Kitchenware Ideas on How to Buy the Ideal Set of Knives

Regardless if you’re a keen cook or just starting, for easy cooking, you will need a well-balanced, sharp and comfortable knife as it’s the only kitchen tool capable of chopping up an entire chicken to finely mincing garlic or herbs.

Kitchen Knife Set Buying Ideas

After finding platters that work with every occasion, you will also need the best knives for every cooking task. Having suitable blades on hand is essential to make cooking more pleasant and effective. But, finding the ideal set of blades can be a daunting process if you decide to roam brick and mortar stores. Your safest bet is to buy kitchen knife set online so you can adequately research the brand you’re considering and read some reviews. 
Here’s what to consider when shopping for a kitchen knife set online. 

The Variety of Blade Materials

Knives’ blades are made of four basic materials. 

Stainless Steel 

Stainless steel knives are the most prevalent since they are easy to sharpen and do not rust readily. They are, however, prone to flexing, bending, and becoming dull quickly. This is because stainless steel is softer than others (such as carbon steel).

Carbon steel

Carbon steel is a traditional material for making blades since it keeps its sharpness long. On the other hand, carbon steel knives require more care and maintenance than stainless steel kitchen knife sets because they are prone to rust (seasoning with mineral oil will help avoid this). They are the ideal kitchen knives set for serious cooks who aren’t on a budget. 

Damascus steel 

Damascus steel knife consists of carbon steel core and stainless steel exterior. They’re recognizable by their bold motifs that run along with the blades, and they can be pricey because they’re usually handcrafted. However, consider trusted brands, especially when buying kitchen knives online because some stainless steel knives have been coated to resemble Damascus steel.

Ceramic 

Ceramic knives are affordable, sharp, and light. They don’t rust and need to be sharpened once in a while, but they chip quickly and are difficult to maintain at home because ceramic is extremely hard and requires the use of a diamond sharpener. Typically, you must return them to the supplier for sharpening, which is inconvenient.

Pick a Lightweight Knife over a Heavy One

There is no such thing as an ideal knife’s weight; it is a matter of personal choice. Although most experts agree that a chef’s knife, for example, should be heavy, keep in mind that you don’t want a blade that is so heavy that it strains your wrists when you’re using it.

Consider the Knives’ Comfort & Balance 

Some knives feature rubberized handles for added grip, while others are moulded to fit the contours of the hand, and a few combine both. Make sure the handle doesn’t have any angular or sharp edges that could cause pressure points in your hand. Some handles feature smooth bolsters, the wide area between the blade and the handle, on the top to let your forefinger rest easily.

The knife’s weight should be balanced between the handle and the blade. If you lay the knife across your middle and forefinger where the handle and blade meet, does it tilt one way or the other? The handle will not cut as effectively if it is overly hefty. It will be challenging to use if the blade is too bulky.

The Right Tang Type 

For those unfamiliar with the term, the unsharpened, exposed blade section that continues down the handle is referred to as the tang. There are three basic types.

Full Tang 

The blade is made of a single solid piece of metal that runs the length of the handle. The tang is visible on some knives and is held in place by rivets. A full-tang knife is always the best option because it has a better balance and a more durable design.

Rat-Tail Tang

The knife blade narrows and is frequently welded at the base as it passes through the handle. Knives with a rat-tail tang might loosen over time, resulting in a broken handle.

Half Tang

The blade of the knife extends halfway down the handle. Because the knife and handle are only held together by glue, a half tang knife can snap if too much force is applied.

Choose the Appropriate Handle Type

Whenever you decide to buy kitchen knife set online, pay close attention to the handle type of the set you are about to purchase. Depending on your cooking preferences, there are three main types.

Plastic Handle 

Plastic handles are usually smooth and free of grooves that can collect dirt. Some plastic blades are also somewhat rough, making them easier to hold. To avoid melting the handle, keep them away from the heat during cooking.

Wooden Handle 

Although easy to maintain, wooden handles often require lubrication with knife handle oil. As a result, most modern wooden-handled knives have a light clear plastic coating for enhanced protection. 

Left-Handed

The double bevel on most knives makes both sides angular and sharp, making them suited for right- or left-handed users. However, certain blades, mainly bread knives, have only one bevel. This indicates that the blade is only sharp on the right side.

The Knife Your Kitchen Needs 

Chef’s knife

The chef is a versatile knife that can handle a variety of jobs. The heel of a chef’s knife is thicker, making it ideal for hard root vegetables, potatoes, and meats.

Santoku 

The Santoku knife is a multi-purpose knife that originated in Japan. Its blade is thinner than a chef’s knife, making it ideal for dicing, chopping, and mincing.

Paring knife

The Paring knife is small and nimble-perfect for peeling, coring and carefully slicing.
On the other hand, the Serrated Paring knife’s blades have a serrated edge and are ideal for chopping tomatoes and oranges.

Utility Knife 

Utility kitchen knives sets are the mini version of chef’s knives. Best utilized when the chef’s knife is too large for the job, these small knives are perfect for slicing tiny veggies or carving chicken breasts.

Carving knife 

You will need a carving knife to slice meat and poultry joints because when using the improper knife, you risk shredding, ripping, and chopping at the flesh.

Bread knife 

Cutting fibrous-skinned fruits like pineapples necessitate the need of using a bread knife. Its sharp serrated edge allows for easy cutting through crusts and rusks.

Peeling Knife 

The Peeling knife is very similar to the Paring one, except for its blade that curls inwards. Due to this, it simplifies removing tough skins of fruits and vegetables.