Calling all chefs!!! I need help selecting knives!?

German and Japanese knives are traditionally the best you can get. Make sure that the metal runs from the blade, right through the handle and is in ONE piece.

My favourite is Wurstof Trident for their quality and the even weighting.

I suggest one of the following brands:

- Global

- Mundial

- Hinckel

- Wurstof Trident

- Shun

They will come each with a sheath, but you will need to go to a chef's shop (check out catering equipment stores in the yellow pages) for a carry case.

Remember not to put them in your carry-on luggage as they will be confiscated by the airline.

Also check out the info from this question - http://au.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=200...

I have been a chef now for 6yrs since I started college and progressed to head chef, and have had the same set of knives throughout, for me the best knives our Sabatier or Victorinox, professional chef knives, forged blade and riveted handles a must, and if you can afford rosewood (wooden), Sabatier they have a life time guaranty, but both are long lasting, comfortable to hold, and when sharp fly through everything!

As well as your knives make sure you buy a good steel, you can have the best knives in the world but they won't last if you do not sharpen they correctly and regularly.

On buying a set it can be cheaper, but not always the best way. You will find you will build on your collection as you progress, its best to buy knifes that suit you, the basics, as you mentioned chefs knives 10" and either a 8" or 6", bread, paring and boning, but also fish filleting, tomato knife (fantastic for most jobs) a good peeler, pallet knife, you may not need a cleaver unless you decide to specialise like I did in larder but I also recommend a carving knife rounded, and turning knife, as well as I mentioned earlier a good steel, like a diamond steel. You will not find all of these in a set, the best set is the one costumed for yourself, I always like to think, knives are to a chef as football boots are to a football player.

You can always go to your local DIY shop and buy a tool box, there perfect for the job, or you can buy knife wraps (heavy duty cotton wallet) which will hold all the knives you own.

Hope this helps!

I too was in the market for some good knifes and this is what I found out. Number one, you do not need to pay and arm and a leg for a good knife. There is not any difference in forged or stamped as far as the cutting capability. Most give you a lifetime guarantee, what ever that may be. Forchner are good knives at a very reasonable price, and I liked the answer from Dropkick. I went into that website that he suggested, and that set for $149 looks great, which really only comes down to about $16.50 a knife plus you also get a case. I think that the most important element is, is how the knife feels in your hand. My best advice was from a man I went to who sharpens knives as a business.

My sister has a set of Wusthof knives that are the sweetest things I've ever used in a kitchen. Comfortable to use, well-balanced, and sharp enough to split a mouse whisker into thirds.

Unfortunately, they are also waaaaay out of my budget. Chicago Cutlery makes a nice set of ergonomically balanced knives that I can afford. They need a little more sharpening than some knives I've used, but they're still easy on the hands and affordable.

I know you probably don't want to bring in a lower budget item to culinary school, but at home, Farberwear knives are surprisingly good. They stay sharp, and they're pretty comfortable to use.

There ya have it -- my suggestions from high to low end. I'm not a chef, but I've been cooking for about 45 years now, and I buy the best kitchen equipment I can afford.

Good luck with school!

Henckels aren't bad knives. Many chefs use and own them.

Myself included.

I used a set of Forschner knives for many years. These were my first knives. They are less expensive than the Henckels but in some cases I liked them better. (Especially my boning knife - I've never found one I liked better).

There are other good brands too, Wusthof, Global, Messermeister, Sabatier They all make good knives.

Knife cases you can get from any dealer.

-Skip the cleaver. You'll only need it for butchering and then not often. As a cook you will seldom if ever use it.

Get a good peeler and a steel instead.

Addition added with edit:

Got me curious and I did a little looking online.

Found a good set of Mundials (A good brand that many working chefs end up using) for a very good price.

Product # CDW56984MUNDCHEFSET-WHITE

Retail $254.00 and up

On Sale $149.00

http://chefdepot.net/specialproducts.htm

It's about midway down the page.

Hope this helps.

Best advice I can give you is get a set with wooden handles that fit your hand properly and are balanced.

Different brands feel entirely different when cutting.

I cut and sold fish in a market for 3 years, (a long time ago) and although the knifes were older, they honed well and did not make my hands tire.(Too small a handle will tend to make you clench to tight) Stuff that cuts though everything?? Nice way to slice your hand open if using the wrong size blade for the job.

Best beet tis to walk into a kitchen of a rest. you wish to cook as and ask the help (or the Chef) if you can get in what they like, and poll a few places.

Henckels are the best!!! But in your price range you not going to be able to get them. I paid $160.00 just for my Henckel carving knife and fork. Im not trying to bust your bubble or anything, but your best bet at this time is to get a set of Forstner knives for school, and while in school put away some money each month and when you graduate as a present to yourself get that awsome set of knives that will last you till the day you retire. If you would like some links to look at some good knife sets for people on a budget just send me an email and I'll hook ya up...

Real Italian Kitchens are simple, rustic, have the copper pots and pans hanging from the cieling, vases with lavender on the table, earthy colors, think brick, burnt orange, yellow on the walls, posters usually in Italian or French, Table cloths that are linnen and embroidered, (Sur La Table) has great ones as do kitchen stores. Knives are stored in a block, portugese designs on the dishes, cups, saucers, soup tureens.

I recently purchased Global knives, they are really nice. They are a perfect fit for my hand, and are sharp as hell. I really like them because they are nice and light and perfectly balanced. I would suggest shopping around, most kitchen stores will let you take the knives for a go around in the store, cut up a few potatoes and see which ones you like the best, then buy those. I am partial to Japanese knives rather than German. Its just a personal preference

Mr. Ron Popeil has this new awesome set of knives as an introductory offer. I just purchased. Would be about $600 or so.

They are not wimpy or cheap. I have studied them. I too am a up and coming chef. Check it out. They set is warratied forever, and he sent a second set for free. Good Luck.

(I spent just about $100.)