A set of five prep knives in one of Wusthof's oldest patterns, this Classic block set might have been near the top of the heap twenty years ago--now it's a good set that needs some help.

The knives in this assortment cover the full range of kitchen tasks, but they do this ...

Practical knives designed with elegant presentation in mind, these three solid stainless steel blades handle the full range of cheese textures, from hard Parmesan to soft Camembert. The set is suited to dining service as well as kitchen work.

Three knives with extreme differences in blade design make up this ...

Five knives and a sharpening steel in this assortment from well known manufacturer Wusthof of Solingen, Germany, would make a very welcome and lasting gift set for anyone starting out in a kitchen of their own. On the other hand, if you are making the decisions yourself it may make ...

This fine set of four stamped stainless steel steak knives in the TWIN Gourmet style from J. A. Henckels is a serving pattern that will harmonize with many modern table settings. The dark handle slabs and triple riveted full tang construction is far stronger than is necessary for ...

I've been cooking for a very long time now and I still have close calls with knives. Putting one of my razor edged santoku into the hands of a kid with great ambitions would be a nerve wracking event for me--there are all sorts of things that could go ...

From Henckels of Solingen, Germany, this 8 piece block set in the Stylus pattern is actually made in China to Henckels' specifications. The high carbon stainless steel of these stamped blades is from rolls of steel approved by Henckels' engineers and the quality of this economical starter set is relatively ...

The no-nonsense Classic line from Henckels of Solingen, Germany, still looks much the same as when the knives were first introduced, but the changes you don't see are great improvements over the old commercial Henckels cutlery. Over the years many advancements have taken place as the company upgraded steel, forging ...

This 13 piece block set in Henckels International Forged Synergy pattern actually only has four kitchen prep knives to offer. The santoku, chef's knife, utility knife and paring knife will cover most of the ordinary kitchen tasks, but these are not all the knives you will need. Six knives in ...

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 ...

This set of five Chic Chefs ceramic blade knives, complete with a hardwood knife block, offers two paring knives, a small utility knife, serrated bread knife, and chef's knife--all with features and limitations unique to zirconium oxide cutlery.

Zirconium oxide blades have several good features, retaining their sharpness as much as ...

Many people who buy Henckels products expect all their knives to be hand forged. The Twin Signature series from which this 7 piece knife block set has been selected is one of Henckels' stamped product lines. What you can expect is quality, but not of the same kind ...

The four knives in this block set from Chroma Cutlery cover most of the tasks in a modern kitchen. With the dovetail flare handles that won awards for designer F. A. Porsche, this set will increase any chef's efficiency at the same time it eases the stress on ...

Part of holiday tradition and everyday kitchen prep, the carving knife and fork have always been mainstay tools of the dining table as well as the kitchen counter. This new design by F. A. Porsche is an attention getter in either zone, with a look that has won ...

A fine basic set of Chef's knives either for the professional or the serious home chef, this four knife collection comes in a soft sided carrying case emblazoned with the company logo--everyone will immediately know you have the best. Be ready to prove it.

These knives won't ...

This award winning eight piece set of professional quality chef's knives from Chroma Cutlery's Type 301 series, designed by F. A. Porsche, shows that even the most basic concepts of knives can be made better. Pictures don't really do enough to explain the style--they'd need to be 3D to ...

With economical builds and high quality results, the International Eversharp Pro Steak Knife set features long lasting micro serrated cutting edges and the same full tang handle design Henckels uses in its more expensive forged cutlery. The razor sharp serrations are fine enough to cut like a smooth edged blade. ...

This combination Cheese Knife Set, knife rack and storage block, and reversible serving tray cutting board from Berghoff Worldwide really does have a nice look. Either on kitchen counter or dining room table it will be a useful and stylish serving accessory or prepping platform.

As a set of knives it ...

This fourteen piece ProSafe assortment from Berghoff, chosen by culinary schools as one of several top choices for apprentice chefs, leaves me unimpressed. Materials are not substandard--blades of high carbon stainless ice-hardened steel, stamped rather than forged, will certainly hold a decent edge when properly maintained. The synthetic molded ...

Designed by F. A. Porsche, this three piece set of Chroma Haiku Type 301 knives brings a space age look to your kitchen and yet makes perfect practical sense. So simple in appearance, there's much going on beneath the surface of these one piece stainless steel chef's knives.

The handles ...

These stamped knives from Henckels aren't of the same quality as their
"forged" lines. They're lighter and thinner which as a rule makes for a
more efficient knife but they're definitely not as robust as the forged
knives from Henckels, so I'd suggest they're a bit more appropriate for
lighter duty use. ...

Chosen with the professional chef in mind this versatile 11 knife set, in the Lagos pattern from Berghoff cutlery, is housed in a strong aluminum carrying case less appropriate for home use--but it's still a bargain. Competitive with high end forged knives like Henckels and Wusthoff, Berghoff's Lagos pattern ...

This heavy but ergonomically sound seven piece cutlery set in the counterbalanced Orion design from Berghoff Cutlery of Germany may be a reasonable choice for cooks who prefer the older European patterns. In comparison to lighter modern knife sets with thinner blades they will feel a bit overbuilt.

Berghoff Orion blades ...

This set of four fine edge steak knives from designer F. A. Porsche reflects the same level of quality and evolved style that has earned the Chroma 301 line numerous awards. Eye catching without being gaudy, everyone will know there's something special here.

The flowing ergonomic shape of the 18/10 ...

Forged in Solingen, Germany, to the specifications of Swiss engineers, this three knife set from Forschner of Victorinox is capable of covering most everyday kitchen needs. One piece forged construction, full length handle tangs, and ergonomically designed triple riveted slab handles combine in knives built for a wide range of ...

This ten piece block set from Wusthof features the laser cut and computer tested stainless steel blades of the Gourmet series, a light weight stamped steel product line which still has many of the fine features for which Wusthof is known. Buyers who expect the heavy forged blades of ...

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" ...

Inexpensive knives are always a gamble--foundries cut costs in many ways, including quality control, so this twelve piece stainless steel Block Cutlery Set from KitchenAid but manufactured overseas (probably in China) could be a real deal or a real disappointment. You'll find very little hard information about these knives to ...

The slotted blade vegetable peeler is one of the nicest kitchen gadgets you'll find--nearly every kitchen has a couple laying around and the last time they were sharp was the day they left the factory. In fact, unless you've lost yours and had to replace it you may not ...

Although this is a high quality starter set, to say that these three Wusthof knives plus a sharpening steel and kitchen shears will handle all the work of the average kitchen is not accurate. You will need more, and the storage block does have room for them.

In this set ...

Mezzaluna sets often have more character than function, but this mincing knife and cutting board set from Wusthof actually works. The solid hardwood block has a wide and deep bowl, big enough for mincing and chopping small amounts of herbs without making a huge mess. The cutting block sits ...

The four knives in this Twin Signature Steak Knife Set form J. A. Henckels show a few style changes over the classic Henckels design, resulting in improvements in appearance as well as performance. The triple riveted full tang construction of the composite slab handles has been slightly curved ...

The newest product line from the well known cutlery manufacturer J. A. Henckels of Solingen, Germany, the Twin Cuisine line offers forged steel construction with newly designed ergonomic full tang handles. Three of the most used knives in the kitchen plus a sharpening steel make up this very ...

If you absolutely hate sharpening knives you've probably looked at many "never sharpen" ideas. You may remember the knife that cuts through a tin can and then effortlessly slices a tomato, paper thin. Hopefully you won't try that if you buy this set.

I honestly do think this seven piece set ...

With many unique design features, the Furi Brands Pro series, endorsed by Chef Rachael Ray, has had a warm reception in the U.S. from both professional and home chefs. The unusual balanced shape of the company's larger knives, combined with the thin high quality blades, brings modern ...

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 ten piece assortment of knives selected for the aspiring chef is high quality and does cover a wide range of every day needs, but has a few faults as well. Ten pieces means seven knives, a sharpening steel, kitchen shears, and a hardwood block with space ...

The Henckels Twin Signature series steak knives in this eight piece set definitely have a distinctive style, with subtle differences in blades as well as the dark synthetic handles. Keeping the general appearance of traditional Henckels knives, the old features like triple riveted slab handles have been modernized just enough ...

Obviously the revolution in cutlery hasn't filtered down to Brazil as yet--this set of three fundamental knives from Mundial, a well established South American company with 70 years of solid experience, is definitely old style and proud of it.

From the look of these knives, with dagger shaped blades and heavier than ...

Although this is a practical knife set, it does have a few faults. The selection of knives is good, with a bread slicer, carving knife and chef's knife at the top end--enough to handle most of the heavy work-- while a utility knife and two paring knives cover the ...

The Wusthof Classic 7 piece Block Set is a high quality beginning chef's collection especially chosen for the home kitchen, with knives that will have permanent places as your favorite kitchen blades for years to come, and others that are stopgap knives you'll eventually replace. The selection partners an ...

Wusthof is one of the "big two" German knife makers. The Culinar line shares similar blade characteristics and construction as the Classic and Grand Prix lines. The handle style and construction is what sets it apart from the others. With a contoured metal handle, one ...

Designed as much for the dining table as for the kitchen, this carving set from J. A. Henckels has features practical for both, expressed in a design that makes both functional and aesthetic good sense.

Both 8" carving knife and matching fork are forged steel construction--blade, bolster, tang and end ...

Amongst the first companies offering Japanese knives to the US mass market, Global earned a spot in the hearts of cooks everywhere, including chef turned author, Tony Bourdain.

I've always thought that Global makes a fine looking knife with a futuristic aesthetic that is equally functional. Global knives offer a fine ...

I've never been a big fan of knife block sets. They rarely offer what I would consider to be the optimal mix of knives and offer poor value as they often have more "filler" knives than the types of knives which are most useful.

This set is no exception ...

One of many similar lower quality cutlery block sets manufactured by Lifetime Hoan Corporation and marketed since 2003 under the Cuisinart brand name, this 20 piece block set received poor marks from consumers. Now frequently touted as the perfect choice for "recreational chefs," the original problems are still ...

The two paring knives and the poultry shears in this Wusthof Classic Prep Knife set are bound to be among your most useful and favorite kitchen tools. Although the heavier construction of German forged cutlery is often outclassed by more refined Japanese designs today, for smaller prep knives it's ...

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 ...

The Henckels International Fine Edge Pro series is one of that company's lower quality product lines, and even though Henckels still backs it up with their excellent warranty, with this 7 piece block set you won't get the features that make Henckels popular. The Fine Edge Pro line is stamped ...

In this set from Furi Cutlery of Australia, you get three unique knives in Chef Rachael Ray's bold design choices--specially designed blades, handles, and even her favorite orange color. Everything has a reason, so if you buy these knives you'd better be sure you like her way of doing things.

The ...

Although many people today (especially steak house restaurants) choose serrated steak knives because no one expects to sharpen them, ever, a few good companies still offer the alternative. That would be a set of steak knives that's sharp. Serrated knives will saw the meat, even when the points are ...