We’ve all seen the infomercials showing us the knife that can cut through a metal pipe, a penny, and even a phone book! But who ever needs a knife for those kinds of tasks? How about what a knife can do in the actual kitchen? Anyone who spends a fair amount of time cooking knows how important a good, sturdy set of kitchen knives is -- and they don’t need an infomercial to tell them.  

The general perception is that “a knife is a knife”, and that by having one knife you can do the job of any other specialized knife. But this simply isn’t the case. Keep reading to learn about the different kinds of knives available, what each one is specialized to do, and why owning a reliable set of kitchen knives can make your time spent in the kitchen more efficient and enjoyable.

For starters, all knives follow the same general rule of anatomy. There is the Point, which is used for piercing, the Spine, which adds weight and strength, the Bolster, which adds stability and balance, the Heel, which is used for cutting that requires force, and the Tip, which is used for small, precise cut making. No matter what kind of knife you buy, it is always important to check for defects or flaws in these parts. For example, if the Tip is too flimsy, you may have trouble cutting into less firm foodstuffs. If the Bolster is too narrow, you may have a hard time gripping the knife when carving large portions of meat. Furthermore, if the Heel is not properly shaped, you run the risk of seriously injuring yourself when chopping and slicing. You should check to make sure any knife you are about to purchase is a high quality product.

The next important thing to look at is the type of material the knife is made of. Kitchen knives are available in a wide array of metals and substances, each with distinctive advantages and disadvantages. Carbon Steel knives remain easy to sharpen, but are susceptible to rust and water stains. Titanium knives are lighter, more flexible, and more resistant to wear and tear, but they are less sharp than others. Stainless Steel knives are often less expensive and easier to use, but difficult to sharpen. To offset this, many Stainless Steel knives come with serrated edges. This means they may be unsuitable for cutting fleshy fruits, soft cheeses and other delicate items. Ceramic knives are very hard and durable, but need to be sharpened by a professional on a grinding wheel or with specially made sandpaper. They also have a tendency to chip if struck against a hard surface. Plastic knives are also useful in the kitchen. Though they are the least sharp, and easily breakable, plastic knives do not react with certain foods the way metal knives do. Metal knives for example, will turn lettuce leaves brown when preparing a salad, whereas plastic knives will not. As you can see, different knives made from different materials are all very important for different reasons.

Aside from just being constructed from varying materials, knives are also forged into different shapes, sizes and angles for differing kitchen related tasks. Bread Knives, despite their name, are actually made for cutting through anything that is hard on the outside but soft on the inside. This is due to the special serrations they normally contain. Paring Knives are typically small and plain edged knives used for peeling the skin off of vegetables, removing seeds, and shaping small garnishes. Steak Knives are made specifically for slicing through tough cuts of individual meat, while Carving Knives are made specifically for slicing through large, tender meat dishes. Deli Knives are a specially designed type of knife that prevents the preparer’s knuckles from coming into contact with the cutting board. Fillet Knives are specially designed to remove bones from fish before cooking. Cleavers are a somewhat similar type of knife used to prepare large pieces of uncut meat into smaller portions. Cleavers are strong enough to chop through joints and bones. Oyster and Grapefruit Knives are designed specifically for the foods their name implies. Tourners are a relatively small knife used mainly for making decorative cuts. Finally there is the Chef’s Knife, which is an all purpose knife designed for mincing, chopping, slicing, dicing and julienning.

While it is possible to buy most of these knives individually, they often are sold as a packaged set. Often times, each kind of knife will be included in various sizes. Knife sets usually also come with several other useful accessories. Some of the accessories you may expect to find included with your knife set are a carving fork, kitchen shears, a sheath block, a cutting board and a sharpening rod among others. Each set is different, so some sets may only include a few of these accessories, while others may include all of them.

Knife sets are also not difficult to find. Most chain retailers offer them in their Housewares or Kitchen sections. Shopping online is also another great way to find sales and cheap deals on knife sets. However, if you do shop online, make sure you are not buying pre-used knife sets, as the blades will already be dulled and you may have to spend even more money to have them sharpened. Prices may vary depending on whether or not the set you are looking at is a deluxe or starter edition, as well as the quality of the manufacturer. Regardless, it is not hard to find a good knife set at an affordable price, especially with so many places to look.

While you may not have realized it, a great deal of thought goes into selecting the proper knife set. Remember to inspect the quality of the knife, the anatomy of the knife, and the functions of each knife as well as its price tag and the accessories it comes with. Failure to do this may result in you purchasing cheap knives that become dull or break too quickly, or knives whose functions you have no use for. Since knives are a very integral part of the cooking process, finding the right knife or knife set for your kitchen is very important.