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The Cooks Knives GuideAn Invaluable Guide to selecting the best Kitchen Knives
Knives are arguably the chef's most essential tool in the kitchen. Whether you are looking for professional chefs knives or simply enjoy cooking at home, it is important to choose a knife which is most suited to your needs. There are many different brands of kitchen knives available, each unique. The majority of the kitchen knives we sell are constructed from stainless steel - each of these brands has their own 'recipe' of stainless steel, each specially developed for particular properties. Ceramic and titanium knives are also popular. You can compare features of the knife ranges we stock on our knife comparison chart. When choosing a knife, there are many aspects to think about such as suitability for the job in question, handling, comfort, sharpness, durability and obviously the cost of the knife. First of all, how will you decide which are the best knives for your needs when looking at a range? Think about what tasks you may need to use a knife for. Remember different cutting jobs require different blades and knife sizes, using the proper blade is safer and makes preparation easier. In a typical kitchen there is perhaps not always a need for specialist knives such as palette knives or filleting knives. The most essential knives are a small 2" or 3" peeling knife for round vegetables, a 3" or 4" Paring Knife for paring and slicing fruit and vegetables, a 5" or 6" utility knife for general peeling, slicing, and carving, an 8" or 9" cooks knife for chopping and dicing and an 8" or 9" bread knife. Also a carving knife and carving fork are always a good idea. We have a Knife Glossary for more information on the different types of knife available. What about cost? A knife set will usually offer significant savings over individually bought knives, though you are limited to the manufacturer's choice of knives. There is huge variance in price between different brands, although a high quality knife will more than pay for itself over the years. More expensive brands such as Global or Henckels are made of harder steel which is sharper and maintains its sharpness longer than cheaper knives. These will cut far more easily and last a life time even under rigorous use, washing and sharpening. Usually these makes are designed for optimum balance and comfort, though this is often down to the your own preference. However, even budget knives come with sharp blades and most are suitable for everyday use at home. If you are an infrequent visitor to the kitchen, a budget knife set will be adequate for your needs. If you are serious about getting the best out of your knives you will need a sharpening steel or whetstone as knives are at their most effective when sharp. A sharp knife needs less effort to cut and makes the job both easier and safer. Have a look at the knife sharpening guide below for more information on this. To help you make up your mind, we recommend that you have a look at the comparison chart below and read the information sections on each of the brands we stock:
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Knife Comparison Chart
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