Best Value in Kitchen Cutlery

[Knottscott]

This is a pretty versatile bunch, so I thought I'd solicit advice on a kitchen knife set. We're looking for the best bang for the buck in a modest basic kitchen cutlery set in the $40 range. S teak knives included would be nice, but it's something I'm willing sacrifice if I gain substantial quality.

I know that Cutco and Henkel are supposedly good names, but I don't know the contenders from the pretenders in the bargain brands. So far I've considered a Rogers 15 and 33 piece set, Stilzer 15 pc, Ronco Six Star Showtime 25 pc set, and a Ginsu 13 pc set.

Anyone have any guidance for me? TIA

[Warren]

I've got some Henkel and find them acceptable. But, I've been a fan of Chicago Cutlery for many years. They've got a couple of levels of quality. I stick with the wooden handles as I don't like how stainless and composite handle get slick when wet. I particularly like the kitchen shears which break down into two parts for cleaning.

[LCHIEN]

if you want steak knives and under $40, I think you're hosed.
Here's Consumer Reports quick pick recommendations:


If performance is paramount:
2 Henckels $260
4 Wüsthof $300

These include the four basic knives plus shears, sharpening steel, and block. The Wüsthof (4) adds a bread knife. Both sets are forged. The top-rated Henckels (1) costs far more and has fewer open-stock options.


If you prize value:
6 Tramontina $75
10 Chicago Cutlery $60, CR Best Buy
20 Calphalon $180

The forged, three-piece Tramontina (6) is a good value, though you’ll pay $40 more to add a slicer. Chicago Cutlery (10), a stamped set, adds a parer, shears, steel, and block to the four basic knives. No santoku is available. To the four basics, the forged Calphalon (20) adds a bread knife, six steak knives, a serving fork, shears, steel, and block. Each knife is identified on the butt of its handle., and a santoku is available. But the knives may start to corrode if left wet.




If you don’t like to hone:
34 Kyocera $210
35 Cutco $80

The low-maintenance Kyocera (34) is ceramic, made of a very hard material called zirconium oxide. The three-piece set we put together from open stock includes the FK30BK parer, $50; FK60BK utility, $80; and FK100BK 6-inch chef’s, $80. The FK70BK, a 5 1/2-inch santoku, is $75. The line lacks a slicer. The two-piece Cutco (35) stamped set--a no-hone serrated utility and fine-edged paring knife--cut excellently, but the handles were less balanced and comfortable than most. You can add a chef’s knife for $95, a slicer for $70.

[Copper]

I'll second (or third) Chicago Cutlery. We've had a set of wood handled kitchen knives and steak knives for several years and they look just as good as the day we bought them. My parents have a set that have been around for 25+ years.

[offthemark]

About every other week, Amazon.com will have a significantly reduced set in their Friday sale. I'm almost ashamed to admit it but we have bought a $200 set for $35 bucks the last couple of years and just thrown the old ones out rather than resharpen. Last set we got was a Chicago Cutlery set with 6 steak knives, 4 assorted knives, and a honing stick.

[bigsteel15]

I'll throw a new one at everyone for the value side of things.
I've bought a couple of knives from IKEA and have been happy with them.
the 2 I have are a fillet knife and an 8" chefs knife. Also bought their ceramic sharpener to fine tune as required.
Not sure what sets they offer.

[atgcpaul]

I'll second (or third) Chicago Cutlery. We've had a set of wood handled kitchen knives and steak knives for several years and they look just as good as the day we bought them. My parents have a set that have been around for 25+ years.

I don't own Chicago cutlery steak knives but I do own a set of theirs (Chef,
fillet, paring, etc) and I like them. Full tang with black phenolic handles. Nice
weight, good cutting. I'd probably buy their steak knives, too.

[Whaler]

I have a set of Chigo cutlery that's 20 years old. It's easy to keep sharp and I have no complaints. A few years ago I add a Wustof 7" hollow edge santoku and wouldn't give it up for anything, greatest knife that I have ever used.

[Knottscott]

Thanks everyone!

[maxparot]

I have a few Dexter/Russel knifes that have held up well. They are common to see in a commercial kitchen or butcher shop. I have a Henckels and tend to reach for the Dexter more often. It just seems to be a more rugged tool.

[sleddogg]

I'm a chef by trade and wouldn't use anything but Wusthof, they last and last and cut like a dream. If you want some fun steak knives, look up Stockyards meat packers in Chicago. They have a gift set similar to the ones we use in the restaurant I work at. Big beefy steak knife for a big beefy steak, that's what I'm talkin about. While your at it check out their meats, top notch all the way.
http://www.stockyards.com/category.aspx?categoryID=582http://www.stockyards.com/category.aspx?categoryID=582

[scorrpio]

I have a couple Wusthof Classic knives for really delicate cutting - like for sushi slicing. Absolute dream to work with, but they cost me over $100 each.

Now, for main kitchen set, I been long drooling over a 23-piece Wusthof set for a 'mere' $1250, but finally broke down and got a Cuisinart set at BedBath&Beyond ($150, minus 20% coupon). It is no Wusthof, but those are very solid knives. The set I got has a cleaver, a steel, 6 and 8" chefs, bread, slicer, 5 and 7" santokus, utility regular, utility serrated, paring, shears and 8 steak knives.

On another note, when I was younger and poorer, I recall I bought a $20 set at IKEA and it served me well for years. Still got them, though they've been relegated to 'take to picnics' category.

Btw, the Wusthof set I wanted is now on Ebay at $950 'Buy It Now'. Item #260014953443

[Mrs. Wallnut]

Since working at a store that sold kitchen ware and sold quality things. I believe the name was Mundial They were spendy but they were the best knives that they sold and ran about 50 to 100, maybe a little less I don't remember the exact price, but everyone that bought them said they were well worth it and it also had a steak knife set for about 40. I know that is more than you wanted to spend but I wish we would have spent a little more, actually if we had bought the set we have we would have spent the money on knives. They set we use most of the time now is something that we got when we got married and it was a gift.

I would like to buy some new knives but I have Mark around to sharpen things very well when things get dull.

[Knottscott]

Thanks again for the feedback. The input from users and being able to associate the brands with the feedback is extremely useful!

[vaking]

My wife loves cooking. Here is her opinion:
"There are people who cook and people who have fancy kitchen equipment. The 2 usually don't mix. The ones who have fancy equipment want to have nice looking knives. The ones that cook consider knives to be tools. You don't chose tool for its looks. Who said knives have to be a set? Do you have to have chisels matching screwdrivers? My kitchen set must work well. I don't care how it looks. Every knife is chosen by trial. I like french Thiers-Issard for meat slicers and carvers. I prefer german style chef knives."
On my own I can add the following: French knives she uses have white handles. Chef knives are walnut. Some knives have black handles. I once offered to replace her mismatched collection with something nice looking. She would not even here me out.