp knives that hold an edge well and are not difficult to sharpen despite the core being 60 rockwell hardness sg2 steel (much harder than the wusthoff at 58 hardness). Note that the core is covered in softer steel to make sharpening easier. Some also feel that this cladding helps support the sg2 steel which has a bit of a reputation for chipping (I have not seen anything like this and there is some controversy about whether this is really true. Since the Wusthoff is sharpened to a 14 degree Asian style angle now but has softer European steel you will likely need to sharpen more often. Traditionally European knives were sharpened to 22 degrees and the edge held better despite the softer steel. Wusthoff now sharpens to 14 degrees to compete with the cutting capability of the asian knives out of the box. I have not used Wusthoffs that are manufactured at 14 degrees so am basing my expectation that the edge will need attention more often on the softer steel values Also the Wusthoff is heavier, which you may or may not prefer. Some feel that this allows the knife to do more of the work, and if you are doing limited kitchen work like cooking for family this is fine. Some chefs feel that the lighter, thinner Japanese blades allow more control and I would recommend that you think carefully about how and how often you are going to use the knives. The other knives I have are Shun Ikon, which are great but a bit expensive and a couple of high carbon Japanese knives that I purchased in Japan, which are amazing but for normal use I do not recommend, only because of the care required. Final comment on Japanese vs German, German knives have a bolster. This provides protection for your hand from the blade. Most Japanese knives, including the Tojiro, do not. This allows easier and better sharpening of the entire blade. The Japanese knives require a bit more care when using. If I were starting from scratch, I would probably get only a few very good knives. The Kramer knives are really about the best made today if you combine utility, sharpness, ability to hold an edge, beauty, etc https://www.amazon.com/Henckels-Essenti ... amer+knife. The steel is amazingly hard and know for extremely small carbon bits that help it to hold an edge extraordinarily well. I would get a chef's knife, a paring knife and a santoku. That would be a bit over your $500 budget, but would be all the knives you would need. Otherwise I would make a decision on European or Asian style and go with either wusthoff or tojiro.
Re: Kitchen knife set. Good quality - Recommendations
Personally, I think the cheap "fixwell knives" on Amazon work great. They are very inexpensive, fine, sharp and perfect for thin slicing of veggies. Of course, these are not steak knives.
I also own the $45 Victorinox knife & they are excellent: far better quality than fixwell, but also a lot more expensive. Personally, the fixwell knives work so well, I use it far more often than the more expensive knife! I recommend getting the fixwell & trying it. You can't go much wrong at that price point!
I also own the $45 Victorinox knife & they are excellent: far better quality than fixwell, but also a lot more expensive. Personally, the fixwell knives work so well, I use it far more often than the more expensive knife! I recommend getting the fixwell & trying it. You can't go much wrong at that price point!
Last edited by fetch5482 on Tue Dec 31, 2019 12:12 am, edited 6 times in total.
(AGE minus 23%) Bonds | 5% REITs | Balance 80% US (75/25 TSM/SCV) + 20% International (80/20 Developed/Emerging)
- Van-Guard23
- Posts: 262
- Joined: Fri Jan 04, 2008 10:10 pm
- Location: Physically in Central TX...mentally, Hawai'i
Re: Kitchen knife set. Good quality - Recommendations
+1. About 4 to 5 years ago, DW and I decided to upgrade our cutlery set to Wusthof Classic knives and we've been quite happy with them...well, more so with me since I do most of the cutting and cooking at home. My wife insisted, however, that in addition to the 7-piece cutlery set that we also get a set of Wusthof Classic steak knives with it...and since we're adding to the set, I went ahead and got a Wusthof Classic 8" Santoku knife, easily my favorite and most used knife out of the entire set. Worth every penny.
Last edited by Van-Guard23 on Sun Aug 20, 2017 8:55 pm, edited 1 time in total.
"I have only come here seeking knowledge. Things they wouldn't teach me of in college" |
The Police "Wrapped Around Your Finger"
Re: Kitchen knife set. Good quality - Recommendations
+1DSInvestor wrote: ↑Sat Aug 19, 2017 8:05 pm
America's Test Kitchen really likes the Victorinox Fibrox 8" Chef Knife:
https://www.amazon.com/Victorinox-Fibro ... chef+knife
They test lots of knives and keep coming back to this one.
This is also top rated in Cook's Illustrated and a bargain. Some of the Japanese brands are very nice although you can buy 10 Victorinox for the price of one of them.
We cook vegan and bought two of these knives years ago on this recommendation. I gave away the other knives and a very pretty French knife set because these and a couple of paring knives are all we use now.
I also have this to sharpen the knives:
https://smile.amazon.com/AccuSharp-ACCU ... +sharpener
And here's the link to that knife, but using the Amazon Smile page, which I have set to make contributions to this forum:
https://smile.amazon.com/Victorinox-Fib ... rinox+8%22
The mightiest Oak is just a nut who stayed the course.
-
- Posts: 12262
- Joined: Wed Jan 11, 2017 7:05 pm
Re: Kitchen knife set. Good quality - Recommendations
My favorite all purpose knife is Wusthof classic Santoku.
I have a Henckel Chef's knife and it is just OK. The Wusthof feels better and is much sharper. Also have a Henckel bread knife and it is good but doesn't feel like anything particularly special.
I somehow lost my Wusthof classic paring knife. Great knife, don't know how that happened. I now have a Victorinox paring knife. I don't like the feel as much as the Wusthof - it is so lightweight that it feels somewhat cheap - but the blade is the sharpest of any knife that I have. Great deal for $10.
I don't think you need $500 worth of knives and you certainly don't need a full set. I would rather get 3 or 4 good knives and a couple shares of VTI.
I have a Henckel Chef's knife and it is just OK. The Wusthof feels better and is much sharper. Also have a Henckel bread knife and it is good but doesn't feel like anything particularly special.
I somehow lost my Wusthof classic paring knife. Great knife, don't know how that happened. I now have a Victorinox paring knife. I don't like the feel as much as the Wusthof - it is so lightweight that it feels somewhat cheap - but the blade is the sharpest of any knife that I have. Great deal for $10.
I don't think you need $500 worth of knives and you certainly don't need a full set. I would rather get 3 or 4 good knives and a couple shares of VTI.
Re: Kitchen knife set. Good quality - Recommendations
I would recommend going to a store when you can actually handle the knives. You'll find that some fit the hand better than others and have different balance points. As some have mentioned, I see no need for a set of knives. I have a Shun Santoku for heavier chopping, a cheap pair of ceramic knives (paring and chef's knife - these see a lot of use), and a serrated knife. That's all I need.
Re: Kitchen knife set. Good quality - Recommendations
Thank you all. At this point she is inclined to avoid buying a set. She will buy individual knives and a block.
Any opinions about the classic Vs the classic Ikon Vs classic Ikon wood handle.
This review http://kitchenknifeguru.com/wusthof-kni ... ers-guide/ claims the classic Ikon has better balance.
We live in rural midwest so she likely will wait till we go to the city and handle the knives.
Any opinions about the classic Vs the classic Ikon Vs classic Ikon wood handle.
This review http://kitchenknifeguru.com/wusthof-kni ... ers-guide/ claims the classic Ikon has better balance.
We live in rural midwest so she likely will wait till we go to the city and handle the knives.
Ram
Re: Kitchen knife set. Good quality - Recommendations
We have had the Wustuff Classic for the past 5 years and they are still very sharp, hone them as needed. Great quality knives
Re: Kitchen knife set. Good quality - Recommendations
I follow the same diet your family does and have the first set you listed, the one with seven pieces. It is exactly what you need if you are starting from scratch. I use all of the pieces on a regular basis and don't need any others. I didn't think I would use the utility knife but it is what I use for cutting melons, making sandwiches, etc., and the shears are very handy.
However, if you watch eBay or wait for a sale, you can get it for a much better price. Even Amazon has had it for $250 on a regular basis. You probably can't buy the pieces you need individually for less than the set on sale, even if you don't need the knife block and one of the knives.
If you buy a set on sale or especially on eBay, be careful not to end up with a "Classic Gourmet" set instead of the forged "Classic" set or with a 7 inch chef's knife instead of the 8 inch version. Double-check all the sizes.
However, if you watch eBay or wait for a sale, you can get it for a much better price. Even Amazon has had it for $250 on a regular basis. You probably can't buy the pieces you need individually for less than the set on sale, even if you don't need the knife block and one of the knives.
If you buy a set on sale or especially on eBay, be careful not to end up with a "Classic Gourmet" set instead of the forged "Classic" set or with a 7 inch chef's knife instead of the 8 inch version. Double-check all the sizes.
-
- Posts: 5564
- Joined: Thu Aug 09, 2012 10:54 am
Re: Kitchen knife set. Good quality - Recommendations
Love my wustof classic 7 piece set, they hold an edge better than the caphalon katana's which is what we also have.
All knives will be junk in 2 or 3 months if you don't use the steel and by then it will be too late for the steel to do any good. I know its scary to take the steel to your brand new knives but you have to use it from the second week you use them. Every time or every other time the knives come out of the block, the steel should too. Just pretend you are widdling the bark off a stick and you'll be at the right angle.
And if you have a glass or granite "cutting board" never let a knife edge touch it again. You may as well use concrete.
All knives will be junk in 2 or 3 months if you don't use the steel and by then it will be too late for the steel to do any good. I know its scary to take the steel to your brand new knives but you have to use it from the second week you use them. Every time or every other time the knives come out of the block, the steel should too. Just pretend you are widdling the bark off a stick and you'll be at the right angle.
And if you have a glass or granite "cutting board" never let a knife edge touch it again. You may as well use concrete.
-
- Posts: 472
- Joined: Sun Jul 26, 2015 12:19 pm
Re: Kitchen knife set. Good quality - Recommendations
We've had a Wusthof Classic set for > 10 years. We've used all the knives, but if you're going to get one all purpose knife, I'd get the Santoku.
- jabberwockOG
- Posts: 3084
- Joined: Thu May 28, 2015 7:23 am
Re: Kitchen knife set. Good quality - Recommendations
We prepare food from scratch and cook almost every day and have been doing so for 40+ years. Been using a set of Henckel 4 star knives for last 15 years and they are still in like new condition. Best knives we have ever used. Besides getting a great set of knives make sure you purchase (and learn to use) a high quality knife sharpener. The Chef's Choice sharpeners are very good for those who aren't comfortable using a stone.
Currently knives made in Japan are in favor based on value and quality they provide. Some of high quality German knife companies have move a significant part of their production to China and value has become questionable.
Currently knives made in Japan are in favor based on value and quality they provide. Some of high quality German knife companies have move a significant part of their production to China and value has become questionable.
Last edited by jabberwockOG on Mon Aug 21, 2017 7:54 am, edited 1 time in total.
- dratkinson
- Posts: 6108
- Joined: Thu Jul 26, 2007 6:23 pm
- Location: Centennial CO
Re: Kitchen knife set. Good quality - Recommendations
+1 ATK also liked the Victorinox Fibrox straight-edge and serrated-edge paring knives. Recall the chef knife was ~$45, and the paring knives were ~$8 each. So a decent kitchen knife set can be had for little money.DSInvestor wrote: ↑Sat Aug 19, 2017 8:05 pm America's Test Kitchen really likes the Victorinox Fibrox 8" Chef Knife:
https://www.amazon.com/Victorinox-Fibro ... chef+knife
They test lots of knives and keep coming back to this one.
d.r.a., not dr.a. | I'm a novice investor; you are forewarned.
Re: Kitchen knife set. Good quality - Recommendations
Which Henckels? They have a lot of product lines. Some, like the Twin line, are department-store grade. Their higher-end forged knives are equivalent to the high-end Wustof. Wustof also has a cheap line, called Gourmet. I don't think highly of them either.aristotelian wrote: ↑Sun Aug 20, 2017 12:45 pm I have a Henckel Chef's knife and it is just OK. The Wusthof feels better and is much sharper. Also have a Henckel bread knife and it is good but doesn't feel like anything particularly special.
Re: Kitchen knife set. Good quality - Recommendations
My wife and I are avid cooks and have had great knives from Henckels, Wushoff, etc. Several years back we were sitting at a sushi bar in the Finger Lakes region of New York and asked the chef about the strange looking bright pink chef's knife he was using. He said it was a low cost Pure Komachi 2 knife that he thought performed better than many expensive knives. I now have a number of Pure Komachi knives and can attest nothing performs better for the money--or even a LOT more money. In fact, my daughter, also an avid cook, requested these knives in her bridal registry rather than far more expensive options.
Lloyd
Lloyd
Re: Kitchen knife set. Good quality - Recommendations
I've heard there are three desirable qualities in knives. Easy to sharpen, Holds an edge, and looks good (no staining, etc) I'm told you can get any two of those in most knives, but not all three.
Re: Kitchen knife set. Good quality - Recommendations
Agreed a set is a waste of money. A good chefs knife, serrated bread knife, pairing knife, and the tomato knife you already have. Maybe a filte knife if she eats fish.
Perhaps there is a cooking class she can take that teaches cutting. She can try out the different types of knives. If you are in the Tampa area check out "The Rolling Pin". Great cooking school!
I like my bread knife to have an off set handle so I can easily cut to the bottom of the loaf without hitting my hand.
I bought the cooks illustrated chefs knife and found it too big, and too light. There are different size blades on knives.
Also, is she a chopper or a cutter? That will help her determine what kind of chef knife she wants. I'd look at some YouTube vids.
It all sounds overwhelming but her choices will last forever and she will be so happy to have only quality tools at her disposal. It is a fun process to figure out and so rewarding. I like the German knives.
Perhaps there is a cooking class she can take that teaches cutting. She can try out the different types of knives. If you are in the Tampa area check out "The Rolling Pin". Great cooking school!
I like my bread knife to have an off set handle so I can easily cut to the bottom of the loaf without hitting my hand.
I bought the cooks illustrated chefs knife and found it too big, and too light. There are different size blades on knives.
Also, is she a chopper or a cutter? That will help her determine what kind of chef knife she wants. I'd look at some YouTube vids.
It all sounds overwhelming but her choices will last forever and she will be so happy to have only quality tools at her disposal. It is a fun process to figure out and so rewarding. I like the German knives.
-
- Posts: 1667
- Joined: Fri Mar 02, 2007 8:17 pm
- Location: 27,000 light years from the Galactic Center of the Milky Way Galaxy (the suburbs)
Re: Kitchen knife set. Good quality - Recommendations
One more vote here for the Wusthoff Classic knives. I purchased a number of Wusthoff Classic individual knives about six years ago and they have held up to my expectations. I purchased them at Bed Bath & Beyond because I got a better price with the 20% off coupon than I would have gotten at Amazon. I didn’t purchase a set because I didn’t want the sandwich knife that was included. I wanted the serrated knife for cutting tomatoes and other hard exterior, soft interior foods. I also wanted a Santoku knife as well (which was not part of the set). I purchased a bread knife and honing steel that were reduced before the 20% off coupon was taken. However, on a recent trip to BB&B I noticed they didn’t have any Wusthoff sets or individual knives on display. Checking their website I noticed they just had six sets of Wusthoff knives (no individual knives shown).
Time is your friend; impulse is your enemy - John Bogle |
Learn every day, but especially from the experiences of others, it's cheaper! - John Bogle
-
- Posts: 8620
- Joined: Wed Apr 08, 2015 11:31 am
- Location: West coast of Florida, near Champa Bay !
Re: Kitchen knife set. Good quality - Recommendations
Buy these:
https://www.ronco.com/six-star-cutlery-30-piece.html
You will have enough $$$$ left over to buy this:
https://www.ronco.com/showtime-rotisser ... eries.html
And this:
https://www.ronco.com/pocket-fisherman-83.html
Broken Man 1999
https://www.ronco.com/six-star-cutlery-30-piece.html
You will have enough $$$$ left over to buy this:
https://www.ronco.com/showtime-rotisser ... eries.html
And this:
https://www.ronco.com/pocket-fisherman-83.html
Broken Man 1999
“If I cannot drink Bourbon and smoke cigars in Heaven then I shall not go." - Mark Twain
Re: Kitchen knife set. Good quality - Recommendations
My parents wants a knife set for Christmas a few years ago. I decided on the Wusthof Grand Prix II. I've enjoyed using them when I'm at their house. Way better than their old cheap knives.
My husband wanted a new knife for Christmas and I decided on the Wusthof Pro Santoku knife for him, since that's the knife we use most and we can get by with our cheaper knives for everything else. It's not as pretty as the Grand Prix II knives, but we keep it in a drawer so it doesn't matter. I enjoy using it, and it is very sharp.
My husband wanted a new knife for Christmas and I decided on the Wusthof Pro Santoku knife for him, since that's the knife we use most and we can get by with our cheaper knives for everything else. It's not as pretty as the Grand Prix II knives, but we keep it in a drawer so it doesn't matter. I enjoy using it, and it is very sharp.
Re: Kitchen knife set. Good quality - Recommendations
Real chefs most often don't use the "best" knives at work because they are expensive and get lost or stolen and because one-piece handles are preferred as they don't have tiny crevices that can harbor germs. Same for commercial cookware actually used in kitchens: they most often use serviceable aluminum pans because they perform fine and are inexpensive and readily available, rather than the "best" cookware available. Price for adequate function can definitely come into play.Lloydo wrote: ↑Mon Aug 21, 2017 7:39 am My wife and I are avid cooks and have had great knives from Henckels, Wushoff, etc. Several years back we were sitting at a sushi bar in the Finger Lakes region of New York and asked the chef about the strange looking bright pink chef's knife he was using. He said it was a low cost Pure Komachi 2 knife that he thought performed better than many expensive knives. I now have a number of Pure Komachi knives and can attest nothing performs better for the money--or even a LOT more money. In fact, my daughter, also an avid cook, requested these knives in her bridal registry rather than far more expensive options.
Lloyd
-
- Posts: 752
- Joined: Sun Apr 24, 2016 9:55 am
Re: Kitchen knife set. Good quality - Recommendations
not going to read the whole thread.
Do not buy a set. Spend money on a GOOD Shun, Global, Wusthof type of Chef's knife, as large as you think you can handle. You must handle each knife in person - this is not something you can buy online.
All a person typically needs is a chef's knife, serrated knife for bread (and tomatoes), and a paring knife for the small stuff.
I have all Wusthof - they felt the best in my hand for the price available to me. I didn't like how light the Global knives were, and Shun was too expensive.
Do not buy a set. Spend money on a GOOD Shun, Global, Wusthof type of Chef's knife, as large as you think you can handle. You must handle each knife in person - this is not something you can buy online.
All a person typically needs is a chef's knife, serrated knife for bread (and tomatoes), and a paring knife for the small stuff.
I have all Wusthof - they felt the best in my hand for the price available to me. I didn't like how light the Global knives were, and Shun was too expensive.
Re: Kitchen knife set. Good quality - Recommendations
If you're interested in Japanese knives, take a look at Tojiro's DP line which provides high quality & good value. I don't buy sets either but my main knives are Shun Classics. If I knew what I did now when I was buying the Shuns I would have purchased Tojiro DP's instead. Definitely learn to hone and sharpen.
-
- Posts: 75
- Joined: Tue Aug 15, 2017 1:52 pm
Re: Kitchen knife set. Good quality - Recommendations
Wustoff classic ikon set is wonderful. They are very high quality and the handles are very comfortable.
Re: Kitchen knife set. Good quality - Recommendations
Been using this one for years, it's great.DSInvestor wrote: ↑Sat Aug 19, 2017 8:05 pm America's Test Kitchen really likes the Victorinox Fibrox 8" Chef Knife:
https://www.amazon.com/Victorinox-Fibro ... chef+knife
They test lots of knives and keep coming back to this one.
"...the man who adapts himself to his slender means and makes himself wealthy on a little sum, is the truly rich man..." ~Seneca
-
- Posts: 12262
- Joined: Wed Jan 11, 2017 7:05 pm
Re: Kitchen knife set. Good quality - Recommendations
The Henckel I have says "Five Star", Wustof is "Gran Prix II". I am guessing that neither is top shelf but a step up from the cheap lines.lazydavid wrote: ↑Mon Aug 21, 2017 7:25 amWhich Henckels? They have a lot of product lines. Some, like the Twin line, are department-store grade. Their higher-end forged knives are equivalent to the high-end Wustof. Wustof also has a cheap line, called Gourmet. I don't think highly of them either.aristotelian wrote: ↑Sun Aug 20, 2017 12:45 pm I have a Henckel Chef's knife and it is just OK. The Wusthof feels better and is much sharper. Also have a Henckel bread knife and it is good but doesn't feel like anything particularly special.
Re: Kitchen knife set. Good quality - Recommendations
Ram,
I find The Sweet Home to be a great resource for Home goods. They have a great article or two on Knives:
http://thesweethome.com/reviews/the-best-knife-set/
http://thesweethome.com/reviews/the-bes ... ost-cooks/
- g
I find The Sweet Home to be a great resource for Home goods. They have a great article or two on Knives:
http://thesweethome.com/reviews/the-best-knife-set/
http://thesweethome.com/reviews/the-bes ... ost-cooks/
- g
Re: Kitchen knife set. Good quality - Recommendations
Getco - I'll second the sweethome/wirecutter recommendation.
I'll also second a few comments about Cutco. If you're looking at a new, quality set, they're probably a bit overpriced (definitely if you're looking at used or cheap alternatives). They are good quality and we're very happy with ours. As mentioned you can send them in for factory re-sharpening or request an in-home sharpening. If they cost about 25% less than they do I'd be alot happier, but it's still something I consider a lifetime set.
I'll also second a few comments about Cutco. If you're looking at a new, quality set, they're probably a bit overpriced (definitely if you're looking at used or cheap alternatives). They are good quality and we're very happy with ours. As mentioned you can send them in for factory re-sharpening or request an in-home sharpening. If they cost about 25% less than they do I'd be alot happier, but it's still something I consider a lifetime set.
Re: Kitchen knife set. Good quality - Recommendations
Cutco knives are made out of high carbon steel and they are stamped rather than forged. They also have an oddly-shaped cutting edge that you can't easily sharpen effectively yourself. Part of what you are paying for is the "free" sharpening service.