Togiharu Molybdenum Sujihiki
Ginkgo Starlight 5-Piece Stainless Steel Flatware Place Setting, Service for 1
Wusthof 9755Classic 2-Piece Knife Starter Set
The Wusthof Classic line is the more conservative counterpart to the Grand Prix line. The only difference, however, is the handle style. I personally prefer the Grand Prix, but this is an issue of personal preference. The balance and grip of these knives are as close to perfect as I have found. For those wondering what benefits a higher priced knife provides, one benefit is that the blade (or tang) is one piece all the way through the handle. This makes the blade much stronger, and less likely to snap.
This set includes an 8 inch chef's knife, and a 3 ½ inch paring knife.
The 8 inch chef's knife, is a great knife. Wusthof offers three sizes of chef's knives, 6, 8 and 10 inch. For most home cooks, I think the 8 inch knife is the best choice. The 6 inch is a bit small for bigger jobs, but the 10 inch is too big for most jobs. While the 8 inch isn't perfect for all uses, if you are only buying one size chef's knife (and most people only buy one), this is the one I would recommend.
As for the 3 ½ inch paring knife, this knife falls into the category of overkill for me. Most cooks will get by just fine with the 4 ½ inch utility knife. There is really no notable difference in size for the vast majority of applications between the 3 ½ inch paring knife and the 4 ½ inch utility knife. I prefer the 4 ½ inch utility knife, but the 3 ½ inch paring knife will do the trick for most tasks.
This set is a good deal; however, if compiling a set myself, I would include the chef's knife and the 4 ½ inch utility knife. Judge for yourself.In June of 2003, I wrote a blurb praising this starter set. My opinion from then hasn't changed, except the last part where I wrote that I couldn't justify Wusthof's price for those knive you don't use every day. Well, I lied. Since then I have replaced virtually every knife I had then with a Wusthof. Whether I was dicing veggies, carving a roast, or simply cutting up a chicken, I just got to the point where I could no longer tolerate using an inferior knife for the job; so I upgraded as I went along. All my old knives went into my camping box (you're supposed to be "roughing it" when camping, right?).
The knives in this set are superb. The problem is that after using them, you are liable to do as I did and spend lots of money later. Be warned.
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I received as a gift a set of three Wusthof knives when I moved into my first apartment. At that point in my life, I knew NOTHING about cooking, and could barely boil water. The knives sat in their box for several months before I finally got around to opening them. These knives, however, are absolutely amazing. The difference between my Wusthof knives and a "regular" knife is really impressive. I have been using them for over three years now on a daily basis, and have not yet needed to sharpen them. They easily cut through tough, sinewy cuts of meat, while still being sharp enough to tackle delicate fruits and vegetables without ripping at them. I have since, for the sake of experimentation, tried other "quality brand" knives including Henckel, but nothing has come close. I am now working on completeing my set of Wusthof.Read Best Reviews of Wusthof 9755Classic 2-Piece Knife Starter Set Here
I must tell you, I finally decided to pop for these knives as an indulgence; and then I had a bad case of buyer's remorse. You know, "How in hell could I justify paying 100 bucks for 2 lousy knives?". I like to cook, but I've been getting by with "decent", although relatively inexpensive knives. Anyway, that remorse lasted until I prepared my first meal. My God, what a difference. I can't justify popping for Wusthof for knives you don't use much, but for the ones you find yourself using every day, it's worth it.Want Wusthof 9755Classic 2-Piece Knife Starter Set Discount?
If you're planning to cook, the cookware and knives will be your primary tools in the kitchen. For that reason, buy the best you can find it's an investment that should last 30 years and be used by your children, too. I looked at 10" chef knives at the store and they were cumbersome and too large. This 8" felt better, had a sturdy feel to it and you could sense the craftsmanship when holding them. These stay sharp, haven't shown any signs of wear or rust and are quality made and heavy. Great starter set, and will last you for years to come.Wusthof Silverpoint II 6-inch Chefs Knife
Kasumi 84018 - 7 inch Santoku Knife
Jaccard Ceramic 3-Inch Peeling Knife
(1) The ceramic blade isn't nearly as sharp as I'd expect remember, this is a brand-new factory blade purchased direct from Jaccard (via Amazon). The whole point of ceramic materials is that they hold their edge perfectly over time... well, this edge started out crappy so it is going to stay crappy. I find it very hard to cut into a fresh cherry tomato, where I can do this easily with my 20 year old $10 Henckels knife with old crappy steel that I've sharpened hundreds of times.
(2) The blade is a bit large for a BB. I measure it as 82mm from base to tip (linear, so add a bit for the true arc-length). My Henckels is 68mm, which is a much better size. To be clear, this has nothing to do with my hand size, or the handle size, or the combination of the two (both knives fit well in my hand, which is average sized). What sucks is that the blade itself is larger than lots of things you'd want to pare with it. FYI the Jaccard's maximum arc is 3.5mm and the Henckels is 4mm, so the Jaccard also has a pitifully wide radius of curvature.
(3) The ceramic blade is fairly thick stock (measured at the back, not at the blade edge), which is especially bad on a knife meant for fine-paring as it means there's a fair amount of pressure and drag when you're trying to slip the entire knife inside something being pared. My Jaccard is = 1.80mm, Henckels BB = 0.71mm. For reference my Wusthof Grand Prix I (not II) regular paring knife is = 1.24mm and a relatively even thickness, my Global 20cm chef's knife = 1.75mm and a slightly tapered material ("Japanese style" thin for a full size chef's knife) and an old Henckels 20cm heavy "German style" chef's knife (from the same set at the BB) is = 3.15mm (this material is very tapered so it has a very thick feeling spine). On the cutting edge the Henckels BB goes gradually down to 0.38mm, where the Jaccard has a wedge-grind about mid-way and still only gets down to 0.64mm near the sharpened grind. I think a good BB knife needs very thin and flat material, so this Jaccard doesn't seem great.
(4) The blade has a very inconsistent radius-of-curvature. This is going to be hard to see in my picture, but it basically *looks* like this knife was sharpened free-handed by an unskilled laborer. I'm fine with handmade products, assuming of coure the craftsman doing the hand-work is better at it than a machine, which clearly isn't the case here (or the machine has really bad tolerances). This may sound nit-picky, but when you're trying to make a precision cut in a piece of food by drawing the knife along it, even a fraction of a millimeter change in the curvature is very noticable and annoying. This particular point is the main one I'm citing with the company to try to get them to give me a new and better knife.Pros:
knife came with a custom-made sleeve
medium price *for ceramic* (as opposed to real expensive ones)
Cons:
#1 above
#2 above
#3 above
#4 above
#5 above
Unknowns:
I haven't had this long enough to know how well the ceramic holds up to chipping or staining.This knife takes some getting use to as the blade seems to be on the wrong side. I am use to using the Bird's Beak blades.
OXO Good Grips Professional 8-Inch Slicing Knife
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Excellent performance carving roast, ham and bird. Knife well ballanced and easy to use.Read Best Reviews of OXO Good Grips Professional 8-Inch Slicing Knife Here
I tried to crack open a coconut with this knife boy was that a mistake. i needed the right tool for the job. I ended up damaging knife and had to buy another one. Cleaver works great for coconuts. This knife cuts like butter easy to sharpen and works flawlessly.Want OXO Good Grips Professional 8-Inch Slicing Knife Discount?
The knife was a gift for my mother in law who is starting to suffer from some arthritis in her hands. She absolutely loves this product!Global G-11L - 10 inch, 25cm Left-Handed Yanagi Sashimi Knife
I do think it could be sharper when you receive it. Other
than that it cuts precisely and can be used to cut very thin
slices.Really good built quality and super sharp. Handle is very nice and has a good grip. Not issues with slipping.
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I love this knife!!! I have small hands and the size doesn't bother me at all. Global knives are the best. The handles are the most comfortable I've ever used. I have other knives, but I have a tendency to go to my Globals more. This carves through frozen chicken like butter. Unbelievable.....love it!!!!!Read Best Reviews of Global G-11L - 10 inch, 25cm Left-Handed Yanagi Sashimi Knife Here
Mundial 5817-10 10-Inch Cimeter Knife, Black
United UC1337 Knife Storage Case Small Holds 15 Knives
**I posted pictures as well to show what I'm talking aboutThis case looks great online and once i got it and tried putting my knives in it not all of them fit because there was only a limited amount of slack in the elastic. So i had to improvise and all my knives have pocket clips so i clipped them onto the elastic bands instead of having the bands hold them into place. The case itself is very nice and it will do a great job at protecting your knives from scratches and it is also a very nice display case once you have it opened.
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I have 8 knives,,each on stand by for EDC...I'm not a knife collector,,but wanted a small nice looking case to keep my great 8 protected and dust free..This case does the job....Elastic holds em down....Red cover cloth keeps em scratch free...The "leather feeling" material has a nice look and touch....The little packet that comes inside of the case (seals out moisture)I leave it in there with the knives....
This can hold 15 or 16 small to medium sized knives (I wouldn't fit a knife that was over "5 inches closed" inside)......Overall Great Case
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The product itself is not bad but it will not hold larger knives easily. I have a few different SOG, Benchmade, and Boker knives that fit, but pull the elastic so tight that fewer than 10 knives fit total.Want United UC1337 Knife Storage Case Small Holds 15 Knives Discount?
Will hope 15 knives or more depending on size. I use it for small antique pen knives. Definitely worth the money.ForkChops, H20
Wusthof Culinar 5-Inch Tomato Knife
Enter the tomato knife. The serrations initiate the cut where the edge is placed whatever the angle between blade and skin; the legendary sharpness of the Wusthof blade then completes the slice with ease. A meal's worth of tomatoes can be reduced to slices in a jiffy provided you're right handed, since the serrations are on the right side of the blade.
This isn't just any tomato knife, though. This tomato knife is from Wusthof's premium Culinar line. In addition to having Wusthof's high carbon stainless blade with a full length tang, it also has the Culinar line's ergonomic 18/10 stainless steel handle. When one picks up the knife, the handle feels like it molds itself to one's hand, making it a joy to use. Before I got this knife, I always served tomatoes in wedges; now I look for excuses to slice them.
The price does match the premium quality, though. Whether this knife is worth that price depends on how many tomatoes you slice but if you do buy it, you may find your tomato consumption going way up!This knife and the Wusthof 5" Santoku Hollow Edge have been the workhorses
of my kitchen for about 8 years since I bought them. We have a lot of
knives, but have never used better knives than Wusthof. This tomato
knife is irreplaceable! We use it not only for tomatoes, but also for
deli and slicing a myriad of other foods. We have been giving them
as gifts for years and each recipient praises them constantly. The
blade holds an edge for a long time, and they are easy to sharpen. This
knife has perfect weight and balance and feels comfortable in the hand.
I suggest hand-washing them, as does Wusthof. The dishwasher dulls any
knife's edge.
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There are really two main competitors in the high-end mainstream kitchen knife market: Henckels and Wusthof. Those who have used both usually have a preference. My preference (and therefore bias you should know about) is for the Wusthofs.The Wusthof Culinar line is an all stainless steel look, rather than a black handle. Although the picture and some descriptions want you to think this is a single piece knife, be advised that the hand is a separate piece of stainless steel molded onto the tang. I personally prefer the handle of the Grand Prix and Classic, because the grip is surer for me, but this is, to some extent, a matter of personal preference. This series "looks" more professional to some (like a Viking stove).
This particular model is the 5 inch tomato knife. Most cooks believe the tomato is the most difficult food to slice cleanly (thus its appearance in Ginsu commercials). I think this knife is overkill for most cooks. I happen to think the 4 ½ inch utility knife will do the trick for the mainstream cook. This knife, while a good knife, is used so rarely in my kitchen it is usually relegated to a storage location, rather than the countertop.
If you slice a lot of tomatoes, be my guest and buy this knife, it is very high quality. But, for most cooks, this knife is overkill.
Read Best Reviews of Wusthof Culinar 5-Inch Tomato Knife Here
Norpro 370 Bread Slicer and Guide with Crumb Catcher
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I have to start with an explanation that an 8" bread knife has only 7 1/4" of a blade exposed, the other 3/4" is inside the handle and is not useful. With the 6 3/4" spacing between the acrylic guides on this slicer you have only half an inch of the knife left on the other side when the knife is pushed all the way in. The spacing is just too wide for a regular knife and it slips out of the acrylic guide on the opposite side each time I move the knife in order to slice the bread. In order to get back into the slit I have to guide the knife with my other hand which is, of course, rediculous and even dangerous. Because of this, even if I used my left hand to guide the knife into the slit, the slices come out very ugly. Second, the bottom of this slicer is made of soft unfinished (you can't wash it) wood and after 3 slices (that's all I could handle) the wood got deep cuts and splinters. Third, the back panel of this slicer on the Amazon picture has a word "Bread" written in a handsom writing. On my slicer it said in thick block ugly letters: "Our daily bread". That's it, I learned my lesson, back it goes.Read Best Reviews of Norpro 370 Bread Slicer and Guide with Crumb Catcher Here
I used this slicer twice. The first time, the end kept falling out. I glued that in and the second time I used it, 2 of the tines broke. The loaves from the breadmaker don't fit and there is no adjustment, it just keeps sliding around and you can't get an even slice. If the tines hadn't broke, it would be in the mail back to China or wherever. Cheap shoddy merchandise, stay away from it.Want Norpro 370 Bread Slicer and Guide with Crumb Catcher Discount?
I have been looking for a decent bread slicer for quite some time. This one sold by Amazon seemed to be exactly what I wanted. I ordered it and found it to be as good as stated. I can slice my homemade bread to a nice size --not too thin and not too thick. If desired, I can cut thicker slices by simply removing the end piece of the slicer and moving the loaf forward or thinner slices by pulling the loaf end away from the end piece.Grande Epicure M6432004 Professional 14-Inch by 20-Inch by 9mm Polyethylene Carving Board
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Wusthof Dreizack 4" Paring Knife
This Wüsthof 4" Utility Knife #8060 made in Solingen, Germany, the home of most world-class cutlery, can be described with just one word: PERFECT! I have owned many knives over many years of working in the kitchen, and never have I owned a small paring knife that was as well made as this one. It will surely outlast me. It has a thin blade that holds a sharp edge almost indefinitely. Speaking of sharp, please be careful -this one has an edge almost like a razor blade. As many of this review may know, knives of dubious quality also represent a danger to the user. Sharp knives are safe knives, and this one surely is a five-star winner in my book.
One more thing: Usually you get what you pay for. This Wüsthof 8060 is worth its price. If you own this one, you may never have to, or want to, buy another utility knife ever again.
Wusthof Classic 7-Piece Block Set
These knives are sharp! I took them out of the box and did the paper cutting test. All the knives sliced right through a sheet of printer paper from bottom to top, without a snag...even the bread knife! So far I've only used them a few times for actual food preparation. I used the 8" chefs knife to chop garlic, onions, and a bell pepper. It cut through all these with little effort, and made beautiful, clean cuts. The chef's knife is amazing! I used the small paring knife to core the bell pepper and make finely sliced strips. This paring knife is awesome! The chefs knife works just as well, but for smaller, thinner cuts, the paring knife is great to have. I used the bread knife to slice up some bread sticks, which it did without squishing the bread even a little bit. I couldn't find a legitimate use for the scissors, so I tried them out on the day-old breadsticks, right out of the fridge. Sure enough, it was like cutting through a marshmallow! The scissors also come apart easily for cleaning and are very sturdy during use.
Overall the knives feel great in your hand. They are solid and well balanced. They don't feel too big or too small. I am a guy, and just for your reference, the distance from the center of my palm to the tip on my index finger in about 5-1/2 inches. So if you're somewhere around there, you should be fine. Also, if you know how to properly hold a knife(YouTube it if you're not sure), I think you'll find that you'll have plenty of control with all these knives.
So the few bad reviews these knives get all seem to be about two things. Some complaints have been that the handles crack and corrode. Most likely thats because they put them in the dishwasher. You really should discount those reviews. Unless, of course, you plan to do the same. The manufacturer tells you to hand wash them for a reason. The second biggest complaint is that they don't stay sharp. Were my knives still just as sharp after I used them? Honestly, no they weren't. I tried to cut through paper after my first full use, and it snagged in the area of the blade that got the most use. But this isn't a problem. I used the honing steel(comes with the set) and after 5 passes on each side of the blade, they were razor sharp again.
I've done a lot of research on these knives and several other top end brands, before purchasing. Every knife maker will tell you that you need to hone your knives before or after each use. That doesn't mean they are cheap. The carbon steel in these knives is sharpened to such a fine point that they WILL dull. Thats why all knife sets come with a honing steel. Its the same reason why a razor blade dulls after a few shaves, and thats just cutting hair. Your knives will be hitting a cutting board every chop. You really cant expect metal this thin to stay razor sharp forever. Besides, using the honing steel is fun and makes you feel like a pro. If you're concerned about having to use the honing steel every use or possibly having to sharpen your knives, just do a little research and you'll see its a pretty simple task.
Obviously I feel pretty strongly about these knives, and I realize I've only had them a short time. Im sure there are other great knives out there, but you're probably looking at these for the same reasons I did. Upgrading your current knives, price, and the ability to add more knives to your set later. And for the price and quality, I think this was a fantastic deal. Feel free to comment or ask a question. ThanksI've handled wustof knives before this purchase. The knives feel great to hold and use. The weight of the knives is what really differentiates it from others.
Superior quality at a great price!I got this set from Macys.. I loved the choices of knives it has and the block with more slots. Only complaint is the Chef's knife is too big for a short person like me (it's 8 inch). Otherwise this set is worth having for the price.
Zwilling J.A. Henckels Twin L Kitchen Shears
They are the best I have ever used. You will be satisfied with J.A. Henckles. They are made in Germany. Careful of the lesser quality shears with the same brand name. They are made in China.I hesitated a long, long time before spending the money on these scissors for my kitchen. It seemed extravagant since you can buy packages of scissors for a lot less. All I can say is that these are worth the price. They cut anything smoothly and effortlessly. I use them every day and love them.
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The scissors I purchases were a hostess gift. I spent a week with my friend and she was using some old, worn-out scissors.I had received my pair for Christmas last year, and use them daily for all kinds of jobs. I went online and ordered her a pair just like mine.
She loves them as much as I do.
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These are the best kitchen shears I ever owned. Recently my pair grew legs and walked away (at least that's what my children would have me believe) But nonetheless, I am returning for a replacement pair, because I really miss them. They cut everything they cut herbs, packages, paper, meats, small bones I have not been diappointed yet.....except when they disappeared. Sadness. Oh well, with Amazon Prime, I will have another pair in a couple of days joy!Product received measured 8 inches in length, not the 10 inches as noted in the product description.Swissmar Cheese Knife, Hard Cheese, Stainless Steel
Granted, it's inexpensive, but any sharp knife you have handy will do just as well.
Furi Rachael Ray 7-Inch Sharp-and-Store Self-Sharpening Knife with Stand
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I was looking forward to getting a great knife and was excited when it finally arrived, but my delight turned into disillusionment when I opened the package. Although it was securely packaged, the self-storing stand was already cracked where the knife is inserted -obviously a manufacturing flaw. The plastic handle has a cushy grip, but when my hand got wet, the handle became slippery and hard to control -unlike my previous wood-handled knives. The blade is thicker and heavier than what I'm used to, but that's probably a personal preferenceRachael Ray Gusto-Grip 7-Inch Sharp Store Self-Sharpening Knife with Stand. I expected better quality from a $59+ knife from a famous chef. I hope it keeps its edge. We'll see.Read Best Reviews of Furi Rachael Ray 7-Inch Sharp-and-Store Self-Sharpening Knife with Stand Here
I have always wanted one of these since I saw Rachael demonstrate it on her show in "kitchen must-haves". I always had trouble keeping my knives sharp, even though I pride myself in my knife sharpening ability, someone else using my kitchen always threw my knives into the drawer with other knives and they would get knicks and dulled, (and I would be furious) I had a knife block for them to go into, but for some odd reason I am the only one in my house to get the concept that the knives GO IN THE BLOCK not in the drawer. With this knife... it has it's own stand/sheath, and it gets sharpened every time you take it out of the sheath and put it back in.It can even get tossed into the drawer in the sheath and it will be protected and you won't get cut reaching into the drawer because it is safe.
It sits nicely on the cutting board or counter until I want to use it again.
It has a good weight to it, and feels good in the hand. It cuts beautifully and is sharp EVERY time!
I highly recommend getting one of these, it's expensive BUT WORTH IT!
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This knife is a little pricey but worth it. It is extremely sharp (be careful when removing from holder). You won't have to dig through your drawer to find the right knife, this one will do it all. With the exception of a serrated knife and a small pearing knife, I got rid of all the other knives in the drawer that never cut right. You could keep it on the counter or put the entire piece in a drawer for safety, especially if you have children, you would not want to leave it on counter. Very sharp, very versitile.Furi Rachael Ray Gusto-Grip Basics 4-Inch Paring Knife
DennisThis knife is great! It does not slip when using with wet hands! I recommend this to any cook that likes new gadgets. It is a great deal for the price.
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I had some friends over to carve pumpkins for Halloween, and of course someone broke a knife. Not any knife, not one of my knives, but one of my roommate's pretty, matchy Rachel Ray knife-set knives. I was concerned that I wouldn't be able to find a replacement, or at least not without a big hassle, but this was the exact knife at a very reasonable price.The set in question was this:
Furi Rachael Ray Gusto-Grip Basics 10-Piece Block Set
and I got the green-handled 4" knife to match. I tend to use my own set of knives so I don't have much to say about the knife itself, except... thanks, Amazon, for bailing me out of a pinch! And if you ever need to replace one of the 4" knives from a Rachel Ray Furi set, this is the one you are looking for.
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The color was the main reason I purchased this knife, since I have Rachael Ray Porcelain Enamel Nonstick 10-Piece Cookware Set, Yellow, which I ADORE. As far as the function of the knife, I enjoy cutting with it however, as BeachBum59 mentioned in his review, it is a little too long to work as an effective paring knife. I wouldn't want to hull strawberries with this knife, for instance. It's great for chopping them up though! So I've found myself simply cutting off the ends rather than hulling.Other than that, I enjoy this knife just wish it was a bit smaller.
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I have several of these knives and use them everyday. Also bought them for my daughter and she loves them.
