cutlery science

The most important culinary tool is undoubtedly a set of high quality kitchen knives. The work of chopping, mincing, peeling, fileting, carving, and delicately slicing through those tomatoes depends upon having knives that are suited to their specific task. Most experts recommend that a home kitchen contain at a minimum a chef's knife, a paring knife and a serrated knife. The best way to ensure you have quality knives is to follow three steps.

1. Read reviews. First, browse the net and read reviews by chefs, ordinary kitchen cooks, and product users about knife brands, quality, and style. Make sure that the reviews are genuine and that the reviewers have some basis for their opinions.

2. Try them out. High quality kitchen knives cannot be purchased blindly. It is essential that you actually see and feel a knife before you buy it. The heft, size and balance of the knife may make all the difference, so go to an actual brick and mortar retailer to get the look and feel of the knife. If you are a devoted fan of buying online, you can always turn to the web to order afterward.

3. Care for your knives. The highest quality knives can last literally for a lifetime if they are cared for properly. Always use a cutting board rather than a hard surface like marble. Clean you knives right away BY HAND. Putting knives in a dishwasher can be a disaster; not only can the blade knock around and become damaged, but the heat can change the shape and balance of the knife altogether. Dry the knives and put them away right away to lessen the chance of accidental damages. Sharpen your knives regularly, either yourself or through a professional.

Once you have your high quality kitchen knives, allez cuisine!

Ceramic kitchen knives give home cooks a good alternative for slicing foods. Ceramic blades are made from zirconium oxide powder that is compressed and fired at high temperatures causing the powder to bond and become very strong and durable. Ceramic knives rank about 8.2 on the Mohs Hardness Scale while stainless steel only rates 5.5. Ceramic knives are very sharp and retain their sharpness for several years. They are also very light weight with white or black blades for a modern, streamlined appearance. [...]

It's very possible that I have been searching for the perfect kitchen knife set for the greater part of my adult life. Hope surged as I unveiled the beautiful, new cutlery set I got for Christmas upon getting my first apartment during college. I had visions of slicing cleanly through vine-ripened tomatoes, and never having to buy another knife set for the rest of my life. It didn't take long for reality to set it, and for me to realize the knives were dull, hard to sharpen, and practically useless. My second surge of hope came when I got married, and together with my new husband, put away a brand-new gourmet cutlery set with the rest of our wedding treasures. Unfortunately, that set only lasted a few short months before it, too, was practically useless.[...]

Quality kitchen cutlery is paramount to maintaining a functional kitchen. Cheaply constructed knives are dangerous, wear poorly and dull fast. Selecting superior cutlery is uncomplicated and affordable. [...]