Best knife sets according to redditors

I'm not sure if you're joking about the knife wrench, but it's a real thing

Silicone spatula's are one of the greatest inventions ever for no stick. Be sure to spend some money, buy a small and large saute pan in no-stick, a small, medium, and large pot, and practice. Then, once you have some XP and level up, get a large stainless saute pan like this:

Cuisinart MCP33-24HN MultiClad Pro Stainless 3-1/2-Quart Saute with Helper and Cover https://www.amazon.com/dp/B009W28RRA/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_7kHkDb93NS6Q4

You can use it for most things, and it will heat a lot more evenly. Build from there. Get a good 8" chef knife set like this:

J.A. Henckels International 31419-001 Fine Edge Pro Starter Knife Set, 3-piece, Black/Stainless Steel https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00004RFNM/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_JmHkDbZQGCHGK

and a magnetic knife holder:

Magnetic Knife Strips, 15 Inch Magnetic Knife Storage Strip, Knife Holder, Knife Rack, Knife Strip, Kitchen Utensil Holder, Tool Holder, Multipurpose Magnetic Knife Rack https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07K1P1BPN/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_.oHkDbBFMEQBR

And you're off to a great start. Knife blocks are a waste imo. Good luck and have fun! Learning to feed yourself and others is one of the best things you can do.

Victorinox Fibrox Pro Chef's Knife, 8-Inch Chef's https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000638D32/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_ADQ7BbH4RFMQD

You really only need the Chefs knife, but here's a set:

Victorinox 46152 7 Piece Fibrox Culinary Kit https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00HLJT9CI/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_7FQ7Bb04VY2VP

Amazon to the rescue! http://www.amazon.com/12pc-Fixwell-Stainless-Steel-Knives/dp/B0002HP952/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top

AB did a stint promoting Shun and put knives know as the Alton Angle on the market. The blade and handle were offset and much like AB looked a little goofy.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001N2NKAQ

I can't tell from the pic if this is an Angle or simply their veg knife.

check out hand/finger strengthening exercises. (one off the top of my head is the rubber band stuff)

I haven't tried splints yet, but I feel you on the knife skills. (I did a stint in culinary school, decided the industry wasn't for me, but I'm still very active in my home cooking).
Experiment with different ways to hold knives, and maybe even different knives. (Those would be a for-instance since they're sold out, but I've seen ergonomic handles before - haven't tried them myself, though). I certainly struggle with the "proper" way to hold a knife while chopping, so I just kinda listen to my hands, adjust, and go a bit slower to avoid injury.

I just assembled this over the weekend. It was a little more work than I thought, so here is what I’d say to do:

Get this hobby knife (or something like it): SE 813PK 16-Piece Hobby Knife Set with Aluminum Collet Chucks https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0002BBYIE/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_FRGhAb4HDSWWY

The pieces were very difficult to punch out and several big pieces splintered in places (not to the point of structural integrity). After a couple of this (I know I know, I tried to change my technique), I used the flat chisel like piece to begin punching them out. Took a lot more time but it worked. Pressed the chisel down and lightly tapped with the hobby hammer I got from Meeple Reality.

Speaking of which, get this hobby hammer (or something similar, the light weight is important. I got big hands but it is fatiguing swinging the little bigger guys): Cousin Craft and Jewelry Mallet, 8-Inch https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001144WTE/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_SJHhAbJ83KX36

Once the glue is in, or you got the pieces together, hammer them in. Check for gaps in the joints.

Speaking of which, get this wood glue (or something like it) : Gorilla Wood Glue, 4 oz. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00HDM9I3S/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_MOGhAbT804887

The first half or so I applied it to every joint. Keep a paper towel handy or something to clean the excess that seeps out.

The last couple of intricate pieces I only glued the outside supports. The intricate pieces inside didn’t require it. I’m pretty sure it’ll hold. If it doesn’t I’ll glue it when it happens.

Ok, I think I got it down. I wrote this over 4 sessions as time permitted quick style, so if something is weird or doesn’t make sense let me know. I have so little DIY experience , so if I can do this, you can do this.

These multi-purpose card tools are awful. The screwdrivers are too short to be used on anything or the tools are too close together that you can't use one without a different tool interfering with what you're doing. The only useful tool is the bottle opener. The knife/saw/etc parts can be sharp but still too small and short to be useful except in real emergency situations and you are forced to use the tools you have.

Better ones are like this where you can remove/break off the tool but still half-useless. Or just a simple no frills knife like this.

What is your budget? How many knives are you trying to get?

As a rule, I'd say 8" Chef's 9" or 10" Bread, 4" Paring knife and a Honing Steel is your minimum. Victorinox makes solid, budget friendly knives. I would probably piecemeal it, but this set has everything you need for $122. Pick up a knife block or Drawer organizer and you're in business.

Victorinox Forschner 7 Pc Fibrox Deluxe Culinary Knife Roll Set https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00FA3C5MI/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_Zs4zzb1W3N3E9

If you can spend a little more. Look for your Chef's knife, breadknife paring knife and honing steel on "chef's knives to go" with the keyword "Tojiro DP" Solid budget friendly forged japanese steel knives. I helped a friend price out a set at around $250. From there you can go crazy depending on how much you want to spend.

Understand the difference between stamped and forged knives. A lot of kitchen stores will let you hold the knife so you can see how it feels. I have a German forged Henckels as a chefs knife that I absolutely love. For Henckels know the difference between the two man logo and the one man logo (cheaper international brand, stamped in China).

Zwilling J.A. Henckels Four Star 3 Piece Essentials Set https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0014FCIQY/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_oWBGub09ZVQG4

These are the knives they use on the Australian version of the show. I really like that they each come with their own cover.

The two things to keep in mind when choosing knives are comfort and blade material. Don't overlook the first one - make sure it looks comfortable to hold!

Ceramic blades have some advantages. Generally, they come very sharp and stay that way longer than steel without any attention. However, you give up being able to sharpen yourself when they eventually dull. And they are much more delicate if you accidentally drop them.

Steel blades dull faster, but can be re-sharpened easily. If you quickly hone the blade on a "sharpening" steel every use, then you only need to have the knife sharpened once a year. Steel knives can also be very sharp - ceramics may have more edge durability but not sharpness. Some people like the weight of steel better. And a good steel knife can last a lifetime.

High end steel knives are generally made of a harder steel, which means that they can get marginally sharper and will stay that way longer. Some high carbon steels rust easily.

Mid range, or lower middle range is where I would advise you to look. I bought this 3 knife set by J.A. Henckels 4 years ago for $30. I really like them. They came super sharp, resist rust if you leave them in the sink overnight, and have held up really well. I don't use them very heavily, but I haven't even re-sharpened them yet. I hone them every time I pick them up, and they are still nice to use for all kinds of food prep. The handle shape feels good in my hand. My only minor gripe is that the pairing knife's blade shape is a little strange. If it's comfortable, fairly sharp, and holds an edge well enough, then I don't see a reason to upgrade yet. There's no shame in buying some starter knives, especially if you are a beginning cooking. A $100 chef's knife will only show it's true form with great technique.

The Kershaw K-Tool, part of the Kershaw Camp Knife Kit

Edit: /u/TheDarkSunglasses2's link is better.

Serrated Victorinox Swiss tomato slicer I use exclusively for bread ~ very sharp, razor is sharper, but this is safer. Has a round tip, I put in cup of warm water just before scoring. Someone posted this video of amazing scoring. The lame used is made by WireMonkey. Really cool, not cheap. Looks like it takes much practice to do this well. Not the tool doing the scoring but the artist wielding it.

Let's do it in the kitchen.

one thing I absolutely cannot live without in my kitchen are my komachi knives. ive had them for about a year and theyre still as sharp as the day I got them. sometimes a little too sharp because I cant tell you how many times my clumsy ass has cut myself on them. but I don't have to use as much pressure or struggle to cut things anymore and they make cooking a lot easier. theyre 10000 times better than my Hampton beach knives which are only 8 months old and I already need to sharpen.

one thing Id love in my kitchen is more of those knives!

This right here. The most important things are a good chef's knife in the shape and length that suits you and a way to keep it sharp. You can cheap out on paring and serrated knives if you want (and I would argue that a serrated blade isn't even a necessity), but keep in mind that the chef's knife will likely do about 90% of the work.

Go to Williams Sonoma or the like, and try out different chef's knives: you want to narrow down your preference for length and blade shape (generally blade length is directly correlated to user height, so keep that in mind). Also get an idea of what handle styles suit you.

Once you know what you're looking for in a chef's knife, go look for a good one that you can spend around $100 on. Henckels, Wusthoff, Global, Shun, etc. all sell a good knife around that price.

Next, go out and buy a Spyderco Sharpmaker, to keep your knife sharp. Depending on the blade hardness and how often you use it, you'll probably need to sharpen once a week to once a month.

Lastly, get a paring knife and if you choose, a serrated knife. Victorionox fibrox are good for these, or get something that matches your chef's knife. Some companies sell nice sets of chef's+paring, like Wusthof, Shun, or Victorionox.

As noted by the responses here, I think no one is sure what to tell you. In part, because there's no good answer. Blades, like many things, are a disposable product. Using it will dull it. You will then either resharpen it or replace it. If you resharpen it, it will eventually need replacing anyway, as you can only remove so much material to recreate the edge before it ceases to be.

They all do the same thing. You could get a box cutter blade and a ruler to do the job if you wanted; it's all up to you. If you must have a recommendation, try this. It has a number of blade shapes and handles, and it's cheap. If buying chinese products bother you, I'm sure there are others available.

Fixwell 12-Piece Stainless Steel Knife Set

I got a set like this so I can keep it all together and I'm not getting my good EDC knife covered in blood.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07MMJ4SCV/ref=dp_cerb_1

Edit: forgot to reply in comment.


I ordered the hells forge HF2. At first I just wanted something for heat treating knives. But a buddy of mine got me hooked on doing more blacksmithing. He and I will be building a couple (one for him and one for me) larger forges with ribbon burners. But for now this one will do everything I need it to.

Hell's Forge Portable Propane Double Burner Large Capacity Knife and Tool Making Farrier Forge MADE IN THE USA https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07DJYMB2D/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_ST7XCbE0MKBQ6

Lemme know what ya think. It does come with a couple fire bricks for the floor and some satanite (sp?) to coat the inside with as well. User has to apply it as I guess it would crack and break during shipping.

I like atlas forges knife maker forge Here

And hells forge 2 burner here

you need a new hookup dawg https://www.amazon.com/Piece-Stainless-Steel-Wax-Carving/dp/B01GP2SZD0/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1536892261&sr=8-4&keywords=wax+carving+tools

Amazon.

I have:

Generic Hobby Knife - Generic hobby knife kit. Blades were shit so I buy Xacto brand but the knives and case are good.

Needle Files - Extremely useful for polishing off mold lines or smoothing cuts.

Adjustable Jeweler's Saw - Handles a ton of different size blades for cutting metal, plastic, or wood.

Swivel Handle Pin Vice - Probably the best tool you can buy. Great for customizing what your troops are carrying.

Third Hand - Stupidly useful. Mostly for gluing.

Jeweler's Saw Blades - Bought these for my saw. Useful. Others might be better.

Micro Drill Bits - Bought for my pin vice. Useful. Others might be better.

Mini Drill Bits - Bought for my pin vice. Useful. Others might be better.

Texan Knives sells on Amazon and their own site. It doesn't seem like true Damascus steel, though. Most likely Pakistani in origin.

Texan Knives Damascus Steel Tracker Fixed Blade Knife With Buffalo Horn Handle includes Leather Sheath, 9.5" L https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01861Q8BE/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_ilK8yb84V9Q7W

These are the best knives to keep in the kitchen, very versatile. Here they are: http://www.amazon.com/Fixwell-12-Piece-Stainless-Steel-Knife/dp/B0002HP952

Well, on Amazon, less than half of that, but still ridiculously expensive:

https://www.amazon.com/Snap-Stainless-Steel-Wrench-Inspired/dp/B00ATQQONW

They were similar to these but black. They were an old set so they were pretty dull. The very tip was the only sharp point.

http://www.amazon.com/Fixwell-12-Piece-Stainless-Steel-Knife/dp/B0002HP952/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top

They are awesome knives.

I believe in culinary school, they often kit her out with a Mercer set (which is a set of mediocre knives) which is ideal for school because other students might borrow your knife and end up damaging it.

If you do want to gift her a set though, start simple like a Wusthof Pro set or a Victorinox Fibrox. Decent general knives, very tough, won't break bank and won't break your heart.

Maybe something like whisks, cooking utensils, thermometer (like infrared), headwear (bandanas, caps) and a great book like On Food and Cooking in a lockable toolbox/toolbags (for her to take to school) where she can use everything. It shouldn't cost more than $200. don't include cookware like pots and pans, they tend to break bank.

A really nice set of non-slip leather boots/shoes is another idea.

In this scenario, I would say it's the thought that counts more than the $$$ since she's only starting out. When she graduates and is a chef, then maybe consider like fancy knives or spices.

I have these they aren't top of the line but they work really well. I got mine at Costco for $25

Frying pans should be heavy based and non stick. I have tried cast iron ones too, but non stick is better.

If you are using an induction hob, you will need pans with a magnetic base. Tefal have a good range of pans, you don't need to spend that much to get something good really.

As for knives - its a very personal thing I think, but your first purchase should be a large cook or chefs knife - mine is a Global G2 20cm Cooks knife but I know that Wursthof, and Hekcels made good knives too.

This looks like a good quality set, its pricey, but these would last you well, and a sharp knife is safer than a blunt one!

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Henckels-STAR-Special-Offer-piece/dp/B0014FCIQY/ref=sr_1_sc_1?s=kitchen&ie=UTF8&qid=1318424620&sr=1-1-spell

Thats just the result of a quick amazon search, I have no affiliation with amazon or the manufacturer.

Knives are quite personal, so try holding one in a shop first before buying online.

Hope that helps.

true, which is why I went the route I did, the handles are pretty comparable in size though, http://www.amazon.com/Shun-VBS0200-Sora-2-Piece-Knife/dp/B00BQ83ACA/ref=sr_1_3?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1418034046&sr=1-3&keywords=shun+sora

Even if he was talking about "cheap" stamped knives, the Forschner 40520 ($27, Amazon) won best overall knife in 2004 from Cooks Magazine, beating Wusthoff and Henckel knives that are priced significantly higher.

Even so, either you don't know where to shop, or your prices are intentionally misleading - I can't find a forged Victorinox for $159, but I can find an 8" Forged plus a forged pairing knife for $99 - http://www.amazon.com/Victorinox-Forged-2-Piece-Knife-Starter/dp/B0017K2S5W/ref=sr_1_16?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1346615138&sr=1-16&keywords=victorinox+forged+8%22