Knives

DB wants to get a new set of knives for the kitchen. I know Wustof is an excellent brand, but I would like to find something less expensive, although we do feel it's best to stick with what we have right now and save up for better knives. I've started to do a bit of research, and ironically Good Eats just had an episode on knives and cutting the day that DB suggested getting knew knives! I now know what to look for in a knife, but I also want to hear recommendations of others.

Does anyone have any knife brands they would recommend?

I really like my Henckels. They aren't cheap but they're not terribly expensive either.
This thread from last year has a lot of recommendations:

http://talk.uk-yankee.com/index.php?topic=21901.0

I have a Global knife (yeah, just the one!) that i really like.
Knives are so expensive! 

The thing about knives is that you really can get away with only having three - a pairing knife, a butcher's knife (is that what you call the big ones - I'm having a brain freeze!) and a bread knife. So it's worth spending a lot of money on really good ones. Mine aren't that great so at some point this year I'm going to start replacing one at a time with Wustoff....

completely agree with anne. if you can't afford all three- just start with one- perhaps the 7inc/butchers.

the other suggestion is to try out a few different brands in the store.  they all have different weights/center points/grips. 

The thing about knives is that you really can get away with only having three - a pairing knife, a butcher's knife (is that what you call the big ones - I'm having a brain freeze!) and a bread knife. So it's worth spending a lot of money on really good ones. Mine aren't that great so at some point this year I'm going to start replacing one at a time with Wustoff....

This is exactly what I did. Bought a 10" Wusthoff cook's knife after taking a 'Knife Skills' class, and then got the paring and bread knives. Those were the only three I had for a long time, although I now have a carving and boning knife as well (but I rarely use those).

Belita--As you're in the US, you should definitely check out Bed, Bath and Beyond--they often have Wusthoff, Global, Henckel's on sale, and you can always find a 20% off coupon for BB&B in the papers.

Also just to add--I truly believe that knives are worth spending the extra money on. If you care for them (sharpen them often, and professionally sharpen them once a year or so) they will last for a lifetime.

I was just at my mom's house, and she has terrible knives. I couldn't believe how much more effort it took to prepare a meal.

I was just at my mom's house, and she has terrible knives. I couldn't believe how much more effort it took to prepare a meal.

What is it with parents? Mine only have one "sharp" knife and they've had it since before I left home which was over 20 years ago and the tip of it is broken off! Last time I was at their house I managed to find a steak knife at the back of the drawer which was hsarper and used that!

Anyway, I have bought some decent knives from Wilkinsons and Tescos. Not big name brands but they are good quality and quite cheap. Like Anne says you really only need the three. Although I have 6 because one lot went missing after a house move, so I replaced them, then they turned up the next time we moved!!

The knives I have are utter cheap crap.  I keep them as sharp as a razor though and I don't have any problems.

What is it with parents?

Seriously, I don't know. The one great thing about it is that now I know what I'll be getting her for her next few birthdays/mother's days: new knives!!

2 years ago this is exactly what i bought my mother- she has great kitchen equipment but horrendous knives.  preparing a meal with sharpened knives is heaven after that.

I love, love, LOVE my Wusthof Grand Prix chef's knife. A very lovely friend of J's family bought us a set of three Wusthof knives as a wedding gift, and I adore them. We have a set of Cutco knives as well (also a wedding gift) and while they're fine and we do use them, they just don't compete with the Wusthofs. But to be honest, I could get by (and pretty happily) with nothing but the chef's knife.

If I were you, I'd save up and buy a good chef's knife. Paring knives aren't quite so important in my opinion, and you can probably get a good one fairly cheaply if you're not hung up on sets.

It might be worthwhile signing up for two weeks' free trial membership to cooksillustrated.com so you can read their knife reviews. They generally come up with some bargain buys as well as the good and exensive brands.

Thanks for the tips and the other link. That had a lot of good info.

My set is just not sharp at all and they never were very good. It was the cheapest set that Linens n Things had. I have to have DB chop some of the vegetables for me because I have such a hard time. I also have things like carrots flying around the kitchen because I have to press down so hard to cut!

My parents have the same utensils, pots, and pans they had when they were married and they are all cheap. They pots and pans are aluminum and they don't even sit flat on the stove anymore.

The chef's knife that came with my set is too big for me and I hate to use it. I guess whatever length that is, I know to get one that is smaller!

My gosh, that sounds dangerous.  Go get a nice new knife!  If you really can't spend much, Chinatown has pretty good heavy knives.  They should be reasonable here.. um, not sure.

The nicest knives I've bought were all handmade in Japan, but I gave them as gifts.  I have a Wusthof I love and a Global I don't.

My gosh, that sounds dangerous.  Go get a nice new knife!  If you really can't spend much, Chinatown has pretty good heavy knives.  They should be reasonable here.. um, not sure.

I have just been used to it, so I never really thought of it as dangerous. I guess it is though. I just didn't quite realize, until the Good Eats episode, and DB's comments that it should be easier.

I think I'll go try to look at some this weekend.