The six unique steak knives in this boxed set from Laguiole Knives of Laguiole, France, share an origin that dates back to the Navaja, a knife carried by workmen migrating from Spain to France and back in older times. Originally a pocket folder, the knife developed new attributes in response to local demand--an awl for the sheepherders and even a corkscrew for waiters who found the knife a useful appliance. In the peasant country these knives were often used at the table and several traditions grew up around them. At supper, for example, no one would leave the table until the head of the household snapped his Laguiole shut.

These modern steak knives have the appearance of that old blade but are fixed blade knives (no polite folding possible, sorry). The stainless steel knives have the same full bellied blade as the old peasant's version, but the polished bolsters and handle slabs of exotic woods like Brazilian rosewood (rare, beautiful and durable) are fitted well enough to serve as fine cutlery. Laguiole offers knife sets with handles of olivewood, horn, and an assortment of other fine natural materials--Brazilian rosewood is one of the best.

Genuine Laguiole knives will have the company's mark, a stylized metal bee, mounted in plain sight at the base of the blade. It's been the mark of quality since 1829.

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LAGUIOLE FRENCH STEAK KNIFE SET 6 BLUE HANDLES MINT US $14.49   1 Bid Auction Ends: 1h 20m Make it yours...

BEAUTIFUL Wood Laguiole Steak Knives set of 6 US $110.00   0 Bid Auction Ends: 2h 53m Make it yours...

laguiole steak knife set french pradel US $28.00   0 Bid Auction Ends: 2d 1h 14m Make it yours...

In nearly any home kitchen counter space is at a premium. The Wusthof Under Cabinet Swinger Knife Block tackles that problem by stowing knives safely under a cabinet or counter in a beautiful oak hardwood knife block. The nine slot swinger safely stores eight chef's knives in an assortment of sizes, plus a sharpening steel, in a laminated wooden holder that swings out for ready access and swings back for convenient and safe storage.

The heavy duty ball bearing swivel attaches to the underside of cabinets or countertops with three strong screws that mount through a predrilled installation block, also of oak. A paper template is provided for accurate drilling of mounting holes, but customers report this often doesn't quite match up to the block provided. It's a good idea to check this before you begin, and correct the template paper if needed. That's simple, and much easier than drilling holes twice.

Because the material to which you attach this block will vary in thickness, keep some flat washers handy in case you need to adjust the depth of the mounting screws. If they protrude past the mounting block the points may prevent the knife block from swiveling properly. Alternatively, you can file the points off. The block itself weighs eight pounds, so installing it may be a two person job.

Installation done, it's a beautiful accent for any kitchen and a convenient and sanitary way to keep your best knives in reach. Guaranteed for life.

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Whether you think of better flavor or greater economy, when you buy cheese it makes sense to buy big. In blocks or wheels you get higher quality at lower cost. The problem with this is creating those neat sandwich sized slices yourself. If you buy a wheel, even dividing it into blocks can be too much for the ordinary chef's knife. If you're buying large to cut costs, you can lose that savings with slices that are ragged and three or four times the volume you intended to use.

Next Day Gourmet's two handled teflon coated cheese knife helps home chefs deal with this restaurant level chore. Double durable plastic riveted handles at either side of this 14" blade allow two handed control and maximum cutting pressure. No more dangerous stabbing and prying when you have this tool in your hands.

The dark teflon coating lets the blade slip through with ease, and residue wipes easily off the slick surface. You'll definitely need a cutting block or board under this knife, to protect your counter or table top. Divide wheels or blocks into sections for grating or slicing, or shave slices as you go. Gap free full tang construction makes the Teflon Cheese Knife safe and strong.

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Any Chef on the go needs a place for tools--the Dickies 12 Pocket Deluxe Knife Bag, available in blue camouflage as well as other striking colors, has room for knives and more. The roll up nylon organizer offers twelve stitched tool pockets for an assortment of long knives, spatulas, and sharpening steels. The reinforced pocket tips keep blades from poking through, and elastic straps keep handles securely in place.

Knives are just the fundamental tools--everyone accumulates personalized assortments of favorite helpers, and the Dickies Deluxe has places for them all. An accessory flap holds pockets of both open mesh and solid nylon cloth, for everything from notebooks and recipe sheets to pens and thermometers. Oddball tools and small items can go into the mesh bags, so it's easy to spot them when you're in a hurry, and the solid nylon pocket helps keep vulnerable items dry. In the closed pockets, small items won't shake loose and creep out of the main bag.

The breathable fabric helps shed any moisture that didn't get wiped away in cleanup. Strong loops at either end of the bag give options for clippin on luggage tags or for secure closure. It all rolls into a convenient gymbag shape with two comfortable canvas strap handles.

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Yes, I know there are some people out there that prefer using a knife to pushing a button. But what are you going to do when you've got a ton of chopping to do, the kids want to help with the meal prep and/or your non-knife-nut friends are hogging the counter-space? Use the food processor, of course.

The KitchenAid pictured here is a great choice, but let's back up a bit first and take a look at what to look for in a food processor.

First off, bowl size is key. A smaller bowl will usually be accompanied by a smaller base and therefore take up less counter space. But, for my money, I say go for the larger bowl if you've got the space. The convenience of not having to stop and refill cannot be underestimated.The KitchenAid has a 12-cup bowl, which is on the larger end. You can find 14-cup models as well.

Next up is power. Wattage is about the only measure the manufacturer will give you to judge this one. The KitchenAid is 700 watts, which is definitely on the higher-end of home models. It's not a perfect measure, though, so make sure you read customer reviews before buying. Look for people saying that their machine was straining or noisy. Both are bad signs. I don't think you'll read any of that with the 750, though.

Consider the maker's reputation. KitchenAid is best known for their stand-alone mixers, but they've quietly earned a great reputation for making food processors, blenders and, of course, knives. Cuisinart was the traditional top-dog in food processors but, in recent years, has been resting a bit on their laurels. Nothing wrong with them, of course, but they're not nearly as dominant as they were a decade or so ago.

The KitchenAid also includes a mini bowl and mini-blade that converts it into a mini-chopper. This is less important to me personally. After all, why not just use the big bowl? It's not like cleanup is that much easier with the small one. But it's there for you if you like that kind of thing.

The KFP750 was Consumer Reports' top-performer in a recent review, which is a darn good sign. CR put it up against models from Cuisinart, Braun and Oster, so that should say something right there.

It's available in several colors - black, white, chrome, pink and red - to match your kitchen's decor. And don't worry, I won't tell your chop-happy friends.

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KitchenAid 12 Cup Food Processor KFP750 white FREE SHP US $139.99   Auction Ends: 21h 16m Make it yours...

KitchenAid 12 Cup Food Processor BIG SIZE KFP750 white US $119.99   Auction Ends: 1d 18h 44m Make it yours...

KitchenAid 12 Cup Food Processor KFP750 Cinnamon US $139.00   Auction Ends: 14h 44m Make it yours...

J.A. Henckels International - a major name in cutlery - has mixed and matched blades of multiple cuisines into a 16-piece "East meets West" set of high-quality, fully forged synergy, stainless steel knives that will tackle a wide variety of cutting/slicing tasks.

The set includes an 8" chef's knife, 8" carving knife, 8" bread knife, 7" santoku knife, 6" utility knife, 3" vegetable knife with kudamono fine edge, 3" paring knife, set of six 4.5" steak knives, kitchen shears, storage block with horizontal slots to protect edges, 9" sharpening steel.

That's not too much "filler", which is a good thing, since we don't usually recommend buying large sets of knives. Always err on the side of getting fewer, higher-quality knives instead of a large set that may contain knives you don't need. For more on that, see our Best Kitchen Knife Guide.

The stainless steel blades are stain and rust resistant, as well as dishwasher safe, though this cleaning method is not recommended by myself or J.A. Henckels if you wish to keep the set in top condition. The handles are made of POM (polyoxymethylene) - an engineering plastic approved by the Food and Drug Administration in the use of food preperation - riveted to the blade and accented by brushed stainless steel covers. These handles are hygienic and defined as "break proof." Just in case, a lifetime warranty covers all pieces included in this set.

If you find yourself preparing a variety of cuisines, this might be just what you are looking for. The pieces in this set are not exclusive to one particular style. A set like this provides options in the kitchen that will compliment what your taste buds are craving. The price tag may seem a bit steep to those unaccustomed to buying cutlery sets, but is actually a good deal through the links below. Directly from the manufacturer, this set would be two times more expensive.

All that being set, we're not big fans of these knives. Henckels' low-end knives are almost always surpassed by Forschner's. Forschner makes great knives for the money -- check out the Forschner 8-piece knife set for better-quality knives that can be supplemented with steak knives to equal this set. In the long run, you'll be happy you did.

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JA Henckels Intl Forged Synergy 13pc Knife Set US $164.93   Auction Ends: 15d 3h 47m Make it yours...

JA Henckels intl Forged Synergy 3 Piece Starter Set US $82.64   Auction Ends: 22d 3h 31m Make it yours...

JA Henckels Intl Forged Synergy 7 Pc Knife Set US $123.68   Auction Ends: 15d 3h 47m Make it yours...

Okay, so you want nice looking steak knives, you don't want to pay a lot, and you won't really use the set very often so quality is not a big deal to you. I think I have something in mind: J.A. Henckels International set of eight steak knives with full tang serrated stainless steel blades and ergonomic stainless steel handles. The matching steel looks great, especially with table settings made up for special occasions, and an unknowing eye won't be able to determine whether or not they cost a fortune.

Now, should you want something just a touch higher-quality at a similar price, check out the Forschner steak knives we wrote about not too long ago.

But back to the Henckels set...

German company J.A. Henckels has been a big name in kitchen knives since practically forever, and this set is part of their Value Brand, a lesser quality and therefore reduced-price offshoot of J.A. Henckels International. Through the links below this Value set can be purchased for very little cost; however, if taken care of, they will last just as long as the Premium Brand sets. While the specs on this set claim dishwasher safe,it is not recommended. While the blades usually hold up after a dishwasher run, the handles tend to come out with rust spots that grow larger as time goes on. Even Henckels, with an asterisk, has noted that dishwasher cleaning is not recommended. Take the extra time to hand wash and dry after use - you will not be disappointed. The specs also say that, because the edges are serrated, these knives will never need sharpening. This claim is ridiculous - even serrated blades need sharpening over time. The task of sharpening is much more difficult, but many place will take care of that for you with a fee. Or, just get another set - did I already mention that this set is not very expensive?

And, when you see the price, a full warranty should calm your fears of buying a piece of junk. J.A. Henckels stands behind all its knives. We'd still probably recommend the Forschner set, but the warranty sure helps.

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NEW JA Henckels Stainless Steel 8 Steak Knife Set US $36.99   Auction Ends: 18d 16h 18m Make it yours...

Henckels 8 PC TWIN Stainless Steel Steak Knife Set US $89.95   Auction Ends: 25d 15h 48m Make it yours...

Henckels 8 PC Stainless Steel Steak Set in Presentation US $79.95   Auction Ends: 21d 20h 49m Make it yours...

No one likes tough meats - this has been a fact of human nature for centuries. And, for a long time, the meat mallet was the most effective way to tenderize beef, chicken, fish, etc. A meat mallet is an object akin to a hammer, but with little spikes in place of a flat face. To use, you simply beat the meat repeatedly until tenderized - a rather primitive technology if you ask me.

Luckily, in recent years, much advancement has been made in the field of tender meats. This Jaccard "Simply Better" Meat Tenderizer reflects those improvements. Instead of hammering on the meat, simply place the tenderizer on the surface of the meat and press down gently. Forty-five razor sharp stainless steel columns slice apart the connective tissues which make a tough meat. This process allows for faster, deeper marinating, cuts cooking time almost in half, and causes the meat to cook more evenly with less shrinking. In essence, what you get is a tenderer, more enjoyable meat.

The blade cartridge easily removes for quick cleaning under the faucet, or just set it on the top rack of your dishwasher and walk away. It's light weight, so tenderizing those meats on a backpacking/hunting excursion is no hassle. Replacement blades are available, likely making this the last meat tenderizer you will ever need.

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Tenderizers 45 BLADE Jaccard Meat Tenderizer NEW US $29.95   Auction Ends: 19d 21h 58m Make it yours...

Tenderizers 45 BLADE Jaccard Meat Tenderizer SS COLUMN US $34.99   Auction Ends: 29d 20h 39m Make it yours...

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R.H. Forschner is a cutlery division of the Swiss Army Brands, Inc., which is basically the umbrella company for everything with the Victorinox name, and this is their 12-inch, high-carbon stainless steel Slicer. Like other Victorinox products, this knife is hand finished in Switzerland.

Ideally, this knife would be used to slice meats, but works fine for cheeses, veggies, bread, etc. The edge you see here is called a granton - also known as a kullenschiff edge, these are the semicircular scallops on the blade which run vertically from the edge to blade's midpoint and alternate on either side of blade. Originally conceived in 1928, the design was intended to allow thin, even cuts while reducing tears and shreds in whatever is being cut. It's a specially tempered edge which can be sharpened over and over to increase the lifespan of the knife. Also, the high-carbon percentage of the steel helps to maintain a sharp edge and prevent discoloring or staining of the blade. In terms of size, the blade is wide enough to provide stability and control, while also flexible enough to allow an agile slicing technique.

The handle is an ergonomic sure-grip design for comfort, wrist support, and to ensure that slippery conditions won't become a problem. Just in case, a finger guard is in place to prevent any accidental mishaps. At the same time, the materials and construction of the handle details allow an easy cleanup and minimize crevices that would host bacteria.

Forschner has a great reputation for making some of the best budget knives around and this knife is no exception. See our Guide to Kitchen Knives for more on that.

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Forschner 40520 8 Commerical Chef Slicer Knife NEW US $21.95   Auction Ends: 24d 18h Make it yours...

FORSCHNER 8 CHEF KNIFE 8 FORSCHNER SLICER GIFT US $30.00   Auction Ends: 4d 33m Make it yours...

Victorinox Forschner 10 Roast Beef Slicer Knife Fibrox US $29.99   Auction Ends: 23d 19h 34m Make it yours...

Kuhn Rikon is a maker of cookware and cooks' tools. This Swiss company has been producing kitchen items for the past 70 years. This set of four steak knives was designed by chef and knifemaker Philipp Beyeler, winner of numerous design awards, including the Grand Prix de l'Art de Vivre in Paris for this Colori design.

The blades of these Colori steak knives are carbon steel, super sharp, serrated, and non-stick coated. These blades cut through all types of meat with ease and whatever you slice comes right off the blade. The name Colori comes from the fact that each knife is a different color, with matching non-stick coating and plastic blade covers.

The plastic blade covers keep the edges safe from dulling during storage, and the included plastic case helps ensure your set remains intact, easy to locate, and portable. The colors in this steak knife set are black, blue, red, and purple. Other sets in the Colori line, like the Chefs' knives, bread knives, paring knives II, utility knives, and flexi knife match these same colors.

The design has kept ergonomic comfort in mind, reducing fatigue from extended use - which will be nice if you tend to eat a lot of meat. Overall, these Kuhn Rikon Colori knives are a good quality, though obviously not top-shelf, but at the price linked below they are quite a deal.

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