New Knife Set for Kitchen at Home!

YBAF Pilot on 09/10/2022 - 19:11

Heya everyone,

I have just about had it with the old knife set. It has been hanging around my kitchen like a bad smell and every now and then I remind myself I should get a new set without actually doing anything about it. The problem for me is, trying to find what is considered a reasonably good set from wherever one would purchase such a set. I have found myself wadling through David Jones and/or Myer on occassion perusing new knifes and again realising that I have no idea what I am supposed to be looking for in a good set of knifes. Now I don't have any aspirations on being a contestant on the next Masterchef, but would love to prepare a steak i.e. cut my own steaks from something like a whole rib roast, without tearing at the meat if you know what I mean.

So with that said, are there any knife connoisseurs out there that could lead me away from the garden path and put me on the straight and narrow towards which one could consider to be a relatively good knife set for the average kitchen at home.

Thank you in advance.

Home & Garden Knife Knife Set

Comments

  • Hybroid on 09/10/2022 - 19:13
    +1

    For average use: https://www.ikea.com/au/en/cat/knives-15946/

    Plus a couple of Victorinox classics off Amazon for daily use.

  • oscargamer on 09/10/2022 - 19:20

    Do you have a knife block with your existing set?

    What's your budget?

    • YBAF Pilot on 09/10/2022 - 19:51

      I am trying to refrain from getting a knife block set, as it takes valuable bench space. I have opted to go for a magnetic strip on the wall instead. Budget wise, I was thinking the following. Chef's knife max $200, Pairing knife about $80, Carving knife about $150 and I would love to get a boning knife at about $150 as well (butterfly whole chooks quite regularly and sometimes gut fish). For me those are the most important at the moment, I have bread knives coming out of my wazzoo for some reason. Seems like everytime we have a bbq or go on holiday we magically have aquired a new bread knife.

      Other than that a meat cleaver would round out the set nicely, but I am not sure how I would use it to be honest.

      • oscargamer on 09/10/2022 - 19:59
        -4

        I DID NOT ask if you want to buy a block. I asked if you already had a block.

        I have an old block that now contains a 200mm Shun Classic Chefs Cook Knife. Another (but better) less curved knife - a bit like this https://www.house.com.au/miyabi-gyutoh-24cm-chef-knife, a crappy Wusthof paring knife, a global 18cm thing, a sharpening steel and some scissors

        What you want is up to you, but yes, a knife block set is not desireable

        • YBAF Pilot on 10/10/2022 - 12:01
          +1

          Wow ok, fair enough seems like I am supposed to have my mind reading cap on. That little bungle aside, thank you for your input.

  • jonoo on 09/10/2022 - 19:48
    +4

    My advice is spend your money on just one or two good knives and you'll be much happier.
    Think about which knives out of the set you actually use and just buy those. Most of the time when cooking you will only be using one knife anyway.

    Check out these two websites as they usually have good prices on knives
    https://www.victoriasbasement.com.au/
    https://www.megaboutique.com.au/

    Also if you can give us an idea of budget we can probably be more specific with suggestions.

    • YBAF Pilot on 09/10/2022 - 19:53

      Yes thats my thoughts as well. I think I am moving away from buying a set altogether as I just need a few good knives. I really have no need for another knife block as well. Budget wise, I have just replied to Oscargamer's comment above.

  • naisuda on 09/10/2022 - 22:55
    +2

    A chef's knife I'd highly recommend is this Fujiwara Kanefusa FKM. I made a comment a little while ago that has some more info here

    Regarding the paring knife, have you tried a petty knife before? At 120-150 mm, they're longer than a standard paring knife and personally I'm a big fan of 150 mm. Great for doing fine work but also big enough to do a lot of general purpose things too.

    I don't think you can really go wrong picking anything from Japanese Chefs Knife, but just make sure if you're after a stainless knife you don't accidentally pick a carbon steel one.

    • jonoo on 10/10/2022 - 00:49

      Yeah definitely stainless and not carbon steel, it will be a lot easier to look after.

      I haven't bought from that website before but it has some great information regarding the metals used to make the blades and looks like fairly reasonable prices.
      The main thing is going to be deciding on the shape and size of the blades as some people prefer western style knives whereas others prefer the Japanese style.

      That Fujiwara does look to be a good choice for not a lot of money.

  • powerman on 09/10/2022 - 23:46
    +1

    I highly recommend Victorinox's range of knives. Their swiss classic range are excellent quality especially for the price, definitely great value. Just make sure whatever knives you buy you also buy a honing steel, and if you want to sharpen them yourself a sharpening stone.

  • Fergy1987 on 10/10/2022 - 09:35
    +2

    Dont buy a whole block - just buy the knives you need - A good chefs knife suited to your hand and a pairing knife will get you there. Throw in some $7 victorinox serated and you're golden ponyboy

  • Cheaplikethebird on 10/10/2022 - 09:37
    +1

    Have you considered sharpening your existing set? If you don't care about them it's probably a good place to start in learning.

    Every set will end up being a crappy set if you're not honing/sharpening them.

    • YBAF Pilot on 10/10/2022 - 12:03
      +1

      That's a great idea. The set that I currently have is definitely a crappy set. I think we bought it like 12 years ago for $100 from Baccarat. I actually would not mind getting a wet stone and then upskilling myself using the old set.

  • Drakesy on 10/10/2022 - 09:59
    +1

    A Global or Furi knife set would be my recommendation, Baccarat (House Brand) is trash.

    • YBAF Pilot on 10/10/2022 - 12:04

      Do you have any opinion about Shun?

      • Drakesy on 10/10/2022 - 12:06

        Shun or Yaxell are also very good.

        • YBAF Pilot on 10/10/2022 - 12:08

          Cheers for that, I will scope them out today.

  • dasher86 on 10/10/2022 - 12:53
    +2

    Victorinox Fibro range.
    Cooks Knife
    Paring Knife

    More than adequate for home.
    Easy enough to care for, won't cry if you damage it compared to shun, global etc.

  • jizmo on 10/10/2022 - 18:44
    +1

    Lot of helpful answers here but what are you going to use to keep them sharp should be the next.
    I bought this years ago and love it but you can't buy them anymore
    https://www.knifecenter.com/item/FUR629/furi-rachael-ray-tec…

    • Marek77 on 10/10/2022 - 21:28
      +1

      I was about to suggest the same thing. No matter how good your knives are you still need the tools to sharpen them. I use a sharpening steel quite often to keep the edge sharp and every now and then hit it on the stone.
      Knife maintenance is key, even for a cheap knife.

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