Kitchen knives?

[Mark Wilson]

So, i'm starting to become REALLY interested in cooking and I want a decent set of kitchen knives.

i've done some research, and found these.

Amazon.com: J.A. Henckels International Fine Edge Pro 7-Piece Knife Set with Block: Home & Garden

Anyone have experience and/or suggestions?

Keep in mind, i'm a dirt poor college student.

[Mark Wilson]

By the way, If Maki insinuates anything about me being a girl, I'm gonna go on a shanking spree.

[MakiSupaStar]

The Japanese make great blades. They get a little pricey for something to just get stabby with though.


Don't worry. They'll match your pretty little apron just fine.

[Jim Campbell]

Originally Posted by Mark Wilson

So, i'm starting to become REALLY interested in cooking and I want a decent set of kitchen knives.

i've done some research, and found these.

Amazon.com: J.A. Henckels International Fine Edge Pro 7-Piece Knife Set with Block: Home & Garden

Anyone have experience and/or suggestions?

Keep in mind, i'm a dirt poor college student.

i have not seen much frpm the florida knife maker guy recently,but if anyone would know....worth a pm i'd guess...

[MJ5150]

We have Henckel Five Stars in our kitchen. Over the years we have added a couple to the set, but the original set we have was given to us as a wedding present in January 1996. We are both so comfortable using these knives, it is like an extension of our hand.

Another member here works in a knife shop. I am currently waiting on him to send me a custom made Santoku to try out.

-Mike

[UncleFluffy]

I want a Shun set because they look nice. I've got a Henckels set, it's actually all I need to cook anything.

Hrm. Just looked at the Amazon reviews. Kitchen knives that flex are not a good idea. Maybe wait a bit and go one level up?

[stevetx19]

If you are on a tight budget, i would suggest holding off on a set. You will get more bang for your buck with only buying one or two, and i find that is really all i need anyway. Go with a santoku and a serrated carving knife- most of what you need to cut can be done with those two. Expand when you can afford it.

[Mark Wilson]

Originally Posted by UncleFluffy

I want a Shun set because they look nice. I've got a Henckels set, it's actually all I need to cook anything.

Hrm. Just looked at the Amazon reviews. Kitchen knives that flex are not a good idea. Maybe wait a bit and go one level up?

Where does it say they flex?
Maybe in reference to the fillet knife?
I can't find anything mentioning the knives flex.

[iamlowsound]

Originally Posted by stevetx19

If you are on a tight budget, i would suggest holding off on a set. You will get more bang for your buck with only buying one or two, and i find that is really all i need anyway. Go with a santoku and a serrated carving knife- most of what you need to cut can be done with those two. Expand when you can afford it.

This. A great chopping knife and a great slicing knife are all you really need.

lowsound

[UncleFluffy]

Originally Posted by Mark Wilson

Where does it say they flex?
Maybe in reference to the fillet knife?
I can't find anything mentioning the knives flex.

Out of the first three reviews that appear for me, two say that they flex. Maybe Amazon is filtering stuff differently for me - they do that some times.

3.0 out of 5 stars Cheaper for a reason, July 28, 2000
By A Customer
This review is from: J.A. Henckels International Fine Edge Pro 7-Piece Knife Set with Block (Kitchen)
Although very sharp out of the box, these knives have nothing in common with the products one expects from Henckels. The editorial review says the steel is not of the same quality. Well, there is a lot less of it as well. The knives are extremely light weight and there is quite a bit if flex in the blades if you are cutting anything more tenacious than veggies. The block and steel are fine and the set is probably an decent value for the money - but that is about it.

3.0 out of 5 stars Not what you might hope for, December 30, 2000
By
J. Reynolds (Far From Inner Asia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)
This review is from: J.A. Henckels International Fine Edge Pro 7-Piece Knife Set with Block (Kitchen)
These knives could be worse, but given the fancy name and reputation, they could be a lot better, too. The blades are not as stiff as you might like. Flexy blades scare me not out of fear of breakage, but rather that they are harder to control and more likely to cut something you don't want cut. Also, the Chef's knife has a pretty shallow blade, and you can't do the cool chef-chop without rapping your knuckles on the cutting board. For the money, there are better (though less prestigious) knife sets out there.


If going up a level or two isn't an option, I'd actually be tempted to go down one level to their microserrated plastic handle line - Amazon.com: J.A. Henckels International Everedge 13-Piece Knife Set with Bonus Cheese Knife: Kitchen & Dining - the microserrations mean that you can't resharpen them, but they'll save you $20 and last you for 3-4 years anyway. (edit: I've actually got a set of these I bought in 1999 that still do solid duty as a backup set) If you're going for "good enough is good enough", this is where the sweet spot is, IMO (and IME).

Originally Posted by iamlowsound

This. A great chopping knife and a great slicing knife are all you really need.

lowsound

Yes. If you can only afford one knife, get a big one.

[Mark Wilson]

Hm okay.

Maybe these?

Amazon.com: J.A. Henckels International Forged Synergy 3-Piece Starter Set: Home & Garden

[stevetx19]

I think you are getting closer, but i would find those knives difficult to use in a lot of slicing applications. Tomatoes are almost a no-go with a non-serrated blade. Look for a serrated slicer; the one's around here are cutco, but those won't be on amazon or likely fit your budget anyway.

edit: I don't have direct experience with these, but i imagine they will get you further than either of the two sets you've been looking at.

chopping:

re-edit, posted link to wrong knife
http://www.amazon.com/Victorinox-475...0945689&sr=1-3

For a serrated slicer:
http://www.amazon.com/Wusthof-Gourme...945303&sr=1-10

or

http://www.amazon.com/F-Dick-Slicer-...945303&sr=1-12

taking one of each will run you around $80, which is a little more than the first set, but the quality is much higher and the knives will function much to your liking.

[Munjibunga]

I've got Henckels, and they're very nice knives. There are several grades of Henckels, and the lower grades might not hold an edge as long as the higher grade ones.

I got a nice Shun set for Christmas, and they are so sharp, one of them cut me and I didn't even touch it. Well, I didn't think it did, but as I was unwrapping it, my wife pointed out that I had blood all over my hand. I didn't feel a thing, but I had put a little slice in my thumb. These knives are literally razor sharp. They'll cut through a tomato by just the weight of the knife. They hold and edge for a long time, and it is easily restored with the right type of sharpener.

I don't think I'll ever consider another brand.

[Munjibunga]

Originally Posted by UncleFluffy

I want a Shun set because they look nice. I've got a Henckels set, it's actually all I need to cook anything.

Hrm. Just looked at the Amazon reviews. Kitchen knives that flex are not a good idea. Maybe wait a bit and go one level up?

Don't buy Shun for the looks ... buy them for the blade.

[stevetx19]

yep...those are sweet knives

[T-Bird]

Hi.

The second set is better, but why do You think you'll need several knives to start digging into cooking?

IMHO/IME, get one good medium long (20cm blade or so) knife and a sharpening device of your choice (from the same manufacturer preferably so the angles match) and by more as you progress.

Victorinox is one of the brands I use, and 5.2000.19 is one of the best we have in our kitchen. It's about in the mid-quality group, price-wise as well, but used by professionals as well as hobbyists. Fiskars and Hackman are obvious choices for me as well.

The knives aren't cheap, each is at least the price of the sets You gave links to, but buy once cry once applies here more than ever. Even the cheaper ones I have have been with me for a decade at least.

Flea markets and garage sales are great places to make finds, but You really have to know what You're looking for/at.


What's the most important IMHO is keeping the blade sharp at all times. I'm lazy, and don't prepare food professionally, so I sharpen the with just a Fiskars Rollsharp sharpener (no serrated edges for me). The swirl helps tremendously in the sharpness over straight grooves of ceramic pins or stationary stones.

The sharpening angle, 30 degrees IIRC, may or may not to be to Your liking, and FLknifemaker will probably chime in and tell us why, but I've found it to work for me.

Have fun, and do not forget to have some CA nearby when the unavoidable slip happens .

Regards
Sam

[Joe Gress]

My mom and dad got a set of JA Henckels about 25 years ago. Some knives have been added to this set, but none have been replaced yet.

[knumbskull]

that Shun looks great!

Sabatier do some, not too expensive knives i think. there are cheaper branded ones that aren't 'real' though, apparently, so watch out.

these look OK:

Amazon.com: Sabatier Forged Soft Grip 17-Piece Cutlery Set: Home & Garden

...but yes, getting a full set seems excessive, i mean who needs a bread knife?

[Chebass88]

Originally Posted by Munjibunga

I've got Henckels, and they're very nice knives. There are several grades of Henckels, and the lower grades might not hold an edge as long as the higher grade ones. ...

Originally Posted by knumbskull

...but yes, getting a full set seems excessive, i mean who needs a bread knife?

I also have Henckels International (made in Spain). I bought them one at a time, as funding allowed. I would also recommend getting a good sharpening steel - the ones they include in the sets are a bit shoddy. Also - the kitchen shears - buy the Made in Germany model - they are much stronger.

Bread knives are great if you make homemade bread. A chef's knife will just mangle the loaf.

[Phalex]

They've been making great blades in Solingen for centuries. Can't go wrong with a knife marked Solingen IMO. The Japanese also have their technique worked out.