Good quality kitchen knives?

[pokerfan]

A lady friend of mine loves to cook but has terrible knives as became apparant over the holidays. I know how to sharpen knives but could not get these cheap POS's to take much of an edge, let alone keep one.

I've had Dexter-Russell's recommended to me and I've also heard that Henckels are overpriced and overrated. I think I'm going to check out soem local restaurant supply stores figuring professionals care more about functionality than brand names.

Forschner, Victorinox, etc.?

Opinions?

[Spider Jerusalem]

1. Seriously, I'd recommend either Henckels or Wusthof.

From my experience with both, they're very good and well worth the slight premium one pays for the name.

[ForrestGump]

2. Most chefs I knew or know favor Henckels and Victorinox, but there're all

sorts of wild and wacky élite knives out there from companies we've never heard of. I don't think you could go wrong with either of those two...maybe a DUer chef type will catch this thread and help you out.

[SeattleGirl]

3. We have several Henckels knives

and absolutely love them.

[CanuckAmok]

4. Henckels "S series".

We received a set as a wedding present, and I was sure I got them in the divorce. They are the best knives I have ever owned, aren't overpriced for what they are, and are incredibly durable. They are dishwasher safe, and the parts (handles, rivets, etc) are guaranteed for life.

I even bought a couple of extra "S series" knives (a serated bread knife and a 3" paring knife) to use in my shop; I use them to cut a/c and radiator hose, automotive plastic, vinyl, and even fibreglass, and they have yet to even need a sharpening.

http://about.pricegrabber.com/search_getprod.php/masterid=1535907/

Nine good knives and a block for under $400. They will last a lifetime.

Whatever brand you buy, make sure the steel is forged, not cast or stamped. Forged are far more durable.

[auntAgonist]

5. Henckels : I love mine.

[radwriter0555]

6. Well. those are the 3 she needs, nothing more.

You could also check out a real restaurant supply. It's not necessarily the brand, but the heft, the tang and the quality of the steel itself. You should find better prices at a restaurant supply, that's where I got mine.. I still go and drool, but have no need to buy new ones, right?

Buy her the stone and rod as well, with instructions, so she knows how to maintain them.

[pokerfan]

7. Thanks for everyone's advice

I love knives; I'm totally clueless about kitchen knives. I love to sharpen them, too. If they can't take the hair off my arm then they aren't sharp enough. :)

I have the address of a couple of restaurant supply stores. I plan to check them out tomorrow. I think it's time for a post Christmas present.

[ET Awful]

8. I have my beloved Calphalon Katana series that I'd put up against

the best Henckels, Wusthof, etc. any day of the week.

http://www.calphalon.com/calphalon/consumer/katana/thecollection.jhtml#

[TheBaldyMan]

9. Sabatier n/t

[Stockholm]

10. Sabatier is my choice too - lasts forever!

Expensive but simply the best.

Used Global before but gave them away as I never felt comfortable with the metal handle. Also stay away from the new ones from Porsche.

[ET Awful]

13. BUT, if you are going to buy Sabatier, buy the real stuff, not the

stuff they market via stores like Target and Wal-Mart.

They are two very different beasts.

[AirmensMom]

11. Depends on the Henckels.

We just got the Professional "S" ones and they are great. Consumer Reports rated them second, just below the Henckels Twin Select, which cost twice as much. Other Henckels are rated 4th, 13th, and 14th. Victorinox came in at 19th.

They have Wusthof at 3rd, 4th, 9th, and 12th, depending on the series.

[Burma Jones]

12. Well, I would say Wusthof or Henckels, but if they are not

well cared for, you might as well buy Ronco. I have Wusthof and they are exceptional, but you have to treat them with great care, hand wash and immediately dry and store in the wood block, etc, etc. Most Chefs keep their own knives. Mostly, I've seen Line Cooks use the sort of knives shown in your pictures because they're inexpensive and are usually run through a dishwasher.

[NewHampshireDem]

14. Global, without a doubt

My father-in-law, who is much more knowledgable about these things than I am, swears by them. He has virtually every knife Global makes--along with some from Henckels and Wustoff and a couple of really obscure Japanese ceramic knives--and uses nothing but the Globals.

I myself have their chef's knife, cleaver, and their small utility (paring maybe?) knife and beside my $3 serrated knife for cutting bread, there's nothing else in the kitchen I use. The handle does take a little getting used to, as does the 'heft', but I find them perfectly balanced and easily sharpened to a razor edge with just a few passes on the steele. I think the $90 or so the chef's knife costs is well worth the money. I've had mine for five years now and still love it. You can find it here: http://tinyurl.com/aux4n

BTW, a problem with both Wustoff and Henckels is that they have such a wide range of products. They make cheap, but overpriced, crap knives as well as good quality knives, and so unless you are very savvy, it's hard to know what you are getting. Better to stick with

[Rabrrrrrr]

15. Henckels, absolutely, but the higher end kind.

And I prefer the santoku way more than the chef knife.

[Shell Beau]

16. I bought my grandmother some Henkel knives and they

dulled very quickly. Cutco is a great namebrand for knives. Pricey but worth it.

[Shell Beau]

18. The knives I got her were the higher end kind. I bought

one knife at a time. Some were $100 per knife. So I was very disappointed to find out that they dulled so quickly (the JA Henkel knives)

[northzax]

38. High end steel knives always dull quickly

I find, but they sharpen very easily as well. The really expensive ones are professional tools, and really, most people don't need them or know how to deal with them, and are better off with lower level blades or ceramics. I don't need professional knives any more than I really need a professional range, or stand mixer.

[Beausoir]

17. I just got a set of Wustof Classic.

Very very nice knives. Sleek and beautiful. They take the work out of chopping.

[Patiod]

19. I'm broke, but the investment in a chef's knife was well worth it

Couldn't afford a whole set, but a nice Henkle's chef's knife and a sharpener has made cooking far more pleasant.

No need to spring on everything at once.

[kick-ass-bob]

20. I actually love Cutco knives.

They'll even come sharpen them (with a short presentation of course)

[Shell Beau]

21. My aunt bought some for my g-ma and my mom for Christmas this

year. They came with a sharpener and a cutting board. They were very very nice. I wish I had gotten some too!
They are better than the Henkel knives I bought for my g-ma. They dulled so quickly and they were pretty expensive. And they didn't come with a sharpener. They said they had to be sent off to be sharpened.

[kick-ass-bob]

24. Also, if your Cutco breaks, you can send it back, and they will replace it

But, I have not had that happen yet (I've had them for 13 or so years, and use them almost every day)

[Shell Beau]

26. They have a lifetime warranty?

I'm getting me some.

[kick-ass-bob]

27. Here are the details, it's not all free, I see. But, I know the part about

an in-home appointment, and the person will sharpen them for you (we just did it) so you don't have to pay to ship them, if you can find a local rep.

http://www.cutco.com/jsp/customer/guarantee.jsp

[Shell Beau]

29. Interesting. I think there are some local reps around here.

They sell these knives at a local store called "The Everyday Gourmet". They probably have some info. too!!

[bleedingheart]

30. their potato pealer is sweet!!! so easy to use that my daughter (7)

can peel potatoes and apples for me....and she doesn't lose her grip on the peeler...

[kick-ass-bob]

35. yes - that was actually our free gift when the guy came over!

It is way cool.
:thumbsup:

[bicentennial_baby]

22. haha, my brother used to do that for a job

working at Cutco...my house is full of that stuff! :wow:

[Shell Beau]

23. Do you like it?

The Cutco stuff?

:hi:

[bicentennial_baby]

31. yeah, i do!

especially the gardening tools! :bounce:

good to see you back in the Lounge! :hi:

[Shell Beau]

32. It is good to be back!

:bounce: :hi:

[kick-ass-bob]

25. I tried it one summer.

I was horrible at it. Of course, I was trying to sell something that cost more than my gross annual income at the time. :P

[bicentennial_baby]

33. my brother was ok at it, but he burned out

real quick...they wanted him to come back the next year, but he declined :)

[kick-ass-bob]

36. They were glad to see me go.

:rofl:

[bleedingheart]

28. My husband sold Cutco and my mom worked for Alcoa who made them originally

so...as you can imagine I have a house full of Cutco!

I love them!

I even own the fabric scissors now and I am thinking about buying 8 more steak knives since I only have 8 to begin with and when I have loads of family over...it isn't mannerly to share utensils...hee hee..

[MN ChimpH8R]

34. Love my Wusthofs

but the care instructions in this thread are a must.

Also have heard good things about Kyocera ceramic knives.

[Tyrone Slothrop]

37. I'm a Wustoff man myself

I've had my knives for several years and have never experienced anything remotely approaching a problem (or a dulling) with them.

[graywarrior]

39. I use this one for everything

[Mz Pip]

40. Ceramic knives

They're expensive but wonderful. I bought a small 4" one and use it all the time.

Mz Pip
:dem: