Recommend me some knives...

[timetex]

I don't want to totally break the bank...

...but I do need a new set of knives, so will coincide with moving house in a couple of months.

I definitely need / want:

• bread knife
• carving knife / fork
• large chef / chopping
• santoku or similar
• veg / small knife

No need for fish filleting, or anything too specialist.

I've been using some relatively cheap 'Analon' branded knives, along with an unbranded carving knife / fork, but years of abuse, dishwasher and being in the hands of the missus and family means they're pretty ruined (she also tries to use the carving knife to chop with, heathen!) They've also lived in a kitchen drawer which isn't the best for them either.

When we move, I'll also want either a knife block or a magnetic rack (don't mind which) but the key thing is not to have them rattling around a drawer any more!

Budget maybe £200-£400 but would like to include the block or rack, but if I have to spend more I'd need to justify it.

Looking for something that feels nice, chops and slices well, is relatively hard-wearing.

Ideas?

[cbmotorsport]

Wusthof or Henckels would be my choice. I've used both commercially, and the decent grade ones are great.

Also make sure you only ever chop onto wood or nylon boards. Glass/stone/slate will blunt your knives.

[timetex]

cbmotorsport said:

Wusthof or Henckels would be my choice. I've used both commercially, and the decent grade ones are great.

Also make sure you only ever chop onto wood or nylon boards. Glass/stone/slate will blunt your knives.

Good point about the board. I use chopping boards made of something I can't remember, but they're black and definitely not glass, stone or slate!

[TIGA84]

http://www.hartsofstur.com/acatalog/Global-G-29511...

[zygalski]

TIGA84 said:

http://www.hartsofstur.com/acatalog/Global-G-29511...

Ah yes, the marmite of the knife world.

[SVX]

TK Maxx is always a winner for my home kit - if you aren't too fussy about having all the same brand for different purposes... I bought a cheap set of Italian knives that I considered disposable, but two years on they are still holding true.

I shan't open the Japanese/German debate

Edited by SVX on Wednesday 1st March 18:10

[craig1912]

I have a few of these

https://richmondcookshop.co.uk/index.php?cPath=23_...

I just have a cheap bread knife but had the rest about 6 years and love them.

[timetex]

zygalski said:

Ah yes, the marmite of the knife world.

I did used to have some Globals years ago, but the missus at the time totally wrecked those in the dishwasher.

Seems to be a repeating story.

Maybe I should get a couple of missus-proof 'disposable' knives and keep mine out of reach (I'm 6'4" she's 5'0") then once I've used mine, they can be wiped down and hung up, whilst she can put 'hers' in the dishwasher.

Ok let's open the Japanese vs German debate. Let's hear the pros and cons!

[Moonshiner]

Victorinox all the way for value for money.
Really dependable machine stamped knives that hold a good edge

Edited by Moonshiner on Wednesday 1st March 19:55

[battered]

Victorinox are very good and a popular choice in meat cutting factories where I have worked. The downside is they are all function no bling so score badly on the showing off to your mates front. If the latter is important, choose something else.

Global are nice but too bloody hard for regular use and sharpening. Great when new. Top class bling. Good choice for sushi chefs, bad choice if anyone abuses them. My only global was broken by someone abusing it at workt, I reground it and use it for rough work.

[Moonshiner]

battered said:

Victorinox are very good and a popular choice in meat cutting factories where I have worked. The downside is they are all function no bling so score badly on the showing off to your mates front. If the latter is important, choose something else.

Global are nice but too bloody hard for regular use and sharpening. Great when new. Top class bling. Good choice for sushi chefs, bad choice if anyone abuses them. My only global was broken by someone abusing it at workt, I reground it and use it for rough work.

Agree with this completely , Victorinox aren't for showing off with to your mates, but, you can fully stock all your kitchen knife needs with quality blades and not have to worry about looking after the damn things (chuck them in the dishwasher!)
A little more expensive but still a good choice with a decent brand name would be Zwilling/ Henckles which has already been mentioned...
As for German vs Japanese, they are for completely different uses, Japanese being thin and brittle aimed at precision, German more thick and sturdy good for chopping up a chicken ect...
All in my opinion of course

[citizensm1th]

Swibo wenger literally the swiss army knifes of catering

http://www.nisbets.co.uk/3/Kitchenware-and-Knives-...


they keep a nice edge and last forever

[zygalski]

I've used Stellar Sabatier knives for years now. A great workhorse knife, but again, not one to show off the friends & family. I agree about Victorinox, too. Excellent value for money. I find Globals have a really odd balance & are far too light in the hand.

[wolfracesonic]

citizensm1th said:

Swibo wenger literally the swiss army knifes of catering

http://www.nisbets.co.uk/3/Kitchenware-and-Knives-...


they keep a nice edge and last forever

I think the Victorinox is literally the Swiss army knife........

[Europa1]

battered said:

Victorinox are very good and a popular choice in meat cutting factories where I have worked. The downside is they are all function no bling so score badly on the showing off to your mates front. If the latter is important, choose something else.

Global are nice but too bloody hard for regular use and sharpening. Great when new. Top class bling. Good choice for sushi chefs, bad choice if anyone abuses them. My only global was broken by someone abusing it at workt, I reground it and use it for rough work.

Another vote for Victorinox from me.

[SpydieNut]

a few years ago, after a similar thread on here, i ordered a few knives from Japanese Chef's knives and am very very pleased with them. Well balanced and not as heavy as Henkels (this may or may not suit you, but I like it) and absolutely razor sharp. I ordered a Minosharp to keep them in top condition

In the past I've had Henkels - they were nice too, but more expensive than the Misono range I chose from JCK above.

Tried Globals - didn't get on with them at all.

[addz86]

I got some Richardson sheffield ones from amazon and they've been good, this set https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B00590DY2M/ref=mp...

I run them through one of their sharpeners every now and again and they come out good as new

[Ascayman]

https://www.chefsknifestore.co.uk/?gclid=Cj0KEQiAo...

[citizensm1th]

wolfracesonic said:

citizensm1th said:

Swibo wenger literally the swiss army knifes of catering

http://www.nisbets.co.uk/3/Kitchenware-and-Knives-...


they keep a nice edge and last forever

I think the Victorinox is literally the Swiss army knife........

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wenger


it pays to know your swiss army knife history

[Cotty]

I have a bit of a mix of knives, some from when I was just starting out cooking and didn't know any better. Cheap knives from supermarkets and non branded stuff that still holds up today with a couple of Victorinox with plastic handles that I don't remember buying but still very good knives. I have a Ken Hom cleaver that I was given and I have a 120mm Petty Japanese Chef's knives

But they were all just rattling around in a draw and wanted a nice looking set in a block that wasn't going to break the bank and yes I could put in the dishwasher if I was feeling really lazy. Ok here is where I get some flack, I like Jamie Oliver and I like his food, some of the stuff he comes out with is crap like his flavor shaker but I looked at his knife set, looked at a few comments and watched some YouTube reviews and they look ok, not fantastic and not st just middle of the road knives. They get the job done which is all I want. I got my set a bit cheaper as I found a set where the packaging had been damaged

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B001U0O1CC/ref...

If I want to I could pull out the Japanese Misono, sharpen it with my double side whetstone and shave with it, but for chopping some veg and carving meat the Jamie Oliver knives are fine.