Please help me find the perfect knife!!
I have a perfectly nice set of knives, but the one I use the most (for chopping) just doesn't quite cut it. I was cooking at a friend's house awhile ago and they had a curved chopping knive that was really easy to rock back and forth and had a really comfortable handle! Buuut it was a bit out of my price range (can't remember exactly what brand it was....)
Does anyone have any suggestions for a similar knife that won't break the bank? (Also, if anyone could identify what this kind of knife is called, that would be great! I'm pretty clueless on this stuff)
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14 Comments:
Haha, I didn't realize til I posted this, but I'll pretend the pun was TOTALLY intended in the "doesn't quite cut it" sentence.
embolini9 at 9:46AM on 06/18/08
Cooks Illustrated recommends Victorinox Fibrox 8" chef's knife as the best inexpensive knife. Around $24. I have it and like it, but I'd buy a 1" shorter one next time.
I believe you may have tried Ken Onion's Kershaw Shun which retails around $200. Obviously, there will be a huge difference, but you're not cooking in a restaurant or catering, right?
I have a link to the pdf file with their recommendations, but I'm not sure if that will work. Here it is, just in case.
http://www.cooksillustrated.com/images/document/testing/MA07_ChefsKnives.pdf
PerkyMac at 10:10AM on 06/18/08
Dexter knives are cheap, sharp and industry standard. The best cheap knife you can find in my opinion.
jonfoxx at 10:34AM on 06/18/08
My daughter just bought me one of those for my birthday and she got it at Steve and Barry's. It's a sports store in Midwest MI. My Honey is a knife collector and when he saw it, he said, "That looks like an Ulu knife." But it's actually called a Mezzaluna. It came with a small cutting board w/ a slight well in the center. It's mostly designed for cutting fresh herbs, but I've used it to chop other things as well. I'm sure it didn't set her back any more than $20.
Preacherswife at 10:55AM on 06/18/08
It was actually sort of like an herb chopper, with a long handle and not quite as curvy, with a fairly thin blade.
embolini9 at 12:37PM on 06/18/08
I like the santoku knives. Wustoff (sp?) makes two grades: gourmet, which runs about $50, and classic, which runs about $100. I have the classic and love it, though I doubt you would be disappointed by the gourmet. Also, if you don't have a steel, get one. The best knives still go dull, so keep what you have sharp - it makes all the difference.
joyyy at 12:41PM on 06/18/08
i also have the victorinox knives.....also known as forschner knives.....for the home i have an 8 and 10" chefs knives...i prefer the 10" an my wife likes the 8".....very reasonably priced....i dont think anyone really needs a $200 knife.......i also use the forschner knives at work....an 8" breaking knife and a 12" butcher knife
onepercent99 at 1:10PM on 06/18/08
I second PerkyMac -- if you not looking to invest in a pricey (read: over $100) Wustholf, Shun, Henckel etc, go for the Victorinox. I have the same knife mentioned above but in 6", and my roommate always ignores his $120 Global santoku knife in favor of my super-sharp cheapo Victorinox! I got it at Williams Sonoma.
megannesta at 8:08PM on 06/18/08
Try Cutleryandmore.com. They have a great variety of knives of all price and quality levels. I bought a Shun 8" chef's knife with granton edge. Love it. It's around $130. A little pricey, but worth it.
beth1 at 9:40PM on 06/18/08
I have always liked the one Rachael Ray uses with the orange handle... it's kind of like a blend between a santoku and chefs knife... and I think you would like the rolling motion with it's curved blade. I saw them at Sur la Table and they were about $40-$50. And I believe FNStore website also sells them in a kit.
I love the wustoff's but they're usually $90+...
MadelynRodriguez at 9:49PM on 06/18/08
I'm a big believer in not reading the name on a knife until I've held it and formed an opinion. One of my favorite knives is a cheapie santoku with a huge blade, briefly made by Ming Tsai for Target. It cost about $40 and I figured it if it was "that bad" I'd take it back. I use it almost all the time unless I'm doing very specialized cutting.
If a knife feels good to you, buy it. Balance, the size of your hand, and the intended use of the knife are all factors in your decision. It's always best to hold a knife before you actually buy it because online and paper catalogues are great but there's nothing like the ability to make that "tactile" decision.
chiff0nade at 8:05AM on 06/19/08
This is the knife I use the most in my kitchen. http://int.jahenckels.com/453jahenckels_international
I do get annoyed with the people who say you only need "one knife." I'm sorry, but I don't use the same knife for chopping veggies and herbs as I do for peeling fruits, slicing bread or carving meat.
cmtigger at 8:20PM on 06/22/08
oxo makes a terrific six and a half inch santoku for 20 bucks.
cybercita at 10:01PM on 06/22/08
Target has a great selection of economy knives that won't run you more than $50. I've seen Cuisinart, Henckels, and Wusthoff. Also, although I'm not a fan of Rachael Ray, I've tried the Furi knives that she endorses and they're pretty good. My aunt bought a set and she really loves them.
I've a fan of Wusthoff Classic, which are a little pricier, but well worth it. For me, it was worth it to spend $100 on a knife that I love and I know I'll have for a long time. Think of it as an investment. (Plus, they just look sort of cool!!)
nosillak at 2:21PM on 06/26/08