knife Posts

The Right Tool for the Job: Why You Really Need These 10 Most Used Kitchen Knives

When you walk into a passionate cooks kitchen you are sure to see several knife blocks, and lots of magnetic strips all displaying an assortment of knives that would make the Bondon butcher tingle with joy. You may be wondering what all those knives are for, what each one does and if it makes a difference.

Tourne Knife

The tourne knife is among the family of utility knives. It is similar to its more traditional companion the paring knife but with a bird’s beak blade which is shorter (two-three inches long) and with an upward curve.

Ceramic Knife

A ceramic knife is made from a very high grade industrial ceramic known as zirconium oxide. This substance is very hard, being only slightly softer than that of a diamond. That makes the blade of this knife harder than steel of even the highest carbon count. It will not easily dull and needs only to be sharpened occasionally (usually less than once per year). These knives are good for slicing very thin cuts due to their exceptional sharpness.

Chef’s Knife

The chef’s knife is also called a cook’s knife; it is an all-purpose knife that is used for chopping, dicing, mincing, and slicing. This knife comes in lengths of six, eight, ten, twelve and fourteen inches. The hefty weight and very good balance of the chef’s knife allow for heavy duty tasks such as thicker vegetables, larger fruits and tougher meats.

Cleaver

This knife has a short wide blade that is very rigid and thick that tapers with a very sharp cutting edge. This knife is used to chop, shred, pound or crush ingredients. The blade has a beveled edge and is balanced and heavy. The back edge of the blade can be used for the breaking of bones, pounding of meat and the crushing of seed and garlic.

Deli Knife

This knife was originally designed for cutting through thick sandwiches and has a blade made for dealing with the various ingredients of a sandwich from soft vegetable to tough meats and heavy bread. The blade is off set which allows for easy usage and good handling.

Filet Knife

The Filet knife consists of a very long, very thin and flexible blade that comes either 6 inches long or 11 inches long. The purpose of having such a narrow blade is to allow the knife to move easily along the back bones of fish and around bones and joints.

Roast Beef Knife

The roast beef knife is good for cutting all kinds of meat, including ham, beef pork and lamb. It is made with a very long grantoned blade that can be laid across the length of a roast; the blade is usually between 12-14 inches long.

Santoku Knife

This knife is the Japanese equivalent to the chef’s knife and is the primary knife used in the preparation of Asian dishes. It has a short, wide blade that is thinner and has a long, straight cutting edge that curves upwards at the tip.

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Finding the Best Budget/Affordable Kitchen Knives in America

If you want to add a new level of sophistication and function to your kitchen but have a set budget in mind take a look at the best budget kitchen knives online. In each budget category we have selected the best of the best so that you know you are getting the best value you can for the price you can afford.

To get started, in our $50 price range we have our R.H. Forschner 3-Piece Fibrox Chef’s Knife Set from Victorinox. This is a great starter set for people who want a good knife set but don’t have a lot of money to spend. In this set you get the three essentials – A chef’s knife, a slicer and a paring knife. The knives are top-quality, after all this is the company who produces the world famous SWISS ARMY brand of products. Even professional chefs who can afford $1000-a-piece knives rave about the ruggedness, and super sharp edge. These knives are German style which means that they are very handle-heavy with a sharp, durable blade and a full tang. They are a great set to match up with a nice basic Japanese set to give you a well equipped set of cutlery for under $100. This is a great way to get started with best budget kitchen knives.American Victorinox Knife Set

Our second budget group is designed for those who have between $100 and $300 to spend. Among this group, looking for the best budget kitchen knives, they can afford a slightly more impressive set of knives for the kitchen and we recommend the Messermeister San Moritz Elite Mini set. This company although not well known in the United States is a producer of extremely high-quality knives worldwide, in the same caliber as Wusthof and Henckels but at a lower price due to their limited marketing strategy; they are top quality. For those looking for the best budget kitchen knives in this price range this set is a sure bet. The blades are made of very high grade steel – a high-carbon blend containing molybdenum and vanadium for sharpness and edge-retention. They feature a full tang and have a Rockwell hardness rating of 56. This is topped-off with a POM handle designed to never chip, break, fade, crack, melt, warp, bend, scratch, peel or pit. The handles are molded from the material and are a joy to hold. Messermeister provides free lifetime re-sharpening as well as a lifetime warranty on these knives.

Lastly, for those who want high quality but still want the best budget kitchen knives that won’t break the bank, let’s look at the $300-$500 range. Here we find the Shun knives. Now, granted Shun knives are not exactly what you would call “budget” but they can be very cost effective if you choose to select a small set of basic essentials. These knives are worth every dime that you spend on them and you may find yourself trying new recipes just so you can get your hands around your shun knives again. The under-blades are forged from high grade VG 10 steel; this is the same steel you find in top grade Japanese knives. This under-blade is then wrapped with 16 layers of the highest carbon steel available. The result is a Damascus style blade that will hold its sharpness and retain its edge for many years, even decades, with proper care and handling. The Rockwell hardness factor is almost at the top of the scale for kitchen cutlery with a rating of 61. We suggest going for the 6-piece set if you don’t mind not having a bread knife and want to save $100. That puts a basic set of Shun in the beautiful Bamboo block on your counter for $500. That’s what we call the best budget kitchen knives with style.

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Top 10 Chefs Knives of 2010

When it comes to finding the kitchen knives that will be hot this year you need not look further than your local store to find the top 10 chef’s knives of 2010.There are some new styles that are out on the market and as a result will lead to people having to buy the latest innovations from the makers of these fine knives.

I love all 10 of these knives and im sure you all will agree, so without any further delay, here are the top 10 of 2010.

1. Global 8-inch Chef

Global 8-inch Chef's Knife

This knife that comes from one of the top makers in Japan is considered to be one of the best knives that you are able to get on the market today. These knives are preferred many times by chefs for their preparing of food. These knives are great for holding a sharp edge in order to ensure a proper cut each and every time. In addition you can know that the knives are light so as to prevent fatigue of your hands.

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2. Wusthof Classic 9-inch Chef’s Knife Le Cordon Bleu

Wusthof Classic 9-inch Chef's Knife

This German company has been making knives for several years. These knives are designed with thick and heavy construction. The blades are able to be sharpened easily and with very little effort. This makes these knives a popular choice among many of the chefs.

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3. Kershaw Shun Classic 8-inch Chef’s Knife

Kershaw Shun Classic 8-inch Chef's Knife

These are made with durable construction in an effort to make full use of all of the advances made in the last several years. Durable construction along with a sturdy blade makes this a popular choice among many of the better kitchens across America.

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4. Henckels Five Star 8-inch Chef’s Knife

Henckels Five Star 8-inch Chef's Knife

These knives are one of the reasons why this company has had a reputation of some of the best construction in the last several years. You can be confident that these knives will not wear out as they tend to maintain their edge for years.

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5. Sabatier 8-inch Carbon Steel Cook’s Knife

Sabatier 8-inch Carbon Steel Cook's Knife

When a company has been making knives for over 150 years you know that you are dealing with a quality product that will stand up to the test of time. Now one word of caution about this is that you will have to make sure that you are careful to not expose the knives to water as they will have a tendency to rust easily.


6. MAC Mighty Chef 8 1/2-in Standard French Knife

MAC Mighty Chef 8 1/2-in Standard French Knife

The company, which is in America, has been making top quality knives for several years. This has earned the company the award of being recommended by the top chefs in the world. Many of the knives are designed in the French style and offer a person a wonderful experience when they are in the process of making a meal.
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7. Misono UX10 Gyutou 8.2-inches

Misono UX10 Gyutou 8.2-inches

Style meets budget and you will be amazed at the quality that goes into each and every detail of these knives. This knife features stainless steel blades that compliment the durable construction that makes the handle. The materials that are used in this knife are top of the line and feature all the quality that you would expect from this company.

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8. Nenox S1 210mm Gyuto

Nenox S1 210mm Gyuto

This knife combines the best of all worlds: style, design and quality all in one package. The blades are designed to never wear out and rarely will need to be sharpened. This knife is the desired brand by chefs all over the world for its performance.


9. Tojiro DP F-808 21cm Gyoto Chef’s Knife

Tojiro DP F-808 21cm Gyoto Chef's Knife

When it comes to style and grace this knife has all that you are looking for; the best of both worlds. The blades are designed with the best of quality in mind and are designed to always be sharp without ever losing its edge.

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10. RH Forschner Victorinox 40521 Fibrox 10-inch Chef’s Knife

RH Forschner Victorinox 40521 Fibrox 10-inch Chef's Knife
This knife comes from a company that is known all over the world for quality. The blade is made from top metals that are able to ensure that you have the best in quality. Choose a knife from a name that you already know and trust. If you liked this article, please link to me, i need the love! :)

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