I was originally looking to purchase a Wustof, because I have a few of them, and love the quality. My friend is an Executive Head Chef in a Boston restaurant. He suggested I buy a Mercer instead, because the quality is that of Wustof, with a much lower price tag. He was right, I love this knife. It was a little lighter than I expected, but the quality is great. I highly recommend Mercer.Mercer Cutlery Renaissance 3-1/2" Riveted Paring Knife
I was originally looking to purchase a Wustof, because I have a few of them, and love the quality. My friend is an Executive Head Chef in a Boston restaurant. He suggested I buy a Mercer instead, because the quality is that of Wustof, with a much lower price tag. He was right, I love this knife. It was a little lighter than I expected, but the quality is great. I highly recommend Mercer.Rada Cutlery Cooks Spoon With Holes, Stainless Steel, Made in USA (R125)
I recently switched all my utensils and things in my kitchen to products that were made in the USA. I found Rada cutlery after doing a search on Amazon for kitchen utensils made in the USA. These are great quality, and I am very pleased that I made the purchase. All my cooking utensils are now Rada cutlery and I ditched all the Kitchen Aid ones.Expected a polished utensil. This looks as it were sandblasted. If it is stainless you would not think it based on appearance. Photo is misleading. Best described as a clunky spoon.IMHO it is over priced
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Cuisinart 14-Piece Triple-Riveted Forged Knife Set with Bonus Santoku Knife
I tried a few knife sets before settling on this one. I tried the Kitchenaid & Farberware sets and they cannot match the quality of these Cuisinarts. They are so sharp that I had to change the way I prepared vegs they are like razors! They are heavy and well balanced. Did I mention sharp? Be careful!These knives are not meant to compete with Wustof, Henkels, and Furi knives. What do you expect for $100?However, as a set of everyday knives I have found them to be very nice. They keep an edge after I gave them a proper sharpening, they look nice, and they get the job done without messing up your nice knives. I have a few pieces of professional cutlery and of course these don't compare, but I'm not going to throw $1000 down to get that type of set, either.
Pros:
Attractive set with a nice block.
Clean up easily.
Hold an edge for a good amount of time.
Inexpensive.
Cons:
Not balanced (nothing is for this price)
Handles are a tad small for someone like me with large hands.
No slot in block for Santoku.
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I did some lengthy Internet research prior to buying this knife set. I wanted a REALLY nice set (nicely balanced, remained sharp, very dependable), and did not want to pay the outrageous price of other sets. I am not a professional cook by any means, but do a lot of home cooking with four kids. I rate this set a 10/10, and would buy it again in a heartbeat!MikeI bought this set to replace our odds and ends collection of kitchen knives and could not be happier. The block gets the knives out of the drawer and now I have something that I can keep sharp. I good sharp blade and an easy to grip handle, makes all the difference.
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This cutlery set is great.We just got married and it is wonderful for us.
It comes with a great wood block, which does not take up a lot of space. All of the blades are very sharp and are easy to hold.
It is the best set we have had. (Thanks Dad)
Magisso Stainless Steel Cake Server
I am SO disappointed at this cake server... I loved the design and practicality of this product, and was waiting for the perfect opportunity to use it. After months of owning it, I've finally used it, and was shocked that it broke during its first use! No pressure or force was applied, but it just split open at the narrower end. For such an expensive item (for what it is), I really expected it to be of much better quality.UPDATE: The company sent me a replacement Cake Server free of charge, but I haven't used it yet. Hopefully, this one won't break too...I was too excited to have this cake server that I even bought three of it for me and for my friends, but when it came it was too rusty at the edges and it might break very easily. I'm so disappointed with this product it such a waste for $39.90 USD.
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its nice to have it on the table and to show off infornt of your guests but cake do stick on the frame and make it hard to let go of the cake.Read Best Reviews of Magisso Stainless Steel Cake Server Here
Wonderful addition to any occasion, it looks great right next to the cake and it works exactly as described. Happy buyer ;)Good design and use! But has no discount makes it a little expensive! The colorful ones can't use prime, I don't know whyMeat Carving and Bread Knife
Love it, have waited for 20 years to get my hands on this wonderful knives, my previous knives lasted 20 yearsI just want to say that I have had exactly the same knife for years when I lived in the UK, and have used it for 6 years in the US.I have cut cardboard, polystryene, plastic piping, rubber and still used it to cut bread and is still as sharp as the day I purchased it.
If anyone purchases one of these, then they have got a sharp knife for life
Well done Kitchen Devil for such a good product!
Regards
Virginia
Wasabi 6716N Black Nakiri Knife, 6-1/2-Inch
Just to put it simply, we have a lot of knives from a very wide price range.This is the knife I ALWAYS grab for general usage. I prefer it to knives we have that cost 10x as much.
Thin blade, perfect shape and light weight.
NOT a chopper, not a heavy knife for butchery, but a great general usage veggie knife for the price.I used this knife professionally for 3 years until I lost it recently and I am buying another! I've seen it crash to the floor during many busy dinner rushes and it never took any damage (strength of a Global without the cost). The nakiri style is great for tight spaces or cramped cutting boards (its hard to stab yourself with it! :) Two other people I work with both bought this knife after using mine. Also, the handle is great for either hand and I like its antimicrobial properties.
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A very economical nakiri. Out of the box it wasn't very sharp. One section of the blade was sharp enough to cut a tomato well, but the rest was not, very inconsistent. For the money though it works pretty well and feels ok in the hand. In general, if you can, save up and buy a real Shun or similar higher quality product. Ultimately value is better.Read Best Reviews of Wasabi 6716N Black Nakiri Knife, 6-1/2-Inch Here
This knife is my perfect veggie prep knife. I've been going through different styles (santoku, nakiri, Chinese cleavers, etc.) and have always had some beef with the various designs. Whether too small, too dull, too wide or just not comfortable, this knife beats them all.First, it's long enough. I have a nakiri that's an inch shorter and the Wasabi is perfect. It's also wide enough. A smaller blade is usually skinnier too and I love the width of the Wasabi. Not too wide as Chinese cleavers can be (though I still use a cleaver for large, rough cuts for veggie prep). Lastly, this blade is nice and sharp. It glides through every chunk of veg I have thrown at it.
Fit and finish is awesome and I really enjoy how it feels in the hand. I'll definitely be purchasing other varieties of the Wasabi line in the future. It's the perfect balance of features for the money that I have seen. I highly recommend.this is a very sharp knife. Used for first time to cut romaine and bitter melon. Almost no effort to cut cleanly and easily. Knife itself has more of the weight in the blade than the handle, not as "balanced" as other knives but in this case, it serves its' purpose very well. Sort of reminds me of the Chinese Cleaver that I used when I was a kid helping out cutting meat and vegetables, just not as heavy. Never tried this brand before. If the product line is this consistant, I would buy these. Have been using, and still love Henckels twin but those knives are pretty pricey. I will update should the this knife become dull or developes a problem, which I am not anticipating.
Shun Pro 3-Piece Boxed Asian Chef Set
This is a fantastic set of knives. I bought them for my wife. We enlisted the help of a professional chef to compare these Shun knives with the Masahiro MV-H 10 inch chef's knife. To find the full review with videos of the two knives facing off (there's also a video of the Shun 1000/6000 grit whetstone) just Google "TrekAdvisor Shun" and it should come up.Zyliss Set of 2 Paring Knives Knife Set
It really is the best paring knife I have ever had. I lost the cover and was sick. It really helps to keep your knife sharp. I have just ordered two more knifes. In addition to the two new ones , I was wishing I could order the cover for the one i have left. But no luck with that. I had the red one.Core Bamboo Matte Finish 3-Piece Modern Bamboo Cutlery Set, Magenta
If you are also trying to use less plastic in you life, these are a great alternative. They are made from environmentally friendly bamboo and have great pink handles making them lots of fun for the kids in your life. Use them in a lunch box or for every meal like we do!I was skeptical about the knife but it all these work great and We love the different colors. I love bamboo and I am so glad these worked out for us.Buy Core Bamboo Matte Finish 3-Piece Modern Bamboo Cutlery Set, Magenta Now
Wusthof Classic 4-Piece Mignon Steak Set
The knives are made very well and look very nice but be carefull washing them. The wustof sysbol on the handels are just a sitcker and after being wased by hand about 18 times the label is peeling off from some of them. Why would the label on a $250 set of knives be made out of vinyl or some type of plastic? Still an excellent quality knife but what a cheap touch.I have nothing but good things to say about these steak knives, which I bought from Amazon more than six years ago. They work perfectly for their intended purpose, and I sharpen them when it's necessary... but they don't lose their edge as fast as other knives I've used. I put them in the dishwasher every time, with no problems with handles or blades. When they're not in use, I keep them in the knife drawer -so they get used for a lot more than just meat. You can't go wrong with these knives, and they look beautiful, too.Kapoosh 650 Knife Holder, Woodgrain Finish
I bought this block 2 months ago. The block consists of a column of tightly packed thin plastic rods. When you slide in a knife, they get displaced and snugly hold on to the knife. There are no slots like traditional knife blocks, which allows you to slide in many many more knives, and in any arrangement you choose. I currently have 13 items in the block, including a big Chinese cleaver, honing steel, 5 large knives (ie, chef's) and 6 small knives (ie, pairing)...and there is still room for more! I was skeptical at first, but now I am a believer.The plastic rods are approximately 8" long, so longer knives will stick out a little. But they still get held in place by the rods.
Pros: Fits more knives than a all-wood block. You choose the knife configuration. Cheaper than most all-wood blocks. Washable. Plastic should not dull knives.
Cons: Angle is a little too upright, so I need to slide the block out from under my cabinet (or tilt it) to get at some of the knives in the back. i purchased this block to take care of one specific problem: i couldn't fit my meat and vegetable cleavers in my regular knife block. i saw this product recommended in cooks illustrated, and they said the only flaw was the block didn't fully hold knives over 8". my cleavers are 6" and 7 3/4", so i thought i had solved my problem.
well, not really. it holds the 6" cleaver if you give it a solid shove to get it down in the rods, and the 7 3/4" cleaver sticks out above the rods by a solid inch. i assume this has to do with the front edge of the cleaver displacing too many rods compared to a standard pointed knife. so when it comes right down to it, this block can't simply house two standard cleavers not quite 'universal'.
the pros? well, i found out i could shove other useful things in it. my meat thermometer fits perfectly, and i can actually stick my metal measuring spoons in the block, handle first. this is great because i don't have to dig through a draw to find these frequently used items. so i'm happy about this.
i like the product, just beware if you have cleavers or very long knives, it's not happening.
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This knife block is a good idea. I hate trying to get my knives into a standard slotted block. I can insert knives, scissors, etc. into this block with plastic rods. Have had no problem with the rods getting cut. The only bad thing about it that I have found is that the heavier knives tend to migrate position to the bottom edge of the block if you do not have a full load of utensils in it.Read Best Reviews of Kapoosh 650 Knife Holder, Woodgrain Finish Here
This product represents a very good idea that was perhaps not as well executed as it could have been. If you like to mix and match knives, or if you simply have more than two big ones most of the pre-cut blocks out there allot for, then you'll certainly appreciate the convenience of having no pre-cut slots. Shove anything you want anywhere you want, and it sticks. But there are a few drawbacks:1. It's not deep enough to handle anything longer than 8".
2. The little plastic rods aren't rigid or dense enough to support heavier pieces well. If you put them along the top, they'll sink down until they hit something else. You can get around this by putting them along the bottom, so it's not the end of the world, but still...
3. Moisture isn't going anywhere in here. Stick a bunch of little plastic rods together and they'll create tiny capillaries between themselves which will hold water next to your blades for days on end. If you have any high end cutlery that's prone to rusting, you'd better make sure those things are wiped bone dry before you stick them in here, because they will not air out the way they would in a wooden slot.
Still, it's cheaper than one of those magnetic strips, and there's no holes to drill, so I'm keeping mine. Loved this item when I first bought it. Perfect solution. However, after a year, the knives were difficult to impossible to push down all the way. What happens is this: after months of use, the rods get bent and once they are bent, they are ineffective. The more you use this product, the more rods you bend; the more rods you bend, the less useful this product becomes. I am writing this review because I am online looking for a "traditional" knife block now.
Black & Decker CO100 Spacemaker Traditional Multi-Purpose Can Opener, White
If you have a recessed under-cabinet surface like I have, with a 1 1/2 inch skirt, nothing provided with the unit will enable you to mount it. The spacers are insufficient and the screws are too short, and nowhere in the documentation is there a cure. But before you go crazy trying to find screws and spacers long enough to jerry-rig a mount, as so many have done, call Black and Decker customer service and get parts. They know about the problem and have long screws and mounts to correctly mount the unit.I haven't yet been able to try mine, so I don't know how good it is. But whoever is responsible for the absence 0f longer screws or advice on how to get them ought to be skinned.The Amazon.com process, super deal, and availability for this unit were enough to sell me, but there were also other factors.
Initially I was becoming desperate as there were very few choices and none locally on this island out in the middle of the Pacific ocean.
First I needed a replacement for my 15 year old underconter machine.
Second Nothing that sets on the counter is welcome in my kitchen unless there is no other way.
Third I read all of the reviews of all existing in the market place machines.
Nobody really liked any of them for a variety of reasons not related to opening cans.
Fourth the reviews of this machine by all concerned were better than for other machines.
The bag ripper and sharpener are wasted on me I am far too tall to use them and the sharpening steel and fillet knife are too handy anyway.
YES SHARPENING STEELS WORK REALLY WELL AS THEY LEAVE THE PERFECT EDGE FOR PAPER AND MEAT WHEN USED ON CARBON STEEL BLADES. You already know that you only use one knife in your kitchen for everything short of chopping. If you lost it you would be devestated.
THE GOOD NEWS
IT WORKS LIKE IT IS SUPPOSED TO
IT COMES WITH ALL THE STUFF YOU NEED TO MOUNT IT
THE BAD NEWS
THE DESIGNER WAS PROBABLY 80 P0UNDS AND 4 FOOT 8 INCHES TALL
YOU REALLY HAVE TO DUCK DOWN TO SEE HOW TO SKEWER THE CAN TO GET IT GOING
BUT IT WORKS WHICH IS BETTER THAN THE OTHERS. My old presto worked a lot better but it was made in the U.S.A. and that is a hard act to follow. For a Chinese can opener this one is pretty good.
Today that is as good as it is going to get for stuff you can buy over the counter and if you want a better one you will have to get the commercial hand crank $300 wall mount one that will pull the top off anything all day long for a hundred years.
I AM PLEASED WITH IT AND WILL REMAIN SO UNTIL IT FAILS AND BY THEN ALL CANS WILL HAVE RIP TOPS LIKE CAMPBELLS SOUP.
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I had a Rival under the cabinet can opener that was terrific. It had a button to push to swing it up and out of the way when not in use. The Black and Decker is larger but fits well under the cabinet. So far it has proved to be very effecient. I haven't tried the bag opener yet but all in all it is a good product.seems to work fine as a can opener but very loud/grindy sounding motor. I really do not like the fold down front cover and would not have bought this item had the listing made it clear to me that there was a fold down front cover. the last Spacesaver can opener from B & D that we had the entire opener rotated out of view for a closed, smooth surface when not in use.also, I've had numerous Spacesaver items coffee makers, can openers, etc., over the years and not a single one of them used the same hole pattern for mounting. this one was no different. had to drill 4 new holes in the counter even though I was replacing a B & D Spacesaver can opener with a B & D Spacesaver can opener. why the heck can't B & D get smart about this simple stuff and use a common template for their mounting for a given product line??? seems SO common sense.
sorry, not at all impressed with this product and I'm being generous giving it 3 stars.
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It was easy to install under a cabinet. It works well and is easy to keep clean. I highly reccomend it.Wolfgang Puck 6 Piece Cutlery Set, Red
These knives are awesome! They're sharp, easy to handle, and the color is perfect! I recommend this set to everyone.I can't believe how great this set is for the money I paid. I am extremely satisfied with set... I have bought other products from Wolfgang Puck and the quality is excellent.Buy Wolfgang Puck 6 Piece Cutlery Set, Red Now
I was a little reluctant at first since the price was so low but these knives have proved to be very nice indeed.Read Best Reviews of Wolfgang Puck 6 Piece Cutlery Set, Red Here
This is a nice set of knives. I like the red color they will be a nice accent in my kitchen. I would buy againNot the best product. Made in China stuff with Puck's name thrown on it. I needed something cheap that didn't take up a lot of space, and they were really sharp out of the box. Probably throw them out in a year or two.Koziol Tom Jar Opener
Linden Sweden 3-Pack Osti Replacement Wire
I was excited to find replacement wires for my favorite cheese slicer, but was disappointed to have two of the three wires break within three weeks of my purchase. I think I will only need to retie the knot at one of the ends, but it won't be easy and I'm frustrated that I need to do it at all.Just to let others know that the replacement wire fit perfectly on the WMF Profi Plus Stainless Steel Cheese Slicer.Buy Linden Sweden 3-Pack Osti Replacement Wire Now
for the price this is an excellent cheese slicer. I would highly reccommend this productRead Best Reviews of Linden Sweden 3-Pack Osti Replacement Wire Here
Several years ago, I purchased a WMF Profi Plus Stainless-Steel Cheese Slicer from Amazon. After a number of years of use, the wire broke. I turned to Amazon to find a replacement wire. On the page for the Profi, it lists these wires as being "frequently purchased with" the slicer, and it seemed that reviews here indicated that this wire would work for my WMF.Indeed, they fit. But -poing! -they break. Quickly. After running through a couple of packs of these in a year, I decided to see what else might be available. I was able to find a Rösle brand wire on another web site. The Rösle are a bit more expensive, but it is immediately apparent that they are going to last a whole lot longer.
The Linden wires might never give you a problem if you are slicing Incredibly Soft Cheeses. But in our house we eat our share of aged cheddar and Gruyère. -Poing! -is the sound of Linden-on-Cheddar.
Pass these up, even with the convenience of Amazon & super saver shipping.We took a chance on buying these replacement wires for our favorite cheese cutter. By golly, they work! Not so with wires from other sources or "we can't help you with that" responses from local gourmet cookware stores where the motive is to sell you a new cutter. Our goal was to repair our old one, not buy new.
Grande Epicure Polypropylene 10 by 13-1/2 by 8-1/2mm Utility Board
We use different cutting boards for different food items to prevent cross contamination. Red is for red meat. We picked this cutting board because it had ridges on the side, which is great for catching juices from the meat. The ridges are helpful, but we were hoping they were a little wider and deeper. We still get overflow from the meat and some spillage onto the counter. It may be better for vegetables or poultry, but we will not buy again for red meat.Use this all the time great color looks good in our kitchen. It's so nice, I keep it out on our counter all the time.Buy Grande Epicure Polypropylene 10 by 13-1/2 by 8-1/2mm Utility Board Now
This board is too cute. I love using it and it's easy to clean. My only complaint is that the material is a bit soft, which means you will leave slice marks in it. Other then that, it's great.Read Best Reviews of Grande Epicure Polypropylene 10 by 13-1/2 by 8-1/2mm Utility Board Here
The cutting board is nice and rigid. The color is true to the picture. Seems to have held up well against a brand new set of knives. I've had the cutting board for about a month and it's always my go-to.Want Grande Epicure Polypropylene 10 by 13-1/2 by 8-1/2mm Utility Board Discount?
Bought this for my coworker. She has a red theme in her kitchen and didn't have a cutting board. It seems pretty sturdy.Paderno World Cuisine Mezzaluna, Single Blade
I bought this mezzaluna as a gift for my daughter. It's as close in size and style as I could find to the mezzaluna I purchased for myself in Tuscany, Italy. This kitchen tool makes cutting herbs so much easier. Love it!!I seen this here boomerang on the Amazon store on the intertubes. Figgerin it fer a answer to the varmints done took up on my land, I ordered me one straight up. Shurnuff, a couple of days later, there it was waitin in my box at Shirl's Stihl, Package Store and Post Office. I brung it home, fixin to solve both my varmint problem and my dinner problem, Ab-or-iginee style.Well, the durn thing sure looks purdy, gleaming like a well-loved still in the moonlight with all that nice stainless steel. Those two handles sure feel comfortable in the hands too. But the durn boomerang just don't come back. First varmint I seen, I a-grabbed the boomerang and took aim. Well, that boomerang took flight like a empty can of Coors out of a pickup window... straight down into the dirt, nearly got my best layin hen. I tried a couple more times and managed to hit the backhouse door. The dang thing just don't wanna come back tho.
So I gived it to my woman, who got to puzzling on it. She done figgered it for a mighty fine terbaccy chopper, maybe even for them vegetables city folk like to eat. I'll be dipped!
Shun DM0712 Classic 7-Inch Chinese Vegetable Cleaver
I've been cooking for over 15 years (I'm not that old), and I grew up in a Chinese family. A Chinese Chef knife is exactly that, it is not a cleaver, despite the resemblance. This is the one knife a Chinese chef will use in the kitchen for just about everything.Trust me, I've tried cleavers, they are not a replacement for a real Chinese Chef knife. I've also used many of the Chinese Chef knives that you can pick up in many Chinatown shops and Asian specialty shops. (BTW, I'm from the largest Chinese community outside of Asia, so we are not lacking the "goods").
The Shun classic....is amazing. It is perfectly weighted, and the grip is fantastic. I can grip the knife with confidence even when wet or dealing with meats.
The blade is the sharpest I've used of _any_ Chinese Chef knife. The first time I used it, I was mystified why it took so much effort to cut (it was supposed to be sharp, wasn't it?). The reason was, I had already sliced through everything without noticing and was already pressing on the cutting board!
One problem is that it also cuts into my cutting board with relative ease. If I don't remove the blade straight up, I hear a sound which makes me think the thin edge is being knicked. However, so far, no real problem, the edge is still perfect.
I have still been a bit wary to use it to hack at bones, but I think that fear will go away. (When I say Chinese chef's use it for everything, I mean everything).
I don't care about a Damascus steel look, but I can attest that the surface has no problems with releasing food. Slides off easily. I've used many different Chinese cleavers over the years. From the cheap no-name $4 cleavers to the higher end Dexters. While shopping I stumbled across the Shun Chinese cleaver and my jaw dropped at the inherent beauty of it. Once I picked it up and looked at it I knew I must have it. Everything about it screams quality. It's balanced beautifully, is thin, made from V10, has an resin fused pakka wood handle and of course had the gorgeous grain in the steel from the 16 layers they use to forge the blade (these are not stamped knives).
I ended up buying both the Chinese cleaver and the 8" chefs knife to replace my old work horse Dexter chinese cleaver and my 9" Henckels. Out of the box these knives are sharp. You could do eye surgery with them. They hold an incredible edge. These are hands down the best knives I've used or owned.
Do not be intimidated by the price. Yes, they are on the expensive side but these are, as I have stated, simply the best knives out there today. They will last a lifetime. You will not be dissappointed. The kick butt over the Wusthof Culinars (which I think are fantastic knives).
Shun has created a knife that stands heads and shoulders above the rest.
Buy Shun DM0712 Classic 7-Inch Chinese Vegetable Cleaver Now
I bought this knife a year ago. It rapidly became my favorite cutting implement. I postponed reviewing it to make sure initial infatuation was not coloring my opinion.The balance is near perfect, the blade shape works well for cutting, slicing, mincing, and chopping. The steel readily takes a sharp edge and holds it well. This cleaver excels at both moderate cutting and delicate work. The wood handle is warm and easy to grip even with wet hands. The strong blade allows using the side for mashing and as a spatula, the back as a scraper and tenderizer, and the end of the handle to pulverize.
Whether this knife is worth the price of admission depends on the depth your pocketbook and your intended use. For those wanting a fancy knife to display, the Damascus edge makes for a striking appearance. That did not rate high on my list, but I presume it does for some. I use this knife on a daily basis; it is a pleasure to work with and does the job with a minimum of drama. The build quality is such that I see this knife lasting for many a year to come. After having used, abused, and worn out a number of lesser cleavers, my only regret is not purchasing this one sooner.
Addressing several comments made by previous reviewers:
D. Symanski's cleaver came with a sharp spine. Mine did not, nor did ones I have handled in several stores. I do agree with the mention of the asymmetric handle. This knife comes in left or right hand versions. Using the Shun with your off hand is uncomfortable at best. If, like me, you are used to wielding two cleavers at once for mincing meats and veggies, you will need to pay attention to which hand holds the Shun. My cleaver came sharp for a factory edge. A few minutes with stone and strop brought out a wickedly sharp edge, but the out-of-the-box blade was serviceable. That's a rarity for most cutlery.
DAL notes that the edge notches when cleaving a chicken. This is a medium cleaver, weighing the shy side of 12 ounces. Heavy cleavers start at a pound and a half and go up from there. The VG-10 steel used for the cutting edge is not the best choice for whomping on thick bones. The Vanadium content makes for a fine-grained metal (i.e. easy to sharpen and takes a razor edge) but it can bend or nick, particularly with the thin working edge this knife has.
rl123 compares the Shun to a Dexter cleaver. Owning one of each, my preference is strongly for the Shun. If you are not going to use this knife often, a cheaper one should suffice. As a daily workhorse, I know of none better than this baby.
As Bobo mentions, this knife slices into soft cutting boards. A good end-grain wood block solves that problem.
Read Best Reviews of Shun DM0712 Classic 7-Inch Chinese Vegetable Cleaver Here
I agree with the previous reviewer: this is the sharpest, most well made Chinese chef's knife out there. However, I guarantee you won't find this knife in any authentic Chinese kitchen because this knife is just too expensive.If you want to get a good Chinese chef's knife, you should buy the high-carbon stainless Dexter-Russell cleaver (costs around $40). It is only slighly less sharp but the difference is not noticeable, especially if you are chopping rather than slicing.
There is nothing wrong with the Shun knife; it's just way too overpriced. It's just a knife, and no mass-produced kitchen knife is worth $170, no matter how sharp it is.
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Many of the other reviews critique this tool as either too expensive or that it is inadequate somehow for cleaving bones and parting out. This is a misinterpretation of what the knife is designed for. The Chinese use two different blade designs in the cleaver pattern. One is a cleaver in the western sense, in that it is an impact cutter, this pattern has a blade about 2x as thick as a vegetable pattern (like this one.)This knife is meant to be used more like a thin chef's knife, santoku or large nakiri. Once you get used to using it this way the method is very practical and flexible. Instead of the full block of various knives, you can reduce yourself to one of these, a 6" utility, a 3" paring and a meat pattern cleaver if you do a lot of parting out. I find that I use the cleaver for virtually everything, slipping back to regular pattern knives only when I need a sharper point for something. For those who critique it as too expensive, I would encourage them to take a look at what pro-quality forged tools go for on other sites, I've seen comparable tools going for over 2x what Shun is marketing these for.
The biggest drawback is that stainless steel tends to hold a rounder edge. By that I mean that the edge is very durable but slightly less sharp, and harder to sharpen than high carbon steel. However, that is the price one trades for easy maintenance. A sushi chef, for instance, will sharpen and wipe down his blades at the end of every day. For those of us who are less conscientious, this is perhaps a rational trade off.
Le Creuset Stoneware 3-Tiered Server, Cherry
I'm such a fan of Le Creuset, especially the Cherry red color, and a piece I was missing was a serving piece like this for Christmas cookies, little cupcakes or muffins, and other fun treats. My mother has her favorite tiered dish and I was always a little envious of hers, until I found this one. This server is a great addition to my kitchen, which has a lot of bright red accent pieces.Sure, the price is a little steep for a dish, but I consider this a special piece for gatherings. It always gets comments and compliments, and I love the way it looks. Out of the box, it required a bit of assembly, which was easy, and the ring at the top feels very sturdy. I can easily move it from countertop to table, fully loaded with tidbits, and not feel a bit uneasy. Well made, beautiful, this server is a piece I'll enjoy for a lifetime.
Norpro 1527 Shanghai Crab Scissors
Was given one of these to use for lobster this past summer and was amazed. All those years living in Maine and twisting, pulling and pushing to get the meat out of the lobster.... These cut through the shell almost like paper. Retrieved the meat in chunks without the shredding that often happens when using picks and so much easier and less messy. I just ordered more to give as gifts.We love these scissors and look for restaurants to take them to and use them. I would recommend them to anyone.Buy Norpro 1527 Shanghai Crab Scissors Now
These scissors performed wonderfully. Made easy work of cutting through the crab shell. I ordered 2 for less than 1 of the other brands. The only thing that would make these scissors better is colored handles. My 2nd pair disappeared during at a crab feed because the white handle blended in with the white plastic table cloth, white disposable plates and white crab shells and a bus boy must have picked them up in a pile of shells. I'll let my family buy there own next time but will recommend these scissors to them.Read Best Reviews of Norpro 1527 Shanghai Crab Scissors Here
These scissors do not work for me as a crab cut. They might be useful for something else in the kitchen.

