Bread knives are - by quite a long way - the least interesting knife in the kitchen. They are pretty restricted in what they can do (cut bread), and are often relegated to the kitchen drawer whilst all your other kitchen knives stand proud in a nice wooden block.
However, for those heavily involved in bread, you will appreciate the need for a good, long, sharp bread knife that can tackle the same challenges over and over again without breaking a sweat.
This Victorinox Curved Blade bread knife is one such knife. Featuring a ten and a quarter inch blade that is 1.25 inches thick where it meets the handle, this high quality bread knife is forged out of high carbon stainless steel and is finished off by hand at the Victorinox HQ in Switzerland. Quite honestly, Victorinox have been making knives for a long, long time, and their blades - whilst not the most expensive - are some of the most robust we have seen here on this site.
One shortcoming of many kitchen knives (that are serrated) is how they start to blunt after a period of use, and there are not really any clear cut ways of resharpening them. This Victorinox bread knife, however, features a specially designed wavy edge knife blade that provides 40% more cutting edge to the bread - this means that the knife edge teeth are less exposed to cutting so they will last longer, but they are also slightly scalloped so it can be resharpened whenever you please, which will extend the life of it considerably.
As will all kitchen knives here on Kitchen Knife Review we strongly advise that you HAND WASH this bread knife, as the constant battering of salts on the blade edge will accelerate the dulling and blunting of the knife, meaning you’ll be buying a new one much quicker than you’d have hoped for!
A really great bread knife here from Victorinox, definitely worth checking out if you are in the market for one (or even if you’re not!).
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The Pestle & Mortar is perhaps one of the most iconic items in any kitchen around the world. Unfortunately, for many people they are nothing but a paper weight or something taking up space on your kitchen counter. I would love to see more people making the most of their pestle and mortars because they allow you to grind and infuse flavor and spice more effectively than any other kitchen gadget or device in the world.
Quite honestly, your food can taste far more flavorsome if you add your pestle and mortar into the mix, so it is will worth investing in a good one.
They have been popularized over the last few years, which unfortunately means that dozens of different generic brands have cropped up in your favorite stores. Many of these do not really cut the mustard and cut corners of the more traditional pestle and mortars.
This granite mortar & pestle from ImportFood is, quite simply, one of the best in its class. The granite makes it one of the heaviest you can get, but it is far more hard wearing and will not mix stone dust into your food; obviously, being such a hard material, you will have to extra careful when hefting around your kitchen, as it could easily take out a good dinner set! It is pretty heavy to wield and use properly, but the twelve pound heavy bowl and grinder combo will make a meal (no pun intended) of anything you put in it.
It is a hand carved bowl from one solid slab of granite from Thailand. This means there are no weak points in the bowl so it won’t crack or chip.
If you’re still not convinced that this pestle and mortar is the best investment of your money, ImportFood was rated as the best manufacturer of them by The Wall Street Journal in 2007!
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I should really come clean straight away and admit that I have already done a review of this Microplane Zester, and it came under the title of “Is this the best zester in the world?” and my view is still the same - yes, it is.
Since my original review, on another site, last year, there have been no serious contenders to Microplane’s position at the top of the grating and zesting tree, so that if anyone is still looking to get their hands on the most efficient, straightforward and effective zester there is, that they should be making a bee line for this Microplane 40020 Zester/Grater.
If you have ever attempted to zest a lemon or lime, you will be acutely aware that most other types of grater and zester make a bit of a meal of it. Zested fruit is supposed to be about getting tiny fragments of skin which holds all the zest of a fruit. Unfortunately, most tools out there to do this end up chunking great bit lumps of fruit into the mix, too. This Microplane Zester stands out in a crowd of sub par and ill thought out kitchen utensils by providing what is quite simply the most enjoyable grating experience you’re likely to come across.
It sounds like an overreaction and extreme message to write about something that should really be so mundane. But it is because grating and zesting should be a mundane task that this Microplane 40020 classic zester stands out - it is really fun to use.
There should really be a warning to accompany this purchase, stating not to get too carried away when grating cheese with the Microplane, because before you know it, there will be a big pile of parmesan on the chopping board, and nothing left in your hand!
If you are looking for a zester, look no further than this Microplane model - it has been top of the zesting chart for over a year, and looks likely to keep that position.
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There are two different schools of cooking - there are the cooks, and then there are the bakers. The former allows for more artistic flair and creative license, while the latter depends on exact, empirical measurements of all your ingredients. Quite simply, with baking, you can’t wing it - you need to pay attention to you ingredients, otherwise that sponge cake is going to resemble more of a flat tire.
A key part of ensuring your ingredients are perfectly balance is having the right equipment - kitchen scales are essential, as are the ubiquitous measuring spoons and cups.
These magnetic, stainless steel measuring spoons from Progressive International are spot on for ensuring you get just the right amount of what you need. Their functional design allows them to be stored in a relatively small space, as the russian-doll style design means they all nestle in with each other, but separate out when you get full in to the baking zone.
The flat base means you can rest these spoons on the kitchen counter without spilling the contents - very useful if you realize you’ve forgotten an ingredient! They come in quarter, half and whole teaspoons as well as a half tablespoon and whole tablespoon - enough combinations to do what you need, but not too many it means you’re flicking between similar sized spoons to get exactly the right one.
Of course, with any modern kitchen equipment, these are perfectly safe in the dishwasher to get them out the way and cleaned up as quickly as possible. They also have easy grip handles, meaning they won’t slip away from sticky or slippery fingers mid baking!
Progressive International make some great, functional and attractive kitchenware - they have been doing their thing since 1973, so have become a highly trusted household name.
If you are looking for some new measuring spoons, then look no further!
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Traditionally I have always been a fan of the manual knife sharpener - you know, like using a good old sharpening steel. More recently, however, I have faced the reality that you can actually blunt your kitchen knife blades if you do not work them down the steel at roughly the right angle, and I felt the sharpening steel I was using was not really that effective.
Around Christmas I got my first pull through knife sharpener - I think it was an AnySharp, and I am loving it so far. The only potential down side with it is that it can potentially wear away the steel of your knives quicker than you might like.
It is because of this that I am starting to think about getting an electric knife sharpener, and this Presto Electric EverSharp looks like a great model to start on. Because of the rate at which the sharpening elements spin round, you do not actually have to apply nearly as much pressure the knife blade to get it sharp, and thus you are not eroding as much of the blade as you might do with a pull through sharpener.
It has got some pretty good reviews at the moment over at Amazon, so if you are looking for a new kitchen knife sharpener, then you may want to check this one out…
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Kitchen Knife Sets are almost without question, the center piece to your kitchen accessories. Many people will spend a huge amount of money on a good quality knife set and trust that this will make them a better cook.
Whilst there is an iota of truth in this - because having better tools generally make for a better result - it is definitely not the be all and end all of getting to be a better cook. If, however, you are keen to get yourself a new kitchen knife set, then read on.
Choosing the best kitchen knife set
If you spend enough time looking around shops and the internet trying to track down a new set of kitchen knives, you will probably feel quite overwhelmed by the sheer number of different manufacturers making knife sets, and then the different shapes, sizes and models that can overwhelm you.
It is important to not get too overwhelmed by all of these different brands and ranges, because at the core of it, you will probably have a relatively tight set of requirements.
For example, those people who have a large budget will be looking at a Shun, Global or Wusthof knife set which are definitely on the more expensive side and offer some pretty impressive knifes. However, for those with a mid range budget, you will be more constrained to Victorinox, Henckels and perhaps Ginsu and Chicago Cutlery.
If you are happy spending some money on a good set of kitchen knives, then any of these brands will not be a disappointment. It is when you starting trying to spend under 50 dollars on a knife set that they run into trouble, because the build quality and materials are really very poor, and could be more of a hinderance than a help in the kitchen.
More knives is not always best
One other thing to bear in mind when shopping for a new kitchen knife set is that you do not always need a set of 10 or 12 kitchen knives in one block. I personally have 4 knives and a bread knife, and I have never had need for any more. There is a saying that if you build it then they will come, and this can apply to consumer goods, too, in that if you buy 12 kitchen knives, you will probably end up using 12 kitchen knives! It’s just more washing up!
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I thought I would take the time and ouline some of my top 5 favorite kitchen knives of all time. Whilst this list is obviously my own opinion, it may help others decide which kitchen knife might suit them, or which knives would be a good present for a family member or friend.
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Global are often regarded as the manufacturer of some of the best kitchen knives in the world. Most of their products and knives have a very distinctive Japanese styling to them - largely because the company IS Japanese. Many other forgers have attempted to mimic Japanese knife styles in the West, but here we see a Japanese knife forger who is really well regarded on the international stage.
This three piece knife set from Global is one of the best you can buy for the money. It features a vegetable/paring knife and a medium and large chef's knife, which I frequently say are the essential knives for any kitchen.
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I find - when it comes to chef's knives - that 6 inches is a great size for it to double up as a very suitable general purpose utility knife. It means you can do more delicate operations as well as the more heavy duty chopping and slicing.
This Twin Four Star 6 inch chef's knife is quite simply one of the best chef's knives you can own. J. A. Henckels has a great track record at forging very high quality knives in Europe and the US, and this individually sold chef's knife is no exception. I personally have a set of Henckles (though the Professional S series, not these more expensive Four Star), and will probably stick with them for life.
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Shun make some great knives that follow a pretty strict Japanese styling mantra. This somewhat small-by-comparison utility knife is not going to suit everyone and all kitchens, but there are quite often tasks for which a utility knife and the serrated edge is perfect.
I have included this knife here, in a top 5 list, because I love the style and build of this kitchen knife. People may not agree that it is one of the worlds best, but it really is a beautiful - and very functional knife - to look at and use.
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Wusthof are another German knife forger (along with Henckels) that produce some amazing quality kitchen knives - some of the best knives in the world - but more often and not the price tag matches. Whilst I have included a set of three Global knives at the top of this list, I wanted to showcase this individual 8 inch chef's knife. It can be considered a medium sized chef's knife, and is a kitchen knife that will never let you down.
By never, I mean it - the quality, reliability and sharpness of Wusthof knives is pretty much second to none. So whilst they may come with a bit of a price tag, they are a truly great knife.
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Victorinox make some very good kitchen knives, but I know a lot of people have a love hate relationship with them. They are often synonymous in the kitchen with small utility knives, and that association probably stems from their heritage of making Swiss Army Knives. However, in recent years their Kitchen Knife offering has upped its game, and this 10 inch chef's knife is an implement not to be reckoned with.
I personally prefer using a chef's knife more in the scale of 8 inches, but this 10 incher is one of the best kitchen knives for the price, and will really get the job done! Whilst it may not be as high end as the Shun or Wusthof knives featured here, it has to be in the ranking because it is more affordable by far than some of the higher end knives on this page.
Definitely a great knife.
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So, with that, go forth and buy your loved one a shiny present from Christmas, and get them one of the best kitchen knives in the world!
