KNIVES OUT!
Your indispensable guide for cutting through the confusion of choosing kitchen knives.
WEIGHT
The correct weight of a knife is purely down to individual choice.Too light and you have something that is prone to deteriorate and break over time; while too heavy and your wrists will suffer! Try the Robert Welch signature home chef set, which offers three medium-weight knives designed with precision in mind (£99).
COMFORT
A good knife needs to be well shaped, smooth, designed to fi t inside your hand. Comfort is secondary to getting the job done, but a knife that doesn’t feel right is more likely to be mishandled, leading to accidents. Try the Zyliss Comfort 6-Piece knife set, which consistently comes out on top for budget, comfort and safety (£40)
PLASTIC NOT FANTASTIC?
While the fashion is that knives should embody huge chunks of metal in rigid encasing, don’t rule out plastic or rubber handles. While you’ll need to keep them away from heat sources, in some environments their smoothness and lack of ridges can be advantageous when it comes to ensuring dirt and bacteria stay away from food. Try the Designpro Titanium knife set for a set of tools that have extra grip – perfect perhaps for someone in later life whose hold or clasp might be inconsistent (£29).
LEFT-HANDED KNIVES
Most knives are sharp and angular on both sides, meaning they are just as easy to use whether left- or right-handed. The exception to this rule is often bread knives, so if you are left-handed, it pays to double-check.Try the Kuhn Rikon Colori Bread & Baguette Ultra-Sharp knife – one of the best on the market for left-handed people (£20).
ALL-ROUND EXCELLENCE
For a set that ticks the boxes of restaurant-level chefs and home experimenters alike, that comes in on budget but also offers longevity, style and includes a knife block that even has space for a recipe card, try the lief + svein knife set. Six quality knives, detachable-blade scissors and a sharpener (£90).
SHARP DRESSER
They say the sharper the knife, the safer it is, and these come in many forms – from v-shaped circular steels to electric sharpeners and even whetstones.For a surface-standing tool, try the Domelus professional knife sharpener (£22).
TECHNIQUE
The knife’s centre of gravity is always at its bolster – that’s where the blade meets the handle. It’s at this point you should be holding it, with your thumb and second finger providing the point where your own balance and strength is at its greatest. When cutting, your thumb and index finger should be on the blade itself, with the remaining three fingers taking the handle.
“Be armed with the facts before choosing your next knives”