Having a practical knife set is essential for your kitchen. The thought of trying to figure out what are the best and right types of knives to use can be intimating, especially if we’ve cut ourselves from a knife. Ouch! This can happen when we’re not paying close attention, having an improper grip, and cutting with a dull blade. Using a dull knife is not a good idea and it can be very dangerous, because you have to use more pressure, and that can cause forceful slipping. Yes, you do want your knives to have a sharp blade. Similar to an ice skater needing to have sharp blades for skating on the ice, and dull ice blades will cause the skater to lose balance.
How to choose kitchen knives?
Finding the right knives is equal to finding the right car, and every driver wants the car they select to be comfortable and a good fit. That is exactly how it is when you select a knife. Wherever you purchase your knife will make a big difference. One time I needed a knife and I got one from the Dollar Tree, and not even a good week the knife fell apart. Yes, it sounds like exactly what you’re thinking the blade fell out. Make sure to do your research and knife testing.
The way knives are made from a replica or imprinted steel. Similar to the way keys are made. However, replica knives are refined from the oven like steel and shaped in a form of a mallet or compress. Imprinted knives are made like how they sound, they are literally imprinted, and it is made from a vast piece of metal. The difference between the process of imprinted knives versus replica knives is that imprinted knives have a high-quality mass produce, and are practically the same from replica knives. People that are avid cooks do prefer the imprinted knives because they’re flexible, lighter in weight and their edges last longer and softer than replica knives. Another advantage about imprint knives they are cheaper than replica knives.
For the most part, the best knives will tend to stay sharp for a long time, and over time they will need to be sharpened. This would work for a person who has the patience to keep track and physically sharpen the knife. If you’re more on the lethargic side (like me!) you would want to consider finding a professional do the knife sharpening for you. Just like most mass producers they have a lifetime warranty to sharpen the knives for an ostensible cost.
Before I get into the type of knives that you need for your kitchen there are also other vital features a knife and it makes a big difference. First of all, you definitely want to find the ideal weight of the knife. The heavier the stronger the knife will be and will cut through foods. Take your time and choose the weight that feels natural to you.
Secondly, having the right balance is important. Have you ever carried something heavy and the extra weight will throw you off balance literary? The balance will rest inside the palm of your hand, and the way to check out the right balance for you is by gripping the handle. Be honest with yourself, if the knife feels uncomfortable or unnatural and the weighted toward the back of the handle or toward the back. That will force to work harder and your balance will be of that would not be a wise choice to select.
The size of the knife will also make a difference. An eight-inch knife is ideal for most people. For those people that are avid cook’s may not mind a ten-inch knife because the blade is longer and can cut more quantity. If you choose a six inch those would be for cutting small and softer foods. To each their own and remember to test out the size.
More factors about selecting the ideal knife set are to know the exact functions of a knife. The handle of the knife should feel ‘just right’ to you. What you want to avoid in the clanking of your knuckles while you cut. The height of blade affects this. As anything else there are different styles of handles such as some handles have patterns or sections to make the grip comfortable.
The bolster and also known as the collar, shank, and shoulder this is the thick part of the metal where the handle and blade combine. The heel is the broadest and thickest part of the edge with the biggest heft. This your all-powerful chopper to cut tough meats, chicken, hard fruits, and vegetables.
The top fragment of the blade is called the spine, and they usually will have square edges. The spines should also tapper at the tip. You don’t want to have the thick tip because it will be hard to work with. A good chef’s knife definitely needs to be sharp and to test to see how sharp it is by cutting a sheet of paper. This relates to the edge part of the knife, and the goal is the knife to cut sharply and fast without struggling.
What is ultimately the right brand of knife preference for you? Throughout knife history, the top-notch brands to consider is German versus Japanese. Do I compare this to which soda is better Coke or Pepsi? What makes these two knives different? German knives are utilitarian; they tend to be thicker and heavier and can be used for most foods. Japanese knives are for thinner and more fragile cutting.
If you have a patient nature then selecting the Japanese knives require more attention to detail, and can get a chip if they are not used properly. If you have more of a hasty nature these knives will not last long for you. The blade angle for these knives are between 10 to 15 degrees per side, German blade angle is wider and between 17.5 degrees. Both German and Japanese knives are made from steel. However, all steel textures are not created equal.
If you happen to be left-handed here are factors to consider. If you choose the Japanese knives their blades are not symmetrical, the cutting edge is angled for a person that is right-handed. In other words, people that are left-handed will need to buy knives designed for left-hand individuals. German knives are usually balanced and can be used by either right or left-handed individuals.
Some important kitchen knives you should buy
Selecting the appropriate knives to use for cutting food in any food group is not as hard as you think. There are three knives that you need to use for your cutting needs. They are a chef’s knife, a paring knife, and a serrated knife. Don’t get me wrong these are not the only options for knives.
The first knife is the chef’s knife, or also called a cook’s knife is the head honcho of knives for you to have in your kitchen. The features of this knife have a wide blade that is between six and ten inches long. This knife is mostly used for chopping (hint a Japanese Steakhouse). It can still be used for chopping simpler foods as well. The blade style curves upward to the tip. Secondly, a paring knife and it looks like a smaller version of a chef’s knife. The blade width is between two to four inches. These knives would be ideal for peeling or cutting onions, tomatoes, any foods that are not hard and tough. Lastly, a serrated knife and sometimes they are called a bread knife these knives are ideal for cutting bread tomatoes and softer textures of meat. 
We now have more knowledge about finding an ideal knife set for your kitchen. However, the three knives that were suggested are not the only knives in the world. These three can do a lot of things and no one wants numerous knives that serve no purpose.
