Always purchase the best that you can afford...
Feb 07 '01
The Bottom Line Purchase knives that are comfortable and balanced, with a full tang, and care for them properly.
When buying knives, there are several things that you should look for. You see, knives are the most important arsenal in your kitchen - with a sharp knife, you can accomplish a number of tasks more quickly and efficiently that any machine.
Quality constructed knives cost a bit more than the cheaper brands, but they will last a lifetime with proper care. I recommend Wusthof-Trident knives, with their excellent balance and grip. You should choose a set of knives that feels comfortable and balanced to you, and with proper care they will last you for many years.
A quality knife is formed from high carbon stainless steel, an alloy that can be sharpened easily and will not rust, discolor, and is extremely durable. A portion of the blade, the tang, fits inside the handle. The best knives are constructed with a full tang running the length of the handle. You can see this if you look at the knife on it's edge - the metal portion of the knife goes all the way through the handle. If the tang does not go all the way through the handle, the knife is of lesser quality and will most likely last a few years at best.
Whatever your needs in the kitchen, there are 2 knives that you should never be without. These are your chef's knife (again, I prefer the 10" blade), and a paring knife (I actually use a tournee knife, with a curved tip). With these two instruments, anyone can accomplish 99% of the tasks in the kitchen.
Always, always make sure that you keep your knives sharpened - a dull knife is many times more deadly than a sharp one. You may think it to be the other way around, but think about this. A sharp knife will easily cut through food items, whereas you have to put much more pressure on a dull knife to accomplish the same task. While putting excess pressure on a dull knife, many times the blade will slip off of the food and it is very easy to cut off a finger. So, it is much better by far to keep your knives sharpened and ready to use.
To recap, whatever brand of knives you decide to use, make sure that they are comfortable and balanced to you. In the end, you will be able to use best that to which you have become accustomed.
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Epinions.com ID:
afollmer
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Member: Amanda Follmer
Location: Louisville, KY
Reviews written: 76
Trusted by: 7 members
About Me:
Married to a wonderful husband, and we have 2 girls.
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