A One Knife Stand

   Every time I cook and the experience starts off with a dull knife  I swear things go very, very badly. A sharp knife is the building block of all you do in the kitchen. Is there anything worse than cutting into a beautifully lush tomato only to have it get smooshed and rendered pretty much useless by a  blunt blade?

 

  Buying the right knife. Ask yourself how often are you going to be butchering ,fileting, or carving?  Was the answer not that often or never? For the average person all you need is a quality chef's knife and maybe a paring knife, if your not comfortable using a big blade to do small jobs. That is it. Two knives, not six, not eight. So next time your in Williams and Sonoma tell the sales girl to step off.

Knives 101

WHERE?

The best quality knives come from either Germany or Japan.

WHAT?

 

Full Tang:

This means that the blade extends all the way through the handle as one solid piece of steel. These kind of  knives are virtually indestructible, and the handle will never separate from the blade.

 

 Forged Steel:

 Meaning the blade was "forged" out of one big piece of steel. These types of knives are a bit more pricey, but stay sharper longer. Avoid a cut or stamped blade.

 

 High Carbon Stainless Steel:

The best cutting edge is actually made with carbon steel, but this type of blade does rust and discolor. Making it a not so popular choice. High carbon stainless steel is a good second choice, will hold an edge very well, and will require virtually no maintenance.

Balance:

Now, this is individual. A good knife should be balanced in your hand. Meaning the blade and handle should weigh the same. To test this hold the knife by the knife palm ( the section after the blade and before the handle) using your pointer finger. If it feels right to you BUY that knife!

like this guy is doing!!

HOW MUCH!?

 

Prices can range anywhere from $100- $7,000. I am by no means saying you need to spend thousands of dollars. A good quality knife will probably run you around $120. I know it seems like a lot. But keep in mind the knife is the work horse of the kitchen and the one tool you use everyday. Here is a list of reputable brands 

1. Global 8-inch Chef's Knife, Japanese

2. Wusthof Classic 9-inch Chef's Knife Le Cordon Bleu, German

3. Kershaw Shun Classic 8-inch Chef's Knife, Japanese

4. Henckels Five Star 8-inch Chef's Knife, German

 

5. MAC Mighty Chef 8 1/2-in Standard French Knife, American

 

6. Misono UX10 Gyutou 8.2-inches, Japanese