For anyone who has ever had difficulty in trimming a piece of meat or finding matching steak knives for dinner guests, they will all say the same thing: you need good kitchen knives - plain and simple. However, the people who complain the loudest are usually the ones who do the least about solving the problem. Why? Most people have no idea where to start when it comes to selecting decent kitchen knives.
When Martha Stewart decided to redo her Connecticut home, one of the most important design changes in her new kitchen was the addition of custom made drawers where she could keep her uber-expensive cutlery. Not content with just throwing them in a drawer, she had drawers designed that were padded, temperature controlled, and large enough so that each knife (and she has lots!) had room to lie flat without touching another one.
Of course, for those of us who just don't seem to have the necessary 1,000 sf of space needed to treat our knives like crown jewels, there are options.
Martha probably spent on her knives what we spend on new living room furniture. And of course her knives will outlast our living room furniture. In an event, we don't really need that kind of quality; we just need something to get the job done, and done well. We just need to figure out what the "job" is before heading to the store and buying something only because it's on sale this week.
A decent set of knives can be found for around $100. A superb set of knives is going to set you back a few thousand dollars. If you tend to cook fairly simple meals, or maybe you are a vegetarian, you will need to decide how you plan on using the knives before selecting which ones to buy.
You certainly don't want to be spending money for knives that will just collect dust. If your hobby is baking, find a set that can help you slice almonds, dice ginger and quarter apricots. If cook old fashioned home cooking is your preference, get a set that handle meats, vegetables and fish.
Keep in mind: price does not equal quality. To check for quality, make certain you can see what they call the "tang". This is the piece of metal that should run through the entire knife in one piece, starting at the tip of the blade. The blade is part of the tang, and it should continue into the handle. One piece of metal (forged is best) ensures added stability.
If you can't see the tang, chances are you are buying knives in two or more pieces. The last thing you want is to have the blade break away from the handle when you are chopping onions or cutting stew beef! - 30289
When Martha Stewart decided to redo her Connecticut home, one of the most important design changes in her new kitchen was the addition of custom made drawers where she could keep her uber-expensive cutlery. Not content with just throwing them in a drawer, she had drawers designed that were padded, temperature controlled, and large enough so that each knife (and she has lots!) had room to lie flat without touching another one.
Of course, for those of us who just don't seem to have the necessary 1,000 sf of space needed to treat our knives like crown jewels, there are options.
Martha probably spent on her knives what we spend on new living room furniture. And of course her knives will outlast our living room furniture. In an event, we don't really need that kind of quality; we just need something to get the job done, and done well. We just need to figure out what the "job" is before heading to the store and buying something only because it's on sale this week.
A decent set of knives can be found for around $100. A superb set of knives is going to set you back a few thousand dollars. If you tend to cook fairly simple meals, or maybe you are a vegetarian, you will need to decide how you plan on using the knives before selecting which ones to buy.
You certainly don't want to be spending money for knives that will just collect dust. If your hobby is baking, find a set that can help you slice almonds, dice ginger and quarter apricots. If cook old fashioned home cooking is your preference, get a set that handle meats, vegetables and fish.
Keep in mind: price does not equal quality. To check for quality, make certain you can see what they call the "tang". This is the piece of metal that should run through the entire knife in one piece, starting at the tip of the blade. The blade is part of the tang, and it should continue into the handle. One piece of metal (forged is best) ensures added stability.
If you can't see the tang, chances are you are buying knives in two or more pieces. The last thing you want is to have the blade break away from the handle when you are chopping onions or cutting stew beef! - 30289
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Make sure that you are using the best kitchen knife when you are cooking! Getting the right kitchen knives will make your cooking experience fun and easy!
