Knife Thread

2013 · 3 Mar 2020 at 13:19

ChrisLX200 said:
Picked one of these up at Christmas, a Zelite Santoku. Seems a good knife. Also bought a small Zelite 6" Chef's knife as a present for my daughter (she likes cooking) and she loves it.

That would be a good choice, just my style, modern design, wide blade rounded handle.
are they any good ? ive not really heard of zelite before.

ChrisLX200 · 3 Mar 2020 at 13:21

2013 said:
That would be a good choice, just my style, modern design, wide blade rounded handle.
are they any good ? ive not really heard of zelite before.

I'm pleased with it. Made in China using Japanese steel, nice finish, good balance and handles well (not too heavy).

ChrisLX200 · 3 Mar 2020 at 14:02

I'm not a knife collector so I only keep a few that I actually use. That Santoku, a Chef's knife, an old carving knife, a very heavy Prestige brand knife I inherited (but is good for chopping due to the weight!), and some utility knifes plus a thin filleting knife (not shown).

I keep them on a magnetic rack so they don't bang into each other in a drawer. The two chef's knives are hard steel so can chip fairly easily - or even shatter if dropped onto a hard surface, so they need care. Any knife will do the job in a home environment provided it's sharp, a good knife will take a keener edge and keep it longer. You need to be able to sharpen your blades yourself, and the best way is a whetstone. I've used a variety of motorised and static diamond sharpeners in the past and none were much use.

2013 · 3 Mar 2020 at 15:17

ChrisLX200 said:
I'm not a knife collector so I only keep a few that I actually use. That Santoku, a Chef's knife, an old carving knife, a very heavy Prestige brand knife I inherited (but is good for chopping due to the weight!), and some utility knifes plus a thin filleting knife (not shown).

I keep them on a magnetic rack so they don't bang into each other in a drawer. The two chef's knives are hard steel so can chip fairly easily - or even shatter if dropped onto a hard surface, so they need care. Any knife will do the job in a home environment provided it's sharp, a good knife will take a keener edge and keep it longer. You need to be able to sharpen your blades yourself, and the best way is a whetstone. I've used a variety of motorised and static diamond sharpeners in the past and none were much use.

Thanks

What brands or models should to keep a look out for, it will give me a few options ??

flea.rider · 3 Mar 2020 at 16:22

Wusthof,
Gustav Emi ern Zwilling,
Dick, global (if you like the handle) any german steel or high carbon steel ..

2013 · 3 Mar 2020 at 22:47

how about this https://www.amazon.co.uk/Kitchen-Kn...7e8c4b643e28e9b94f2b99907d95f4&language=en_GB made in china with german steel 1st place in a review online.

ChrisLX200 · 3 Mar 2020 at 23:33

2013 said:
how about this https://www.amazon.co.uk/Kitchen-Kn...7e8c4b643e28e9b94f2b99907d95f4&language=en_GB made in china with german steel 1st place in a review online.

55 Rockwell is a bit soft, it's not going to hold an edge for long.

2013 · 4 Mar 2020 at 00:05

ChrisLX200 said:
55 Rockwell is a bit soft, it's not going to hold an edge for long.

Thanks ill keep looking.

Hodders · 1 Apr 2020 at 19:53

2013 said:
Thanks ill keep looking.

Being a lower hardness is not a bad thing - it will sharpen more easily!

I bought a couple of Wusthof Classic Ikon knives and love them!

hughtrimble · 1 Apr 2020 at 19:57

2013 said:
I was thinking around the £20 mark, I dont need a long blade but would like a wide blade.

Victorinox Fibrox - the 20cm chef's knife can be had for £20-25

Minusorange · 7 Apr 2020 at 19:45

Raikiri said:
A cheap Wusthof is still good, maybe even better for a home cook as softer steel is more forgiving.

I decided to go cheaper and buy a whetstone to sharpen the crappy knives I already have, now I have a bunch of sharp knives

Added bonus was it killed some isolation time

Richdog · 8 Apr 2020 at 08:23

Hodders said:
Being a lower hardness is not a bad thing - it will sharpen more easily!

I bought a couple of Wusthof Classic Ikon knives and love them!

To anyone in this thread that is agonizing over which knives to buy and has a decent budget then I simply suggest buying Wusthof Classic and having done with it. Absolutely fantastic knives and I will probably now never buy any other brand unless I have a specific need to.

delta0 · 9 Apr 2020 at 21:04

I'm in the market for a knife set and a wooden knife block. Looking for a set of three knives. Any recommendations on Japanese style or Damascus knife? Budget is about £500

flea.rider · 9 Apr 2020 at 22:42

a cheap set .. https://www.amazon.co.uk/ZWILLING-Professional-Knife-block-pcs/dp/B003Y737E2/ref=sr_1_8?dchild=1&fst=as

ff&qid=1586467901&refinements=p_36:305155031&rnid=388997011&s=kitchen&sr=1-8
a decent set no block https://www.amazon.co.uk/Dick-Knives-DL384-Knife-Roll/dp/B002WRZC48/ref=sr_1_16?dchild=1&fst=as

ff&qid=1586467961&refinements=p_36:305155031&rnid=388997011&s=kitchen&sr=1-16
and another https://www.amazon.co.uk/Wüsthof-CLASSIC-Knife-block-9844/dp/B00009ZK0G/ref=sxbs_sxwds-stvp?cv_ct_cx=Wusthof&dchild=1&keywords=Wusthof&pd_rd_i=B00009ZK0G&pd_rd_r=a9f3b19b-580c-4431-8aad-a85caed08273&pd_rd_w=KsJlQ&pd_rd_wg=UHcMN&pf_rd_p=03b06a71-8075-4a7d-9aff-765240508d0a&pf_rd_r=87JBTBV7509K97EH5Q47&psc=1&qid=1586468382&s=kitchen&sr=1-3-718396de-69ac-46a0-9195-9669ab0086b2

anyone of these will last 20 yrs or so.. but shop around may get them cheaper ..

but plz be careful ..i've seen new knives take fingers and nails off .. just because people are not used to them ..

Raikiri · 10 Apr 2020 at 01:59

delta0 said:
I'm in the market for a knife set and a wooden knife block. Looking for a set of three knives. Any recommendations on Japanese style or Damascus knife? Budget is about £500

If you want Japanese have a look on here: https://www.hocho-knife.com/knife-types/

delta0 · 10 Apr 2020 at 11:12

Raikiri said:
If you want Japanese have a look on here: https://www.hocho-knife.com/knife-types/

Thanks for sharing that. Some incredible knives on there

thezappa · 10 Apr 2020 at 16:58

It’s been my understanding that wooden knife blocks aren’t that great due to them blunting the edge when you put them in an take them out (happy to be proved wrong)
It was on that basis my sister bought me one like this but in wood:
https://www.johnlewis.com/john-lewis-partners-round-stainless-steel-empty-knife-block/p4793460

Raikiri · 10 Apr 2020 at 16:58

Wooden blocks are fine, just put the knives in the sharp side up.

thezappa · 10 Apr 2020 at 17:13

Sounds reasonable.
I’ve seen sharpening blocks as well, gimmicks or credible?
Obviously not preferable to a whetstone but convenient for some I guess.

Steampunk · 10 Apr 2020 at 17:18

thezappa said:
It’s been my understanding that wooden knife blocks aren’t that great due to them blunting the edge when you put them in an take them out (happy to be proved wrong)
It was on that basis my sister bought me one like this but in wood:
https://www.johnlewis.com/john-lewis-partners-round-stainless-steel-empty-knife-block/p4793460

A wooden block is going to be much better than a wooden chopping board, as there's no pressure on the blade compared to chopping on a board. Wooden chopping boards are considered the best for keeping an edge on a knife, so just taking/removing them from a block is going to do little to blunt an edge.

A knife block is going to be vastly better than chucking them in a drawer to bounce against each other (and I say that as a person who chucks them in a drawer to bounce against each other).