The enjoyment in preparing food starts with a good knife. If you collect wonderful kitchen items every year, have you ever thought of owning one of the world’s superior quality knives and cutlery regardless of price? What about the most indispensable of knives, a chef’s knife?
When all parts of the knife are joined seamlessly with a smooth transition without any gap between the handle and the bolster, it is a good knife. These aspects are very important to ensure fine and even surface finish. This also provides better hygiene as bacteria would not be able to collect in between the parts. If you think a knife has a really well-balanced weight between the handle and the blade facilitating safe use and pleasant work, it is worth your money. But which brand?
Wusthof
A Wusthof Classic Chef’s Knife provides full tang that is triple-riveted for excellent durability and control. It is made of special alloyed steel forged from one piece of especially-tempered high carbon steel for outstanding endurance. One of my chef friends claimed he did not need any other knives after his wife gave him a Wusthof paring set as a holiday present. What he liked most about Wusthof was the specially-contoured durable polymer handle that fits the hand perfectly. He said the well-shaped balance cuts like a dream and couldn’t ask for more, except more cutleries from this line coming from his favorite Santa.
Fissler
Fissler embodies knives with a cutting-edge reinterpretation of a traditional Solingen, German knife. This line carries perfectly-sharp blade and tang which are precision-forged from a single piece of special steel to a special electro-treated corrosion-resistant steel to ensure sharpness, balance and endurance. I have always loved the sweeping 90 degree rotated tang of its Perfection line. The blade is extremely tough and robust and the nonstick plastic handles provide for a secure grip when cutting. With a large chef’s knife to the smallest paring knife, my kitchen feels well-equipped.
Henckels
A Henckels knife is a fully forged knife with a handle that is molded from polypropylene and a full tang which extends through the handle. Most Henckels knife blades are constructed from ice-hardened high carbon stainless steel to ensure sharpness and stain resistance. The blades are also forged to produce better cutting-edge retention, weight and balance. Old folks use a Henckel knife for its hand-honed enlarged bolsters which cater for safety and extra balance when cutting. It was probably why mom filled her kitchen with Henckels knives. This brand is based in Solingen, Germany.
Choosing the right knife isn’t as hard as you would think. The key is to look for a good balance and elasticity of the blade. For you to know the direction to take, study the designs of each great brand to help you define the concept for your targeted task. Going for a premium quality set of knives may cost you a bit expensive but you know how consumers trust these brands. What it takes now is to find the knife of your choice.
Good luck!