There is no better way to kit out your kitchen than by purchasing a knife set. But the last thing you want to do is end up with a drawer full of knives that you will never use. That is why this article has been put together to show you some of the most important knives for your kitchen so that you can make sure you have everything you need for a well-functioning utensil drawer in time for preparing a meal for the next dinner party, family gathering and the like. To learn more about the collection of knife sets, you can visit imarku.
So are you ready to lock down your kitchen side-kicks? Then take a look at the following list of 3 kitchen knives that you simply cannot be without.
1. Chef’s Knife
Let’s start the bidding off with one of the most important knives you can have in the kitchen – the chef’s knife. A chef’s knife is a multipurpose knife that is perfect for dicing, chopping, mincing and doing just about anything with your favorite meat, fish, fruit, and vegetables.
The nice thing about it is that it usually has some weight behind it, making it the ideal knife for chopping into tough winter veggies such as carrots, pumpkin, and squash without causing you to throw your back out.
It’s true, the chef’s knife will not give you the precision of a carving blade or the dexterity of a fillet knife which is perfect for wrapping around meat and fish bones, but it is the perfect allrounder knife that will help you to get a whole host of jobs done in the kitchen.
It is ideal for:
- Slicing, cutting, mincing, and dicing meat, vegetables, and fruit
- Disjointing cuts of meat
- Chopping nuts
It is not ideal for:
- Cleaving meat bones
- Slicing bread and fruits and vegetables with waxy skin
- Peeling, coring, and pitting
- Intricate tasks
How Much Is A Chef’s Knife?
So now that we know a little bit more about our handy friend, you are most likely keen to find out how much you can bag one for.
It will come to you at a range of different prices with some of the most chiseled models ranking in at over $200. However, you can also get a good solid chef’s knife for under $100, but it is all about shopping around and seeing which knife is the right fit for you.
2. Paring Knife
Here is another super important knife that you cannot be without. The paring knife is ideal for doing everything a chef’s knife is too big for. You can use your it for peeling and dicing smaller fruits and vegetables, it can even be useful for pitting food and deveining shrimp!
Paring knives are nifty, small knives that are very light-weight, so they are not the ideal for cutting into large vegetables, but they will do a super job with fruits and vegetables that require more intricate attention.
It is ideal for:
- Peeling, coring, and pitting
- Deseeding fruit
- Deveining shrimp
- Chopping smaller fruits and vegetables
- Slicing thin cuts of meat
It is not ideal for:
- Slicing bread
- Cutting into large, tough vegetables
- Chopping and disjointing meat
- Cleaving meat bones
- Chopping nuts
How Much Is A Paring Knife?
So, how much should you be looking to spend on a paring blade? It is massively cheaper than a chef’s blade, and can normally be found on the market between $30 to $50. That being said, it is not unusual to find bargain deals with paring knives being sold for as little as $10 or less!
As with most things though, you get what you pay for, so going for a more middle of the range to high-end paring knife will ensure you purchase a knife that you can rely on.
3. Serrated Knife
Serrated knives also fall into the must-have category because they are so versatile.
Of course, a serrated bread knife can be used to cut uniform slices of bread, but they are also so much more than that. Serrated knives are also the ideal choice for cutting into foods with slightly slippery skins that would be dangerous to cut with a flat blade. Try using one to cut into lemons, limes, tomatoes, avocados and the like.
It is ideal for:
- Slicing bread
- Slicing meat
- Slicing fruit and vegetables with waxy skin
- Slicing large fruits and vegetables with tough skin
It is not ideal for:
- Peeling, coring, and pitting
- Chopping and disjointing meat
- Cleaving meat bones
- Chopping nuts
How Much Is A Serrated Knife?
So, what is the pricing like for a serrated knife? Serrated knives are generally inexpensive knives, and can usually be found priced between $10 and $30. The great thing about serrated knives in comparison to chef’s knives, paring knives and other knives with a flat blade, is that, thanks to the mini serrations in the blade they hold onto their sharp edge for an extremely long time. So don’t be afraid to splash out on a decent one as you will not find yourself replacing it for a long time.
Kitchen Knife Sets
If it is the first time you will be purchasing kitchen knives, it may be easier for you to start by buying a good set that contains a serrated, paring, and chef’s knife as opposed to individual knives. There are several guides out there like the one from this website. Sets are a great way for you to stock your kitchen with multiple knives at a great price and usually come with something for you to hold the knives in, making storage easier for those who are putting together their very first kitchen.
A set that comes with a knife block, sheath or magnetic board is perfect for storing your knives, keeping them out of harm’s way and will also ensure that the blades stay in like-new razor sharp condition for as long as possible.
