So, we’re not helping by trying to help you get a good set, but save money? OK, game on! Here you go:
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An alternative thought (although, still on the topic of individual knives vs a set):
Along with your "good" knives, be sure to have a set of knives that you'll willingly throw into the dishwasher because you can.
20 years later, we are still using the "surgical steel paring knives w/plastic handle" that were obtained as freebies for watching some roadshow demonstration at either a home improvement show or a big box store. They do what we want them to do, and we throw them into the dishwasher without a moment's notice.
We have an old chef's knife from a beginner-kitchen block set (wooden handle) that's probably 30+ years old, maybe. Cuts perfectly well, into the dishwasher it goes. Eventually it'll die. It's lived a good life.
A $15 ceramic knife from a big box housewares aisle. We like the balance, the cutting. Dishwasher-bound!
The "good" knives? Hand-wash only.
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Cuisinart makes some good dishwasher safe knives - many with all stainless construction including stainless handles with embossed grip. And Victorinox "Fibrox" are excellent and DW safe... https://www.webstaurantstore.com/vic...AaAglJEALw_wcBLast edited by treesmacker; January 3, 2022, 09:42 PM.
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These are the rainbow knives that Selena Gomez uses on her HBO cooking show (we like the show a lot. great fun)
she gets compliments from her guests on how sparkly they are.
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As long as you've decided to buy individual knives based on this thread's advice: we suggest you start with your basic 8" chef's knife. (the 12" will only run you about $7500, but the 8" here should be just fine)
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I would be in the anti-set crowd but if I had to buy a set I would look at this 8 piece Dalstrong set. Has a decent sized slicer, chefs knife, and a couple others that would get good use. They also sell some steak knife sets to go with it.
I have a Dalstrong Gladiator butchers knife and a Shogun X chefs knife. I have had them for a bit over a year now. When I first saw Dalstrong stuff I thought it was too gimmicky but after using them I love them. I have an E5 sharpener but haven't had to use it yet on these knives. They are still plenty sharp and they get quite a bit of use.Comment
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Thanks Joe, for the suggestion which actually fits what I asked about. 👍
Last edited by Panhead John; January 3, 2022, 07:35 AM.
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I didn't bother to read anyones post, I'm too excited to share this:
I have somewheres in the 15-25 kitchen knives, most are hand made in Japan and I've never told my wife exactly how much they're worth...and these are as good as the more spendy ones.
Get a mag block you can mount on the wall and blam! You look like a culinary badass with little to no real output (ask me how I know 😎)Comment
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Yes you have asked for recommendations for a good knife SET. However the best advice you are getting is to NOT buy a set. You asked for the BEST.
The best advice is to go to a high end knife store and hold each type you are interested in. Balance and fit is best experienced in person. If I were buying a set I’d go for the Kramer Stainless Damascus as the high end best. If not Kramer than a set of MAC Professional series. The problem with sets is you are buying filler knives that you don’t need. You end up over paying for stuff you don’t need.
All knives will cut just keep them sharp. The type of steel and fit and finish are what differentiates a knife. Carbon vs stainless. Hardness and edge retention. Blade shape affects how you will use it, rock chopping or slicing.
I switched from German to Japanese style knives and cutting veggies is now fun. These thin lasers are wicked sharp and slice effortlessly.
I still keep my Henkles for tough squash that requires a thicker blade.Comment
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Well, thanks John! Hope you’ll be happy to know that reading through all of this I decided on a new Victronix slicing knife. Should be here in 4-5 days. 😂Comment
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Glad to help Razor….these people are brutal aren’t they? 😂 -
Oh, sure, you had to go and do that, which, of course, forced me to do the same thing! I love Victronix knives - great quality, low cost. I have their boning and filet kni9ves as well. Been contemplating a slicer. Now, as Pogo would say "I are one" - well, "I own one"! -
I also love the Victorinox "Fibrox" knives... nothing fancy, but sharp and useful!
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Serenity Knives is in Houston and sells Eastern and Western knives as well as custom knives. Ya might want to check them out and actually get a feel for a few. I don't know anything about them except what's on their web site...Comment
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I just saw their prices Ron….I guess you’re gonna chip in with me to pay for these? 😱 -
Ya only need two or three, and you could do that for less than $1K. But really, they have Tojiro and Miyabi. You could go and handle a few to see what feels good in hand.
Panhead John
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So, to help you spend som more money…..
What cutting board/cutting boards do you have to pair with these fancy knives you are buying, as ecowper mentions?
As for knives….you have a lot of advice here. I can’t add anything that hasn’t been posted.Comment
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Ok, just found an option for me, I might go this route. After posting that set of Wusthoff’s pic, many of you are saying buy individual knives instead of what comes in the set. Here’s the best of both worlds…for me anyway. I just noticed on their website you can pick out what block and what knives you want in your set… along with the number of slots you want in the block. Pictured below is the block I want..it has 15 slots total. I know that the bottom 4 will be for my steak knives and one for the honing rod and I definitely want a pair of scissors, for a total of 6 slots filled already. That leaves 9 slots left for the knives I need! More than enough for me. If you’re just bored and have nothing better to do,
you can go to their website and see the choices of knives it gives you. It even tells you the choices you can make for each slot, depending on the width of the slot. They’ve really made it easy to do, once you pick a knife from a choice of 3, you just click "next" until you’re done.
So my next question is…If you have only 9 knives to use in your kitchen, what would your choices be? ecowper mentioned yesterday that I should include an 8†Chefs knife and a 7†Santoku. 2 good choices IMO. Below is a link to Wusthoff’s site showing the choices it gives me. Thanks for your suggestions!
Last edited by Panhead John; January 3, 2022, 09:00 AM.Comment
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PJ, I guess the question is whether the slicer is long enough to be useful - for big brisket, I would hate to have anything shorter than my 12 inch slicer. And can you fit it in the block - there are only three 2 inch slots. If I had to sacrifice something for the slicer, I would give up the carving knife. I find myself doing a LOT of carving using a fillet knife. I used a fillet knife to carve an entire 20 pound turkey for thanksgiving. -
This is really cool...the blocks are beautiful. I don't have any Wusthoff knives, but they have a great reputation... I would include a bird's beak if it were me... I just like them... I grab it first if cutting almost anything; especially fruit and veges, great for avacados. I use this in place of a regular paring knife. https://www.wusthof.com/search?query=bird%27s.
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Buy 3 knives:
8" Chef
3" paring
5" serrated
These will do everything you need. Spend the most on the chef. 2nd most on paring and the least on the serrated.Comment
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Put the shears in the drawer with the poultry shears, the crab shears, and the other assorted scissors. You won't use 'em often enough to warrant keeping them in the block on the counter.
I'd suggest TWO 8" chef knives (or a 6" and an 8"). The one you'll use, and the one you'll wish you had available when the other one is being washed or otherwise occupied.
Thinking about this -- also brings up a different question for a different thread about steak knives.Comment
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Panhead John : what can we say? We like to put things in our drawers! -
WillTravelForFood I got arrested at Walmart for doing that.
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I like the comment on two chef knives - for when you may be cutting raw meat and need another for veg and such. Many times, I’m using at least 2 of my chef’s knives. So, that’s a great thing to do with those slots. And even a smaller chef knife is nice to have. Or the chef’s knife and a santoku.
then a pairing knife, a slicing knife and a serrated knife. That’s six total.
Three others of your liking??? A bread knife if you need it? Longer chef knife? Another santoku. Or double up on the pairing knifes?Comment
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After I went to the website and picked out everything I thought I might need…it was up to $1,500! 😱 I might have to leave a few out. 😂 -
Panhead John - if you want to store the knives in a block, could you purchase the block and then look to some Mercer knives to get exactly what you wanted? Mercer on Amazon are pretty good, that or Victorinox. I’ve picked up some separate knives that Cooks Illustrated has rated pretty high over the years and have been happy with them and they are very well priced. Not sure if you have looked that way or not and I know there have been a number of mentions on knives.
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