Whereas in a commercial setting, having dedicated areas for cutting meats, seafood, and vegetables will keep everything hygienic and be more efficient. Once more based on the Cuisinart Classic design, the Nitrogen series reimagines the handles for a more ergonomic grip. This is especially evident in the Nitrogen santcoku — a Japanese style knife that greatly benefits from the balance provided by a thicker handle. Many of the best knives aren’t even made of steel.
Building on the successful DNA of the Cuisinart Classic series, their Graphix line forgoes a molded plastic handle for a bumpy metal one. As a result, this line offers substantially better grip, even while your hands are wet. That’s combined with the same high carbon stainless steel blades, and offered at the same price as the Classic series. Some knife sets come with blocks that have slots to store the knives in, while others come with individual covers.
On all of the pieces, the bolster is sloped, so you can comfortably use the pinch grip that the pros use to give them good control. We think these classic knives are just about perfect and worth the splurge. Forged and full tang, they feel good in your hand, are easy to control and are neither too heavy nor too light. Right out of the box, it’s sharp enough to slice ripe tomatoes without squishing. Yet, it also has the heft to cut a whole chicken into quarters. Virtually all high-quality knives today are made from high-carbon stainless steel.
Don’t pay more for additional tools unless you know you’ll use them. For example, if you already have a set of steak knives you love, you don’t need more in a knife set. Keep in mind, the block itself is considered one of the pieces. It is a useful tool for storing your knives where they’re easy to access, their blades don’t get nicked or damaged, and you can’t accidentally cut yourself. A block will take up space on your countertop, though, so aim to choose one that fits your needs and space. The color-coded design doesn’t just make for a vibrant display in your kitchen, however—it’ll also help you to avoid cross-contamination while cooking.
However, forged knives are also pricier, heavier and less flexible. Some people prefer lighter weight stamped blades which are easier to maneuver, especially gotham steel cookware sets around bones or a small item like a mushroom cap. Each knife has a non-stick coating to make cutting, slicing, and chopping easier and mess-free.
Although carbon blades are easy to sharpen and maintain their edge longer, they also discolor and can even rust so they need special attention. The addition of stainless steel makes blades easy to keep looking good with minimal upkeep. The knife block feels sturdy and we liked how it’s angled which makes it easier to see which tool you’re reaching for. The slot design on the block could use some tweaking, though.
Their edges are not as sharp as carbon steel, though, and they are harder to sharpen. Many purists prefer knives made from carbon steel, which makes for very strong blades and edges that stay sharper longer. However, these need to be seasoned to prevent rust and to make them more resistant to acidic compounds like those found in lemons. Essential knives for an extra edge – the precise stainless-steel blades slice through any cooking prep task with ease – from chopping carrots to dicing onions.
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Anything that ups the kitchen-happiness quotient, solves an everyday problem and makes it easy to prep food for family and friends is top of the list for us. I found retailers advertising their blades at a rating of 56, but 3CR13 stainless steel is rated between 52 and 55. If you are looking for a traditional knife style, but at Cuisinart’s price point, check out the Triple Rivet or Nitrogen collections. These offer a German-style design, very similar to Henckels. Cuisinart offers more variety in terms of design.
If you’re starting a collection from scratch, a chef’s knife should be your first addition. From there, add a paring knife for doing more detailed work. From there, check out my guide to essential kitchen knives for the at-home cook to see if you need any more for the style of food you want to cook. gotham steel cookware sets Utility knives are mid-sized knives used for miscellaneous cutting. The blade is anywhere from 4 to 7 inches, larger than a paring knife but not as larger as a chef’s knife. The utility knife is good for cutting larger vegetables and sandwich meats that are not large enough for a chef’s knife.