What to look for in a knife set

We all know that it can be difficult to choose a set of kitchen knives. There are just so many out there and they all look so different and have such varying prices, you’d be forgiven for feeling a little lost.

A start point, however, is working out what price range you are looking for, this obviously depends on your budget and whether you will be able to take care of them. If you are able to maintain them then you should be able to splash out on some good quality knives.

On the contrary, if you are a student and you want a cheaper, more temporary set then there are still some great options out there that will be perfectly suited to your needs.

It is almost universally agreed that five or six knives are enough to do anything you might need whilst cooking. You’ll need a chef’s knife for chopping vegetables and meat, a paring knife for trimming smaller vegetables, a carving knife for when you want to thinly slice meat, a serrated knife for squishy things like bread and finally a utility knife that can do just about anything. Some more experienced chefs may use the santoku for more precise dicing, slicing, and mincing.

Another thing to consider is how you want your set to be stored. The obvious option is a block however these can take up lots of space. This means that something that can be stored or mounted might be a better option for smaller kitchens. There is a wide variety of materials from crafted wood to glossy minimalism.