The kitchen is considered a special place in the house, as culinary masterpieces are born in it. To prepare original dishes, you must have at hand professional tools such as knives. These kitchen accessories come in various types and purposes, so it is best to purchase them in a set.
Features
Kitchen knives are an important fixture, without which cooking is impossible. Each knife is used to perform a specific operation, therefore, to maximize the functional tasks of cutting, you should have a set of knives. They are presented on the market in a huge assortment and can be sold with or without special stands. Kitchen knife sets are divided into cook (used only for cooking) serving and mixed.
The complete set of sets can include both knives and additional accessories. Kitchen sets differ among themselves in the number of items. Most often, manufacturers produce products up to 5 pieces in a set, from 5 to 10 or more 10. Sets consisting of only cutting tools are intended, as a rule, for household cooking and are available in two types: camping and for kitchen. In this case, the first option is equipped with a special box (case), which simplifies the transportation and storage of tools.
The most common sets are those that include 3 basic models of knives: for cleaning vegetables, universal and cook. If financial possibilities allow, then you can purchase combination sets consisting of 3 main knives and 2-3 additional (for cutting fillet, bread, tomatoes and cheese).Kits complemented by accessories such as a magnetic holder, a peeler and scissors are very popular.
They are designed for both domestic and professional use.
Materials for the manufacture of knife blades.
- Steel. They are characterized by high strength and can easily cope with the cutting of any product. Steel products differ in size and shape. Their only drawback is that such knives require thorough cleaning and sharpening.
- Ceramics. They are lightweight, which makes slicing convenient. In addition, such products do not need to be thoroughly cleaned. The minus of ceramic knives is that they cannot cut very hard products and when dropped they easily break.
- Titanium. By their operational characteristics, they largely prevail over steel and ceramic knives. Titanium spraying is characterized by high hygienic properties, it is resistant to acids, does not rust and does not leave a metallic taste on the products. The only drawback of such tools is their high cost.
Before you give preference to a particular set of knives, It is important to consider their quality, functionality and price. Experts recommend purchasing good kits right away. Although they are expensive, such financial investments will justify themselves over time.
What knives are included?
To facilitate the cooking process, every housewife should have a set of knives in the kitchen, while it is not necessary to purchase sets with a large number of elements. The set should include the following knives.
- Chef's knife. This is one of the main assistants in the kitchen, which allows not only to quickly cut vegetables, cheese, but also chop greens. It is advisable for beginners to buy 8-inch knives. For professional chefs, you can purchase 10-inch tools that are designed for cooking at an advanced level.
- Vegetable knife (for cleaning). Unlike the previous type, this product is smaller and allows you to quickly peel vegetables and fruits from the peel, which significantly reduces the cooking time.
- For slicing bread. Knife with a wide long blade with a wave-like sharpening. This tool can not only cut the hard crust of bread, but also chop the chocolate or gently cut the cake. When choosing such a knife, it is best to give preference to models made of steel. They are scratch resistant and do not chemically react with products.
- Chopping knife. In the event that you plan to cook meat often, you should buy kitchen sets, which include a cutting knife. This tool has an elongated view of a double-toothed fork. With the help of it, it is possible to chop and cut the meat, reliably fixing it on a cutting board.
- For a steak. This tool, as a rule, is used for cutting and slicing a whole piece of meat (fried steak). It belongs to the additional types of knives, since it is usually used not in cooking, but for serving. The shape of the blade at this knife is oblong, the length is from 10 to 13 cm, the width is from 2 to 3 cm. The main feature of the tool is the presence of an even butt.
- For tomatoes. It is a subspecies of cutting tools. Its design has a ribbed blade and a forked tip, designed to separate the peel and seeds of a tomato. This model can also be used for slicing other vegetables and fruits, which have a soft filling and a dense peel (oranges, grapefruits, lemons).
- For cheese. Chefs usually use several types of cheese knives in cutting, each of which is intended for a certain type of product (creamy, soft, hard). The tool has a wide but short blade. It is slightly narrowed in the middle of the blade and pointed at the top. The length of such a knife does not exceed 13 cm. Some models of products are available with a hole structure.
- For butter. Such a knife is used both for slicing and for spreading butter on bread. It is also used for processed cheese. The tool has an elongated shape, looks like a spatula, its end is not sharp, wide and rounded. The average length of such products does not exceed 13 cm. They can be used both for cooking and serving.
In addition to the above knives, the kitchen set should also include high-quality sharpening, which will help extend the life of the tools and maintain them in working condition.
Rating of the best manufacturers
Sets of kitchen knives today are presented on the market in a chic assortment. They differ not only in quality, design, price, but also in the manufacturer. The most popular models that have worked well and have received many positive reviews include several.
- "Samura Alfa saf-0085 / Y". It is a compact and versatile set consisting of a chef-knife, stand and sharpener. With this tool, you can cut fish, meat and chop fruits with vegetables. Despite the fact that the country of manufacture of this product is Japan, it was successfully launched by Russian manufacturers using Japanese technology. The blade of the product is made in the European style, so it is convenient to hold it in your hand. The blade has a length of 201 mm, its hardness on the Rockwell scale is 60.
The advantages of this kit include durable knife blade material (anti-corrosion steel) and a sophisticated design. In addition, the knife is very sharp and holds sharpening for a long time. As for the shortcomings, they are not, with the exception of the high price of the product.
- The Chef's Three (manufacturer Wusthof). This set is characterized by the absence of unnecessary parts and perfect quality. The professional tools that come with the kit have rounded handle shapes and straight lines. Their design combines brilliant steel with black plastic. The blades are forged from corrosion-resistant steel, their sharpening angle is 20 degrees, the type of edge is double-sided.
This set is a great gift for any housewife.
- "Yaxell gou yaz7010". This set includes professional Damascus knives. They have an original design and unsurpassed sharpness. The length of the chef's knife blades does not exceed 25.5 cm, its hardness is 63 units. The pluses of products include ergonomics, efficiency and the ability to use in professional cooking. Minus is a very high price.
- Tramontina Centery. It is considered an excellent choice for both experienced and novice cooks. This is a budget version of the kit, which allows you to cope in the kitchen with cutting and cutting by 90%. Knives are sold with a sharpener and stand. They remain sharp for a long time, easy to operate, but not suitable for cutting small products.
- Lion Sabatier. Forged products included in this kitchen set are manufactured by a French manufacturer. They are designed for both hard and soft products. The blade length is 20 cm. Products are characterized by a good feed to sharpening, multifunctionality, suitable for both professional and novice cooks. The only drawback is that the cover is not included in this set.
- Hatamoto color. Suitable for those housewives who like to design the kitchen in a special style, complementing it with expensive accessories and tools. The main knife in this set is made of carbon steel, which makes it durable. The product also does not need frequent sharpening. Knife handles are made of durable plastic, they have a bright color - from blue, yellow, red to purple and green. A plus of the set is the original design, ergonomics, a minus - it cannot be washed in a dishwasher.
If you do not wipe the product dry, it will quickly rust.
- Fissman Vortex. Knives from this brand are produced by a well-known manufacturer from Denmark. Products are characterized by average price and high quality.They are designed both for cutting meat and for slicing vegetables, fruits that have a round shape. The kit includes a special cover that protects the tool from damage when dropped to the floor. The knife blades are ceramic, sharp, do not require frequent sharpening. The lack of products - they can only be used on a wooden cutting board.
- Chinisera. Anyone can afford to purchase a kit from this brand, since its price category is low. The knives included in the kit are made of zirconia ceramic. They never rust or leave a metallic aftertaste on food. The tool blade is sharpened very sharply, so it does not need to be sharpened again. These knives are ideal for those who lead a healthy lifestyle and try to preserve the beneficial substances in the products during their preparation.
- The Power of Granite. This set consists of vegetable, universal, cutting, cook and bread knives. In addition, the manufacturer supplies the kit with a convenient ceramic peeler. Thanks to this set, you can quickly cook both simple and complex dishes. Due to the fact that particles of granite are applied to the surface of the blade, the product has increased strength. The knife handle does not slip in the palm of your hand, as it is made of bequelite. The disadvantage of the set is that it can often be found on the market in the form of low-quality fakes.
- "Frank Moller FM-364." For those who want to purchase a high-quality set of ceramic accessories, this option will be ideal. Products are manufactured by a German manufacturer and have a rather ergonomic and bright design. The knives included in the kit quickly cope with the cutting of any products and they do not need to be sharpened often. The standard set consists of a cook (blade length 15 cm), universal (12.5 cm) and a cleaning knife (10 cm). In addition, the kit is complemented by a convenient stand and a peeler.
- "Blaumann Crocodile Line". This is a Hungarian set of kitchen knives, which consists of 5 items. It is equipped with a knife for cleaning vegetables, fruits, a cook, universal knife, as well as cheese, a knife for slicing bread and a peeler. All tools are made of stainless steel, the peeler has a ceramic coating. Beautiful design of the handles and versatility make such knives indispensable in the household.
But despite the chic description and good technical specifications, these products can not be washed in a dishwasher.
How to choose a kit?
Before you buy a good set of kitchen knives and the next time you use it, don't be disappointed in it, you need to consider many important indicators. Experts recommend paying attention to the following characteristics.
- Material for the manufacture of products. Most knives are made of ceramics and steel, while each of these materials has both its pros and cons. It is best to give preference to steel knives, they are of high quality and last a long time.
- Blade hardness. The optimal indicators for him are considered to be an indicator on the Rockwell scale from 60 to 63. In the case when this figure is lower, you need to think about the quality of the tool.
- Ease of use. Before buying cutting tools, hold them in your hand. The handle should be comfortable and light.
- Price. The financial factor is one of the main when choosing a set of kitchen knives. Cheap products can be unsafe and are unlikely to last long.
- In addition, it is necessary to pay attention to additional set of sets. Good options usually include not only high-quality knives, but also special coasters and covers. You do not need to immediately buy large sets, knives from which will be rarely used.
See how to choose kitchen knives in the next video.