These are the two knives that most home chefs will use most often--the 4" paring knife and 8" cook's knife. By themselves they are not a complete set, but unless you've shifted over to santoku these are still the ones most often in hand. Even if you prefer ...

Many years ago I had practical reasons to learn some things about old hand tools and the way things were done before "one size fits all" technology became standard. Today the kitchen is one of the few places where those old rules still apply, which is why I ...

The 8 inch International Classic Chef's Knife from J. A. Henckels Cutlery of Germany maintains the old standards in this modern version of the mainstay knife of Western kitchens. The specially formulated stainless steel blade of the Classic is forged from a single bar of high carbon alloy--blade, bolster and ...

The vegetable cleaver is the most versatile knife in an Asian kitchen, equivalent to the chef's knife familiar in Europe and America. This Chroma Type 301 Vegetable Cleaver, in the pattern designed by F. A. Porsche, makes one of the most practical prep blades even better.

If you're shopping on the ...

If you've been cooking long enough that you deserve a treat, shopping around for "the right knife" may fit the bill. For some, the Henckels 6" Chef's Knife could be it. If you like the light weight and versatility of a utility knife but want something that leaves ...

It certainly has a German shape and a German name, but that's where the
similarity ends.

This isn't quite the same level of quality that most folks
expect from Wusthof. This stamped blade knife shouldn't be confused with
its more expensive "forged" brethren, but it will offer a respectable level
of performance at a ...

Tailored to fit large hands and do big jobs, this 9" Grand Prix II Cook's Knife from Wusthof of Solingen, Germany, is the classic general purpose cook's blade of the European kitchen. Designed to do most of the work available, the cook's or chef's knife is a multi-purpose ...

Henckels of Solingen, Germany, now produces a lighter streamlined counterpart to its usual forged steel builds - the Twin Signature Asian Set features hollow ground blades of stamped high quality German stainless steel that rival the versatility of traditional Japanese santoku knives.

This two knife set includes a 3" ...

I will not steer you away from this knife--it's a Shun knife, in their VG-10 Damascus layered steel pattern. I doubt that anyone can say there's a better practical cutting edge around. I do have some concerns about the handle, though.

First, let me list all the good ...

A big knife for small hands, the Wusthof Classic 6" Cook's knife is the full size workhorse Chef's knife scaled back for the less ham-handed cooks of the world. Well balanced and lighter than the 8" version, the construction details and uses of this blade are just the same. ...

If you don't own a Shun already, it's hard to imagine how this Chef's Knife in polished stainless and Damascus layered steel could not become the favorite knife in your kitchen. Using the methods that created the best of the old Samurai swords, Shun Cutlery of Seki City, Japan, has ...

The modern alternative to steel blades, Kyocera's Revolution 5 inch slicing knife has definite advantages over the usual stainless steel knife, but at a cost. You will need steel backup blades even if this zirconium oxide ceramic knife becomes your favorite. And it could. Even with its ...

Henckels Twin Signature 8" Chef's Knife, a lightweight stamped steel variation of the company's better known forged knives, has much of the traditional look but cuts back a bit on features. Owners of older Henckels patterns may be more interested in the forged products.

There is quality here, but in ...

Global's 5" utility knife, with all the unique features of that company's fine knives, is a good pick if you need to fill out a short list of Global chef's blades. Combined with a Santoku and a paring knife, you'll have a set that will span the range of ...

With a few concessions to the advantages of modern stamped steel blades, this Wusthof Gourmet Chef's Knife is in some ways an improvement over the heavier forged steel patterns that made the company famous.

Missing is the forged steel bolster and the thick, stiff steel that made the older chef's knives workhorse blades ...

Useful for many kitchen prep tasks as well as for carving and serving roast meats and poultry at the dining table, the Henckels International Classic 8" Carving knife shows both practical construction and the clean design of traditional chef's knives. Although not fancy, anyone who knows cutlery will see a good ...

For chef's who prefer the extra heft and stiffness of forged blades this three knife set from Wusthof of Solingen, Germany, is a good first step towards a complete professional quality knife set. The paring, utility, and chef's knives here can cover all but the heaviest chopping work, and will ...

This 7" Chef's knife from Kyocera's Revolution series adds both length and depth to the zirconium oxide ceramic blade. Closer to the usual dimensions of a good santoku or chef's knife, this version offers users better knuckle clearance and enough cutting edge for larger work.

The cutting ability of ceramic blades is ...

Made in Solingen, Germany, by the well known cutler Wusthof Trident, the Grand Prix Santoku is a streamlined version of the Western chef's knife. This 7" cutting edge blade has the shape of a Santoku, with a long and nearly straight edge, but not the hollow ground granton ...

One of the best and most versatile knives you can get, the Shun Classic Chef's Knife is the familiar Western "cook's knife" pattern, but better. Made in Seki City, Japan, the Damascus style blades of Shun Classic knives show the same expertise as the best of the old Samurai swords, ...

The Kyocera Revolution Series, including this black zirconium oxide Chef's knife, is for those who insist on working only with the best tools. Kyocera claims the edge holding ability of these blades is ten times the best their competition can offer. Even so, this is a great knife ...

These two very useful prep knives from the International Series by J. A. Henckels both feature hollow ground edges but in two different styles. Combined with the forged strength of this modified German pattern, this results in blades that will handle nearly any task in the kitchen except chopping through ...

What looks like a meat cleaver to Western cooks is actually the Asian equivalent of the Cook's Knife--the all purpose vegetable prep knife we've all used for slicing, dicing, mincing and more. Shun's Steel Chinese Chef's Knife, with a blade edge 7 3/4" long and much thinner ...

The Wusthof 9 Inch Classic Chef's Knife, a staple of Wusthof's Solingen steel cutlery line for decades, is still one of the favorite general purpose knives in American kitchens and in Europe. The design is little changed from the day this knife was first introduced, although materials--both steel and polymer ...

This very popular Classic Chef's Knife from Wusthof of Solingen, Germany, is available in sizes to fit any hand or task; six different blade lengths from 4.5" to 10" will do anything from mincing herbs to slicing melons. The 6" blade is a good general purpose choice for mincing, slicing vegetables ...

The workhorse blade of any kitchen, the Henckels Twin Four Star 8" Chef's Knife has been a popular and proven choice since the introduction of the product line in 1976. Although it's still a reasonable choice for the modern kitchen, the forged construction, heavy bolster, and flat grind are ...

Offered exclusively through Korin Trading in the US, and their sister companies in Europe, Togiharu knives have quickly established a reputation amongst professional cooks and serious amateur cooks for their thin geometry and fine performance.

Unlike the Virgin Carbon Steel Gyutou, I recently reviewed, this gyutou is made from INOX stainless steel, ...

In the realm of kitchen knives, Japanese virgin carbon steel is considered amongst the most desirable of blade materials. What makes Virgin carbon steel so special and why does a virgin carbon steel blade offer such fine performance?

Unfortunately, most steels these days, both carbon and stainless, originate from recycled materials. ...

This Togiharu petty is part of their entry level Molybdenum line, aimed at culinary students, entry level professional cooks, and serious amateurs. The steel is not quite of as high a quality as the mid level INOX line so it won't take quite as fine an edge and will require more ...

I've run across very few Suisin knives which merit significant criticism. As a knife maker, they seem to have found a nice balance between respect for the old traditions of the Japanese bladesmiths and modern knifemaking techniques and materials. Regardless of how they do it, I've consistently found their knives ...

If you want to be the cook with the coolest looking knife in the kitchen, look no further. Fortunately, looks aren't the only thing this knife has to offer. The Masanobu offers a handsome blend of traditional Japanese aesthetics combined with the modern performance of VG10 steel. ...

The days when every kitchen had a well used cleaver are well in the past along with the days where people routinely butchered their own meat and poultry. These days, the closest to a cleaver most people have come is the latest slasher movie at the multiplex. However if ...

Manufactured in China, with proper care this 6" cutting edge forged steel Chef's knife can be a welcome kitchen companion. Although it's rated safe for dishwasher cleaning, that can be its undoing, as well as the voiding of the lifetime warranty.

A full length tang, forged bolster, and seamless handle construction ...

Japanese blades of all kinds, from swords to carpentry tools, are so refined that to many Westerners the subtle features go unnoticed. The Nakiri vegetable knife is a fine example of a craft so skilled it may cause you to rethink the basics and become a better chef.

At first ...

Five high quality chef's tools and a sharpening steel, plus a fine hardwood 10 slot knife block--with this set from J. A. Henckels you get all the essentials and room for more. The assortment includes a 4" paring knife, 5" serrated utility knife, 7" Santoku knife, 8" Chef's knife and a ...

This set of three fundamental home chef's knives from J. A. Henckels Cutlery is a reasonable choice for someone starting out on a budget. The Professional Series from which these knives are taken isn't the finest Henckels has to offer, but it's serviceable if you are willing to spend time ...

Like the other knives in the Komachi line from KAI, the Japanese company best known for making the well regarded Shun knives, this knife is intended to be used to cut only one type of product or ingredient.

The pink color and animal shaped cutouts in the ...

We've got strong opinions about Chef's knives around here. Check out our guide to kitchen knives on a budget to get an overview, but we tend to recommend Japanese knives like Shun or, if you're on a budget, Tojiro. If you're insistent on German knives, Messermeister is ...

This baby sounds impressive -- it uses titanium! If it's good for golf balls and aircraft carriers, it must make a heck of a kitchen knife, right?

Well... Yes and No. First off, know that the knife's edge is not made of titanium. It's the shiny blue component that is a titanium ...

You've got to digest a few things when checking out this knife you may never have heard of.

First off, the style. It's a gyuto - basically the Japanese equivalent of a western chef's knife - an all-purpose knife sharp enough to cut through multiple meats, vegetables, and fish.

Next up, the brand. Kanetsune is not ...

The Deba knife is a Japanese-style Chef's knife, ideally suited for butchering fish or slicing through hard vegetables. It's hefty enough to cut through fine bones, but is certainly not the heavyweight that a cleaver is.

This Deba sports all the features you've come to love from Global -- light weight, sand-filled ...

MAC makes some incredible knives. They don't have the prominence or the marketing budget enjoyed by more well-known brands like Shun or Wusthof, but their knives are every bit as good.

The Superior series deserves the press it gets for being a great value, but the Professional knives are the ones that ...

Wusthof making Japanese-style knives? Alert the media!

Actually, Wusthof has come a long way recently in redesigning its knives to meet needs of today's chef.

This knife is a good example. The full bolster that prevented re-sharpening is gone. The shape is a departure from the traditional German styling and the ...

Masanobu makes high-end knives that rival brands such as Hattori and Shun.

Masanobu's razor-sharp Japanese blades feature a core made of VG-10 steel. VG-10 steel is one of the sharpest steels you can find in a kitchen knife today. It also holds an edge extremely well.

Additionally, the blade is angled ...

Ah, Global... You either love 'em or hate 'em.

Global ushered in a new era in kitchen cutlery 15 years or so ago, introducing the world to Japanese steel and their resulting razor-sharp knives.

If you like a good story, you can read more about that in our article on the ...

For many Chinese chef's, this type is not just an essential knife, but rather the single most essential knife in the kitchen.

Some will quibble and say that this is a Chef's knife and technically not a cleaver, but what's in a name? If you can use it to hack through ...

Mundial Knives are the choice of many professional chefs, so you know they're high-quality. But don't just take their word for it; check out the details...

This set includes the essential kitchen knives and not too much else. This is a good thing -- you don't want to pay extra for knives ...

We recently wrote about the Kyocera Revolution Ceramic Chef's Knife and spent a fair amount of that space discussing the pros and cons of ceramic. You should check out that post for the details.

For those who want a quick recap, though, ceramic knives are a good alternative to stainless steel ...

If you're looking for a basic set of sharp knives, and don't want to have to mess with the piecework of selecting particular knives over others, this Calphalon set is a darn good choice.

Calphalon is a trusted name in cutlery, though not as high-profile as Wusthof or Shun. This set attempts to combine ...

Warning: I'm about to say something bad about Rachael Ray. If this review ends abruptly, you'll know that the lawyers got to me!

Okay, here goes: You can (and should) get better knives than these for the same money. Regular readers of this blog know that our favorite inexpensive knife set ...