Most of you reading this really want to know just one thing, “What are the best kitchen knife sets?”. We are going to answer that question, but we are also going to answer a lot of questions that you might not have thought about that will help you make a better decision on which set of knifes is best for you. For now, let’s start with the basics.

The Basic Parts of Knives

All knives have basically the same parts. There are a few exceptions for some of the specialty knives, like pocket knives or electric knives. Check out the image below to see the basic components of your typical kitchen knife.

The Basics of Knife Care

Most of you probably didn’t know that most knife blocks will actually dull your knives, so what’s the best way to store your knives? There are a few options. First, it’s fine to store them in a block, you’ll just have to sharpen them more often. Many people also store their knives in a drawer and that works too.

The best place to store your knives is on your wall with a magnetic strip. If this isn’t possible you can should also consider a “chef’s roll”. Those are both great ways to keep your knives sharper for longer without having to take the time to sharpen them.

Let’s also cover cleaning your knives. You need to keep your knives dry and clean, so when washing make sure you use warm soapy water. Don’t use heavy abrasive wash cloths, and don’t put your knives in the dishwasher. If your knife is carbon, the steel needs to be oiled frequently. It’s also worth mentioning that if your blade is stainless steel, you can oil those from time to time too as it helps the edge of the knife.

Signs You Should Replace Your Knife

A good quality chef ‘s knife that is well maintained can last you for a very long time. A dull edge can be sharpened, and small imperfections won’t affect your ability to cut through things. But there are a few instances that should get you thinking about replacing your old knives. Here are the biggest…

• There are chips in the blade
• The knife tip is bent, chipped, or broken
• The rivets are coming loose (Rivets are the small metal rounds that secure the metal portion of the knife to the handle.)
• When anything is loose or wobbly (This not only affects the stability and balance, but it’s also dangerous to cut things with.)
• Your knife isn’t comfortable to use

What Type of Cutting Board is Best?

Hardwood boards are going to be your best option. Look for boards that are made of hardwoods like maple and walnut, they are hard, but not too hard. We recommend avoiding plastic boards. They harvest bacteria. ‘Nuff said!

What to Look For When Purchasing Your New Knife Set

Look, unless your are a chef, you probably don’t need to buy a set of knives that will cost your $1,000 or more. The first thing you should think about are the types of knives that will be included in the set. Here’s what you should consider ‘must-have’ blades…

1. The “Chef’s Knife” – This knife, also called the cook’s knife, typically has a broad blade tapering upward to a point, allowing the knife to rock back and forth for fast mincing. It’s can range in length between 6 to 12 inches long.
   
2. The Santoku Knife – Santoku means “three virtues”, which for knives mean slicing, dicing, and mincing. This knife is usually shorter that a chef’s knife and and also doesn’t taper up.
   
3. The Utility Knife – This is a smaller knife that is generally used for cutting vegetables both soft and hard, like tomatoes and lettuce. This knife is usually between 4 to 7 inches long.
   
4. The Bread Knife – This blade is obviously used to cut bread, but also things that you need to “saw” through, like cakes and some meats and poultry. This is the ‘mini saw’ knife that has the ‘teeth’ along the bottom.
   
5. The Cleaver – This is the big, bulky, and usually heavy knife. This is your knife that you will need to cut through bones, thick steaks and other things like squashes and pumpkins. Also, this knife is great to use to crush garlic cloves.
   

There are other knifes that come with most knifes sets that are nice to have, like boning knives, steak knives, and fillet knives, but these are not essential. If you find a knife set you like without them, it shouldn’t keep you from buying.

A good knife should feel comfortable in your hand and easy to grip. The right knife for you, might not be the right knife for everyone. Size does matter, but not as much as the feel. All knives differ in weight distribution, grip contour, balance, material and construction. Before buying, you should pick up a few different knives and see what style and size feel most comfortable in your hand.

Well, congratulations! You now know more about knives than most people and we hope this will help you find a knife set that you can use for years to come. We’d love to hear your thoughts below in our comment section about your favorite types of knives, so don’t be shy.

Also, check out our “Buying Guide” section. In there we cover the best set of knives based on price range, blade material, brand, and more. Just click on the “Buying Guide” tab at the top of our site.

If you are ready to buy and know what you are looking for, click on the button below to get the best price on Amazon.