{"id":11008,"date":"2012-11-14T10:16:21","date_gmt":"2012-11-14T15:16:21","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/10rate.com\/?p=11008"},"modified":"2012-11-14T16:35:36","modified_gmt":"2012-11-14T21:35:36","slug":"stocking-your-kitchen-with-knives","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/10rate.com\/stocking-your-kitchen-with-knives\/","title":{"rendered":"Tips for Choosing Kitchen Knives"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Brittany Rowland<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

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So you’re in charge of your own kitchen now and you need to build up your collection of kitchen tools. As any professional or aspiring chef knows, the greatest tools you have at your disposal are knives. Different knives perform different functions, of course, be it chopping, mincing, dicing, slicing, paring, scooping, sawing, or deboning. <\/p>\n

With knives, you generally get what you pay for. There are plenty of decent knives out there for reasonable prices. For better quality performance, however, you should expect to shell out more money. Before you make any expensive purchases you need to decide exactly what you need and how much you’re willing to pay for it.<\/p>\n

Do you need a whole set?<\/strong><\/p>\n

One of the first decisions you should make is whether to look for one really good open stock knife or a complete knife set. Often this choice boils down to your budget. Knife sets can be really economical if you find a decent set for a fair price. But you may also just want a good chefs knife or a basic utility knife. Perhaps you already have a knife set but a piece or two broke or went missing, and you really just want to replace those.<\/p>\n

While a fine-quality chefs or santoku knife can serve you well in the kitchen, handling most of the basic cutting tasks, it can also be quite expensive\u2014sometimes more expensive than a basic knife set that offers a bit of everything: paring, bread, utility, and steak knives. Sets typically come with a sharpening steel so you can keep the edges fine and sharp. Another benefit of the knife set is the convenient knife block that stores and protects your knives and looks so fancy on the counter.<\/p>\n

Regular or professional quality<\/strong><\/p>\n

It’s perhaps unfair to compare regular kitchen knives to professional knives, because the knives you find in most kitchens are perfectly adequate for the tasks they’re assigned. Professionals look for knife sets with extra fine edges and ceramic blades. These knives are top-quality, but they also require a lot of maintenance\u2014more maintenance than they’re worth if you’re just a regular person looking for regular kitchen knives. Regular knives, while still great quality, are much easier to upkeep. The stainless steel kind hold up well, don’t stain or rust with proper care, and sharpen easily. <\/p>\n

Picking the best knives<\/strong><\/p>\n

Sometimes what qualifies as the best in knives comes down to personal preference. Some people like a heavy, sturdy feel. Forged stainless steel blades with bolsters fit big hands well and feel powerful. Other people prefer a lighter feel, a bit more flexibility. Stamped blades tend to be a little lighter and easier to handle. <\/p>\n

Handle material also comes into play. <\/p>\n