Best kitchen knife set for ~$200

T

TullyMars

Joined
Sep 28, 2008
Messages
3
looking to see what I can get in that price range that would be decent

I'm sure most anything will be better than the old set from my college days

I've heard German is the way to go, but it seems the Japanese stuff is pretty popular on here also.

Thanks
 
right now amazon has an amazing deal on the "Wüsthof Gourmet 14 piece Deluxe block set" for 200 (59% off)
Hopefully that's not "deal spotting" but I'm quite a fan of their knives. Personally I have a few of their "classic" instead of "gourmet" knives, I believe the classic are actually a higher end product, but I'm not sure..
 
Victorinox Forschner gives excellent bang for the buck. And an entire set is in your price range. I have had a Forschner chef's knife longer than I have been married (married 25 years). It is well ballanced and holds a good edge. You can pay a lot more and get less.

http://www.knivesplus.com/FO-46054-Forschner.HTML
 
Are you getting this as a gift or for personal use? Personally, I don't believe you need all thats in those big kitchen sets. You really only need like 3-4 different kitchen knives. Something large in the 8-10" range like a chefs knife, a medium blade maybe 5-6" (say a santoku), a small paring knife, and maybe a butcher/cleaver.

Then again, my parents get along fine with just a a cleaver and a paring knife and kitchen shears.

I'm using stuff from Forschner Fibrox line now but I hope to move on to piece from Shun when I get my own kitchen.
 
If you have a Marshall's or HomeGoods near you, check there....they often get very expensive knife sets that have been discontinued and sell them extremely cheap...my wife and I have a $1,000+ set of Henckels (bought 3 years ago), and just saw the entire 23-piece set at our local Marshall's for $289.99 - I almost threw up, and then I almost bought them has a back-up or as a very nice gift for a friend's upcoming wedding...but check there, they get Henckels, Wusthof, etc.
 
Since my EX got the Wusthofs... I'm thinking I'll go Victorinox, personaly... right now I'm using my Swamp Warden! ...JK usually, I just use my roommate's kitchen knives (which are junk). from what I've looked into Victorinox seems really good for not tooo much dough!
 
TullyMars said:
looking to see what I can get in that price range that would be decent

I'm sure most anything will be better than the old set from my college days

I've heard German is the way to go, but it seems the Japanese stuff is pretty popular on here also.

Thanks
Click to expand...

I've had really good experiences with Victorinox kitchen blades. I am left handed and the ones I have are ground for lefties. They keep their edge well and are comfortable to use.
Perfect for A Salty Piece of Land.:D
I'm not sure where to find them on Cayo Loco though.
 
Are you getting this as a gift or for personal use? Personally, I don't believe you need all thats in those big kitchen sets. You really only need like 3-4 different kitchen knives. Something large in the 8-10" range like a chefs knife, a medium blade maybe 5-6" (say a santoku), a small paring knife, and maybe a butcher/cleaver.

Then again, my parents get along fine with just a a cleaver and a paring knife and kitchen shears.

I'm using stuff from Forschner Fibrox line now but I hope to move on to piece from Shun when I get my own kitchen.
Click to expand...

personal set thats just better than the old cheap stuff I've had, it really doesn't have to be a huge set either, just want better quality stuff than will hold and edge and hold up longer than my el cheapo college stuff did
I have a Henckels chefs knife that I somehow managed to break while cutting chicken and I have a santoku (brand I can't recall) thats been good to me but I want something nice and new, plus my old steak knives stunk :(

If you have a Marshall's or HomeGoods near you, check there....they often get very expensive knife sets that have been discontinued and sell them extremely cheap...my wife and I have a $1,000+ set of Henckels (bought 3 years ago), and just saw the entire 23-piece set at our local Marshall's for $289.99 - I almost threw up, and then I almost bought them has a back-up or as a very nice gift for a friend's upcoming wedding...but check there, they get Henckels, Wusthof, etc
Click to expand...
I might check out the Marshalls and see what they've got also, thanks for the heads up


I've had really good experiences with Victorinox kitchen blades. I am left handed and the ones I have are ground for lefties. They keep their edge well and are comfortable to use.
Perfect for A Salty Piece of Land.
I'm not sure where to find them on Cayo Loco though
Click to expand...

:) maybe Ix-Nay can help me find what I'm seeking here... if all else fails Willie can fly me to the mainland ;)

thanks again folks
 
Last edited:
I would not buy a set. You will get a bunch of cutlery that you won't use. I would think about the things you cook and the uses you put your current cutlery to and research what you really need.

I personally have quite the mixed bag of kitchen cutlery.

I like the Kershaw Shun Wasabi series and have the Nakiri for vegetation. I have a 10" chef's, 8" and 10" serrated bread, and a couple of parers from Chicago Cutlery. I have a Santuko, a 4 pack of parers, a boning and a fillet from Sam's Club made by Tramontina. There are also assorted serrated types that the wife uses. Nothing fancy. Very inexpensive. They all take a nice edge and work well for an amateur home cook. The wife is frightened by sharp tools and shys away from my cutlery.

The key is not the name on the knife but in the sharpening and maintenance. Choosing the knife for the application is important as well.

If you want a nice matched set because they look nice then there is something to say for that. I personally do not get caught up in looks or names. Cutlery in the kitchen are tools not decoration. If they sharpen nice, slice and cut, and do not work against me they get to stick around.
 
I agree with the idea that you don't need a big block with a matched set of too many knives you won't use. You can still get a few specialized knives from one line that will cover all your needs and still fill in with one or two more or a set of matching steak knives later.
 
My approach:
- 1 santoku knife (I like the practical slight blade curve of a santoku more than a traditional chef knife), for example a handforged carbon steel Roselli:
products_1082_1_original.jpg

- 1 medium size vegetable knife, for example the very practical Global GS5 (14cm blade):
large_GS-5.jpg

- 1 small medium size kitchen knife, for example the Global GS1 (11cm blade):
large_GS-1.jpg

- 1 small, cheap Opinel #7 which you leave locked open (hence it's no problem if the handle swells) for various "precision" tasks: Up to you if you prefer stainless or carbon steel:
A-OPINEL-000693-0002.jpg
 
I know it is heresy amongst true kitchen cutlery aficionados but I like to put my kitchen cutlery in the dishwasher. Because of this I prefer stainless steel and dishwasher friendly handles.

My Chicago Cutlery knives are due for a rehandling with some non-wood material.

Take that into consideration.

Carbon steel and wood require a bit more care and attention than stainless and non-organic handles.

I find these quite nice for the money:
Shun Wasabi
 
Hard H2O said:
I know it is heresy amongst true kitchen cutlery aficionados but I like to put my kitchen cutlery in the dishwasher. Because of this I prefer stainless steel and dishwasher friendly handles.
Click to expand...

I wonder how well those Globals would hold up?

I remember reading (without any documentation available) that if you look into most professional, restaurant kitchens, you will find Global or Forschner. Does anyone know if this is, in any signifcant way, true?

I got a set of Froschners for a present for someone and I thought they really looked like hard-working knives.
 
Esav Benyamin said:
I wonder how well those Globals would hold up?

I remember reading (without any documentation available) that if you look into most professional, restaurant kitchens, you will find Global or Forschner. Does anyone know if this is, in any signifcant way, true?

I got a set of Froschners for a present for someone and I thought they really looked like hard-working knives.
Click to expand...

I would guess from the all stainless construction that they would hold up well.

I have read and heard that the dishwasher is supposed to be bad for the edge. I put mine on the top rack and do not let them touch anything other than the plastic coated rack. I do not see what the problem is.

I do like using and sharpening cutlery so I do not have any qualms about my inexpensive cutlery. If I spent more on them I might view it differently. I have not seen the need to spend more. My cheap stuf slices and dices well as long as I sharpen them up nice. I am a user not a collector. I admire the customs and all that but I just can't see myself pulling the trigger on something that is essentially a tool. Especially when my sub $30 Wasabi Nakiri does a great job.
 
Hard H2O said:
I do like using and sharpening cutlery so I do not have any qualms about my inexpensive cutlery. If I spent more on them I might view it differently.
Click to expand...

I take the same attitude. I'm going to be touching them up regularly anyway. I don't have a dishwasher but I rinse and wash blades constantly as I'm using them and I don't worry about what I'm cutting on too much -- usually wood, but sometimes a ceramic plate.
 
get a set of globals. many profession chefs swear by them (check out Anthony Bourdain's book, Kitchen Confidential, he talks about them)
 
I have had very good service from Forschner by Victorinox the Swiss army knife company. I also have some Spyderco and Kershaw kitchen knives. I agree with other posts not to get a full set. A paring, 6 inch utility and a 8 inch chefs knife will do just about everything. Maybe add a bread slicer. I like Forschner and the Fibrox handles. I do have a small hawkbill Forschner paring knife that works wonderful for opening food packages...meat wrapping and such. I also have a Boker Arborlito 6 inch utility about par with Forschner.

RKH
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top