A knife is the number one tool at the disposal of any housewife in the kitchen. Moreover, the kitchen knife should only be of good quality. Durability, resistance to wear, sharpness, unpretentiousness in leaving, a strong alloy - all these properties must necessarily relate to the characteristics of a table knife. But all of them are identified already in the process of its direct use. How to find out which kitchen knives are the best quality? You will find some of the most popular models in this article.
Production material
There are two main types of knives, differing in the material of manufacture:
- made of metal;
- made on the basis of ceramics.
According to the reviews among the hostesses, metal kitchen knives are less sharp and dull quickly, but they are easily sharpened at home. But ceramic knives are almost the sharpest and almost never blunt, although the knife itself is considered to be fragile, you can’t drop it, beat it with hard products and try to cut very frozen meat. Sharp kitchen knives are quite dangerous. It is recommended to keep them in cabinets, out of the reach of children.
Overview of kitchen knives. Advantages of metal products
To determine which knives are of the highest quality, we give a generalized comparative characteristic of two types: metal and ceramic - and also consider reviews about them.
The advantages of using metal knives in the kitchen, according to user reviews, are that they have a lot of positive properties, namely:
- strength;
- wear resistance;
- excellent ability to cut;
- ubiquitous
- loyal pricing policy;
- simplicity of sharpening.
Disadvantages of metal kitchen tools
However, among the many different opinions in reviews of metal-based kitchen knives, there are also those that are negative. In such cases, the following factors are noted:
- metal tends to rust over time;
- oxidation of the alloy from certain products occurs;
- sometimes a barely perceptible metallic taste is added to the products after processing with a knife;
- metal tools constantly require sharpening.
Advantages of using ceramic knives
Reviews of ceramic kitchen knives say about the positive qualities of such a product plan. Their main advantages include the fact that they:
- relatively tough, hard;
- very sharp, have good cutting properties;
- do not stupid for a long time;
- naturally never rust;
- very easy to clean;
- have a small weight.
Cons of ceramic appliances
Studying reviews of ceramic-based kitchen knives, the following negative points can be highlighted:
- very difficult to sharpen; in addition, when using tools for sharpening metal tools, a ceramic knife can simply be broken;
- it is forbidden to wash using dishwashing equipment, especially professional;
- from shocks they break, break, since ceramics are a brittle material;
- with excessive pressure and pressure break.
What knives are needed in the home kitchen
Many, interested in good knives, were looking for answers to their questions in all kinds of available resources and various specialized stores. They noted how diverse the assortment of knives is and how many there are of their types, depending on the destination, the material of manufacture and the particular manufacturer. With a minimum of necessary information, when choosing a specific model, you can just get confused and confused.
Is it really necessary to have so many knives in the household in an ordinary kitchen? According to many experienced chefs, it may be a bit much even the standard set, which is sold in stores (6 different knives + scissors). As a rule, at home, housewives use all of them far from every day. Most often, to mobilize a workplace when buying, they stop at a smaller number.
So, what good kitchen knives do professional chefs consider the most necessary? Among the great variety, they often distinguish the so-called cook three - this is a set of knives, which must be present at every cook:
- Chef's knife. It is considered the main working tool, which is convenient not only to cut poultry and meat, but also to chop a variety of vegetables. It is simply an indispensable tool in the kitchen. If you achieve mastery of working with him, you can stop needing all other types of knives. He is exclusively chosen, so to speak, by hand. For example, a square heavy knife, which we used to see in specialized specialized kitchens, may be too heavy for girls. In this case, it is better to choose an analog - a rounded European chef-knife.
- Toothed serreitor. This is a kitchen knife designed for slicing bread, fruits and vegetables. The length of such a product is approximately 20-25 centimeters. In appearance, it resembles a saw, but at the same time it works very delicately, does not wrinkle soft products.
- A small kitchen knife, six to eight centimeters long, designed for peeling fruits and vegetables.
Such a minimum set will be quite enough for both an experienced cook and a beginner.
Rating of popular manufacturers
Below is a rating of kitchen knives of the most popular manufacturers from around the world, as well as their positive and negative sides, based on user reviews. Having familiarized themselves with this list, many will be able to choose exactly the kit that suits them in private use. The comparative analysis included knives and sets, which received the most positive feedback from users and high positive ratings from cooks who constantly use them in their work.
Knives Samura 67 Damascus
In the first place among metal knives, the Samura 67 Damascus set deserves to be.
Products are highly reliable and durable. The manufacturer invents and creates different types of blades for the kitchen to help housewives. The blades do not lend themselves to rust, the shape of the handle is very convenient, which greatly facilitates the work.
There are three different blades in the set:
- a chef-knife, which performs the functions of cutting meat and fish;
- universal knife for slicing various products, except for large pieces of fish and meat;
- vegetable knife, convenient for cleaning and processing vegetables and fruits.
These knives will last a long time and will not disappoint. Made of high-quality metal, they do not blunt for a long time, they are characterized by high wear resistance.
The following advantages were identified by users:
- strength and stability;
- beautiful and ergonomic design;
- long breaks between sharpening.
The negative aspects of use are also there:
- the handle consists of a porous material, therefore it collects food particles and dirt from the table;
- relative high cost.
Damascus kitchen knives are universal - one knife can replace another. They are distinguished by high quality material and manufacturing process. Their blades never rust. Of the shortcomings, only the high cost, but it can be explained by the fact that in the manufacture of knives new technologies and far from cheap metals were introduced into the development.
Tojiro Flash Knives
The second place of honor is occupied by Japanese-made Tojiro Flash knives . The kit under this name includes five universal products that can be great helpers for cooks and cooks. Among the main advantages of the kit is the fact that the factory blade does not dull for a long time with this type of knife. The knives have a beautiful and elegant shape, a comfortable handle made of high quality material. But there is one significant drawback - they will have to buy expensive grinding accessories.
F. DICK 1905 Set
In third place is the functional German F. F. DICK 1905 set. Knives from the world manufacturer and leader of this industry are sold in a very stylish and comfortable stand. This set consists of four knives that satisfy all the needs in the kitchen: santoku (a Japanese knife that combines great functionality with a relatively small size), a vegetable, bread and chef's knife. Impurities of other metals are added to the steel from which the products are made, so they rarely have to be sharpened.
Grand Prix II, WUSTHOF
The fourth place is occupied by the Grand Prix II, WUSTHOF kit from a well-known German manufacturer supplying products to all corners of the world. The Germans have always been distinguished by the best quality of knife production, they used steel of the highest rates and characteristics. The presented company is widely known and popular all over the world. This kit will help both young housewives and experienced chefs.
The cutting part is made of carbon metal using technologies that have undergone special testing, which is a significant advantage against competitive products. The blades are very sharp, easy to grind, do not rust. The knives are distinguished by their excellent design, and their smooth handles, which have no gaps, are made of rough plastic, so that the knives will not slip in the hands. However, due to the popularity of the brand, there are many fakes on the market, and the pricing policy is quite high.
"The kitchen three"
And only in fifth place is the Russian set of knives. It is assembled specifically for the kitchen and includes only three knives, but it is very necessary, without which you can not do in the kitchen. A set of such a plan was made by a professional in his field, a master from Russia Gennady Prokopenkov. The kit includes a small compact knife for cleaning, a root knife and a large bread knife, which can also cut fish and meat carcasses. These tools tend to dull quickly, but they are very easy and simple to sharpen with a file. Hand made set of high quality material.
Ceramic Knives Rating
After reviewing the rating of kitchen knives made of metal, we will move on to consider more expensive products: ceramic knives. So, which of the manufacturers distinguished themselves by the most worthy quality of their product?
Oliver & Kline Best Ceramic Knife Set
This set deservedly takes first place. It combines a number of positive qualities in the design: ease of use, very beautiful and convenient product design, affordable cost and a wide range of functional abilities. The manufacturer has been leading the world for several years. The kitchen tools from this set are used by many chefs who leave only positive reviews. With these ceramic knives it is easy to work with completely different products, they are very durable, practically do not get dull. Without complex sharpening, they can last several years. Beautiful design, ergonomic shape - everything is made for the most efficient use. Knives do not slip in a hand. The set has a very stylish packaging, so it’s good as a gift for housewives, cooking enthusiasts and even cooks.
Among the main advantages it is worth emphasizing:
- sharp and precise blades;
- excellent wear resistance;
- ease of use;
- thanks to the beautiful packaging they will be suitable as a gift.
There were no significant shortcomings in this manufacturer by users.
DALSTRONG knives
These strongest knives are practically not inferior to the previous ones. The sets of this production are excellent kitchen products characterized by great durability and high quality. With active use, they retain their original appearance and properties for a long time. These products are recognized as the most durable, unlike all ceramic counterparts in the world market, which is confirmed by most users, as well as other manufacturers. Tests were carried out to check the fragility of knives, because usually ceramics often break and do not withstand excessive pressure. However, these products during tests withstood a fairly high load and did not break. Those who consider ceramic blades to be very fragile should choose this set.
The advantages of the described knives are as follows:
- they withstand heavy loads due to their structure and material strength;
- the blades in the kit of this manufacturer are extremely sharp;
- in case of breakage, the manufacturer returns the money, but believe me, this will not happen - the knives will remain safe and sound at any intensity of use.
The Kyocera
These knives are mainly intended for home use. The set consists of four universal products of different formats, so they can be cleaned, cut, chopped anything. Blades are almost impossible to blunt.
Main advantages:
- products do not corrode;
- when cutting products, filigree accuracy is observed;
- own grinder included.
MoiChef 8-Piece Premium
A set of original assembly. Each knife has its own color, which determines its functional purpose in cooking. Their handles are exactly the same, but differ only in color. With the help of these knives, you can do anything in the kitchen during the cooking process, both for professional chefs and ordinary housewives. The set includes four knives of a standard set of functions: universal, for peeling vegetables and a large bread knife.
Among the additional advantages it is worth noting that:
- blades are made of high quality material - zirconium;
- convenient color marking is very practical for quick replacement of knives;
- the original, bright and beautiful design of products sets the set apart from many others;
- the knives are very sharp, which allows cutting with high accuracy.
Of the shortcomings, it is worth noting only the complex and expensive sharpening procedure.
Checkered Chef Ceramic Kitchen Knife Set
The knives from this set are universal, the products cut smoothly, very easily and without much effort. The products that make up this set, easily, without putting much effort, will cut the products, and very thinly, due to which the cooking process will take place at ease. Work with such products will be easy and as quick as possible. Novice cooks and housewives will appreciate such ease of use and the variety of components in the set, which includes 4 knives with a stylish and convenient holder, plus scissors.
The set has the following advantages:
- comfortable grip;
- sharp blades made of zirconium oxide ;
- affordable cost;
- sharpening is rarely needed;
- attractive appearance.
The article describes only the best firms of kitchen knives. Each hostess can choose the right model based on their own beliefs and preferences.
How to sharpen a knife
Whatever kitchen knives you choose, when you use them, the question will still arise over time about how to sharpen a ceramic knife. Some models have a special sharpening included. A diamond wheel can also be used for such purposes. And, of course, the best option for sharpening a ceramic knife is to consult a specialist. Then the work will be done efficiently, and the product will be sharp and will not break.