Kitchen Knife Sets
The kitchen is considered a special place in the home, as culinary masterpieces are born in it. To prepare original dishes, you need to have professional tools such as knives on hand. These kitchen accessories are of different types and purposes, so it is best to purchase them in a set.
Peculiarities
Kitchen knives are an important tool, without which cooking is impossible. Each knife is used to perform a specific operation, therefore, in order to maximize the functional tasks of slicing, you should have a set of knives. They are presented on the market in a huge range and can be sold with or without special stands. Kitchen knife sets are classified into chefs (used only for cooking), serving and mixed.
The complete set of kits may include both knives and additional accessories. Kitchen sets also differ in the number of items. Most often, manufacturers produce products up to 5 pieces in a set, from 5 to 10 or more 10. Sets, consisting only of cutting working tools, are intended, as a rule, for household cooking and are available in two types: camping and for the kitchen. In this case, the first option is completed with a special box (case), which simplifies the transportation and storage of instruments.
The most common sets are considered to be those that include 3 basic knife models: for cleaning vegetables, universal and chef. If financial possibilities allow, then you can purchase combined sets consisting of 3 main knives and 2-3 additional knives (for slicing fillets, bread, tomatoes and cheese).Kits, complete with accessories such as magnetic holder, peeler and scissors, are hugely popular.
They are designed for both domestic and professional use.
Knife blade materials.
- Steel. They are characterized by high strength and easily cope with cutting any product. Steel products differ in size and shape. Their only drawback is that such knives require careful cleaning and sharpening.
- Ceramics. They are lightweight, which makes slicing convenient. In addition, such items do not need to be thoroughly cleaned. The disadvantage of ceramic knives is that they cannot cut very hard products and they break easily when dropped.
- Titanium. In terms of their operational characteristics, they largely prevail over steel and ceramic knives. Titanium spraying is characterized by high hygienic properties, it is resistant to acids, does not rust and does not leave a metallic taste on food. The only drawback of such tools is their high cost.
Before giving preference to a particular set of knives, it is important to consider their quality, functionality and price. Experts recommend purchasing good kits right away. Although they are expensive, such financial investments will pay off over time.
What knives are included?
To facilitate the cooking process, each housewife should have a set of knives in the kitchen, while it is not necessary to purchase sets with a large number of elements. The set should include the following knives.
- Chef's knife. This is one of the main helpers in the kitchen, which allows you not only to quickly cut vegetables, cheese, but also chop greens. For novice cooks, it is advisable to buy 8-inch knives. For professional chefs, there are 10-inch tools available that are designed for advanced cooking.
- Vegetable knife (for cleaning). Unlike the previous type, this product has a smaller size and allows you to quickly peel vegetables and fruits, which significantly reduces the cooking time.
- For slicing bread. Knife with a wide long blade with a wave-like sharpening. With this tool, you can not only cut the hard crust of bread, but also chop chocolate or gently cut a cake. When choosing such a knife, it is best to give preference to models made of steel. They are scratch resistant and their surface does not chemically react with food.
- Carving knife. In the event that you plan to cook meat often, you should buy kitchen sets that include a carving knife. This tool has an elongated appearance of a two-pronged fork. With the help of it, it is possible to chop and cut the meat, securely fixing it on the cutting board.
- For the steak. This tool is typically used for cutting and slicing a whole piece of meat (grilled steak). It is referred to as an additional type of knives, since it is usually used not in cooking, but for serving. The shape of the blade of this knife is oblong, the length is from 10 to 13 cm, the width is from 2 to 3 cm. The main feature of the tool is the presence of an even butt.
- For tomatoes. It is a subspecies of cutting tools. Its design has a ribbed blade and a forked tip designed to separate the peel and seeds of the tomato. This model can also be used for slicing and other vegetables, fruits with soft filling and dense peel (oranges, grapefruits, lemons).
- For cheese... Chefs usually use several types of cheese knives in cutting, each of which is designed for a specific type of product (creamy, soft, hard). The tool has a wide but short blade. It is slightly tapered in the middle of the blade and sharpened at the top. The length of such a knife does not exceed 13 cm. Some models of products are produced with a perforated structure.
- For oil. Such a knife is used both for slicing and for spreading butter on bread. It is also used for processed cheese. The instrument has an oblong shape, looks like a spatula, its end is not sharp, wide and rounded. The average length of such products does not exceed 13 cm. They can be used both for cooking and serving.
In addition to the above knives, a high-quality sharpening should also be included in the kitchen set, which will help extend the life of the tools and keep them in working order.
Rating of the best manufacturers
Sets of kitchen knives are currently presented on the market in a chic assortment. They differ not only in quality, design, price, but also in the manufacturer. The most popular models that have proven themselves well and received many positive reviews include several.
- Samura Alfa saf-0085 / Y. It is a compact and versatile set consisting of a chef's knife, stand and sharpener. With this tool, you can cut fish, meat and shred fruits and vegetables. Despite the fact that the country of manufacture of this product is Japan, it has also been successfully produced by Russian manufacturers using Japanese technologies. The blade of the product is made in European style, so it is convenient to hold it in your hand. The blade is 201 mm long and has a Rockwell hardness of 60.
The advantages of this set include durable material of the knife blade (anti-corrosion steel) and exquisite design. In addition, the knife is very sharp and keeps sharpening for a long time. As for the shortcomings, there are none, except for the high price of the product.
- "Povarskaya Troika" (produced by Wusthof). This set is characterized by the absence of unnecessary parts and perfect quality. The professional tools included in the kit have rounded handles and straight lines. Their design perfectly combines shiny steel with black plastic. The blades are forged from corrosion-resistant steel, their sharpening angle is 20 degrees, the type of edge is double-sided.
This set is a great gift for any housewife.
- "Yaxell gou yaz7010". This set includes professional knives made of Damascus steel. They have an original design and unsurpassed sharpness. The length of the chef's knife blades does not exceed 25.5 cm, its hardness is 63 units. The advantages of the products include ergonomics, efficiency and the possibility of using them in professional cooking. The downside is the very high price.
- Tramontina Centery. It is considered an excellent choice for both experienced and novice chefs. This is a budget option for a set that allows you to cope with cutting and slicing by 90% in the kitchen. Knives are sold with a sharpener and stand. They retain their sharpness for a long time, are easy to use, but are not suitable for cutting small products.
- Lion Sabatier. The forged items included in this kitchen set come from a French manufacturer. They are designed to work with both hard and soft foods. The blade length is 20 cm. Products are characterized by good sharpening, versatility, suitable for both professional and novice chefs. The only drawback is that this set does not include a cover.
- Hatamoto color. Suitable for those housewives who like to decorate the kitchen in a special style, complementing it with expensive accessories and tools. The main knife in this set is made of carbon steel, which makes it durable. The product also does not need frequent sharpening. Knife handles are made of durable plastic, they have bright colors - from blue, yellow, red to purple and green. The advantage of the set is the original design, ergonomics, the minus - it cannot be washed in the dishwasher.
If the product is not wiped dry, it will rust quickly.
- Fissman Vortex. Knives from this brand are produced by a well-known manufacturer from Denmark. The products are characterized by an average price and high quality.They are intended both for cutting meat, and for cutting vegetables, fruits, having a round shape. The kit includes a special case that protects the instrument from damage if it falls to the floor. The knife blades are ceramic, sharp, do not require frequent sharpening. Lack of products - they can only be used on a wooden cutting board.
- Chinisera. Anyone can afford to purchase a set from this brand, since its price category is low. The knives included in the kit are made of zirconium ceramics. They never rust or leave a metallic taste on food. The blade of the tool is very sharp so it does not need to be sharpened again. These knives are ideal for those who lead a healthy lifestyle and try to preserve nutrients in food during their preparation.
- "Power of Granite"... This set consists of vegetable, universal, butcher's, chef's and bread knives. In addition, the manufacturer supplies the set with a convenient ceramic vegetable peeler. Thanks to this set, you can quickly prepare both simple and complex dishes. Due to the fact that particles of granite are applied to the surface of the blade, the product has increased strength. The handle of the knives does not slip in the palm, as it is made of bekelite. The disadvantage of the set is that it can often be found on the market in the form of low-quality fakes.
- Frank Moller FM-364. For those who want to purchase a quality set of ceramic accessories, this option will be ideal. The products are produced by a German manufacturer and have a rather ergonomic and striking design. The knives included in the kit quickly cut any food and do not need to be sharpened frequently. The standard set consists of a chef's (blade length 15 cm), a universal (12.5 cm) and a cleaning knife (10 cm). In addition, the set is complemented by a comfortable stand and a vegetable peeler.
- Blaumann Crocodile Line. This is a Hungarian kitchen knife set which consists of 5 pieces. It is equipped with a knife for peeling vegetables, fruits, a chef's, universal knife, as well as a cheese knife, a knife for slicing bread and a vegetable peeler. All tools are made of stainless steel and the peeler is ceramic coated. The beautiful design of the handles and versatility make these knives indispensable in the household.
But despite the gorgeous description and good technical characteristics, these products cannot be washed in the dishwasher.
How to choose a set?
Before you buy a good set of kitchen knives and not give up on it the next time you use it, you need to take into account many important indicators. Experts recommend paying attention to the following characteristics.
- Material for making products. Most knives are made from ceramics and steel, with each of these materials having their own pros and cons. It is best to give preference to steel knives, they are of high quality and last a long time.
- Blade hardness. The optimal indicators for him are considered to be an indicator on the Rockwell scale from 60 to 63. In the event that this figure is lower, you need to think about the quality of the tool.
- Ease of use... Before purchasing cutting tools, you should hold them in your hand. The handle should be comfortable and lightweight.
- Price. The financial factor is one of the main factors when choosing a set of kitchen knives. Cheap items can be unsafe and are unlikely to last long.
- In addition, you need to pay attention to additional complete set of sets. Good options usually include not only quality knives, but also special stands, covers. There is no need to buy large sets straight away, the knives of which will rarely be used.
For information on how to choose knives for the kitchen, see the next video.