Covers are included with this set, so you can keep you and your tools safe. This 3-piece set is aptly named Essentials Knife Set because it contains the three knives we think you absolutely must have. With the 8-inch chef’s knife, you can not only chop, mince and slice, you can also carve a roast and debone a chicken, even whacking through bones with the heavy heel. The paring knife comes in handy for peeling an apple, taking the core out of a tomato or slicing a single clove of garlic. Every home needs a serrated knife for cutting a crusty baguette.
The serrated Slicer is designed for cutting through roasts and meats, while the Santoku Knife is great for creating thin slices of meat, fish or vegetables. For cutting through baguettes, loafs of bread and tomatoes, the Utility Knife effortlessly does the job. No. the knives are ceramic, and cut beautifully. Have a very expensive knife set, and these are actually better.
That’s because of the small air pockets that are created, making for smoother and easier cuts. This is especially nice for the all-purpose Artisan utility knife, which makes a great backup to your chef’s knife. I can’t say for sure, I don’t usually cut my sweet potatoes. cuisinart knife I usually bake them in a 460 degree oven wrapped in aluminum foil until they get on the soft side and start to put out that nice sweet sticky “juice”. 😉 I can say these are sharper than anything else in my drawer, but I am not one to spend big bucks on knives.
They’re a way of helping you to avoid cross-contamination, by keeping each knife for a dedicated purpose. On top of that, this series is true to its name, with each blade infused with nitrogen. This process creates a harder, sharper steel with better edge retention and corrosion resistance. That also makes the blades more prone to chipping, though, and less than ideal for first-time users. The Cuisinart Classic series is the baseline for all of their knives, and the first series they ever debuted.
As the bamboo block is small, it won’t take up unnecessary space on your countertop. If and when you have these knives resharpened, make sure you use a sharpener designed for Asian knives or bring them to a pro who’s familiar with them. In addition to considering how comfortable the knives felt in the hand and how well they cut, we considered what pieces were included in the set. Our picks contain a selection of knives that we think you will use often in everyday cooking. And while a full explanation of every type of kitchen knife is outside the scope of this article, I can direct you to my article on essential types of kitchen knives for the at-home chef. There, I explain the design and function of 19 different knives, with examples of how they’re used.
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Each knife comes with a matching blade sleeve to prevent dulling — and protect you while you’re rummaging though the kitchen drawer. Both brands are relatively affordable, but Cuisinart knives are exceptionally cheap. Henckels blades are hardened to 57 on the Rockwell scale, while Cuisinart’s steel is softer, scoring 55. Both companies use durable synthetic material to make their handles. It’s difficult to determine the exact hardness of Cuisinart blades because different sources give different numbers, and when I spoke to a product specialist, they were not sure. Another benefit of a bolster is the weight and balance it provides.