Kitchen Knives can be a confusing topic for many of us home cooks. Which knives do you need? Which ones can you do without? How do you keep them sharp? Won’t I cut myself if they’re too sharp? During Amazon Prime is a great time to purchase kitchen knives. And you don’t need an entire block of knives, but rather just a few will do the trick. I’ll tell you what you need and what you can skip and how to keep your knives working great for years to come, afterall, they’re an investment in your safety just as much as they are for getting the job done. (As an Amazon associate, I earn a small commission on purchases at no cost to you.)
Santoku Knife Versus Chef’s Knife
What’s the difference between a Santoku Knife and a Chef’s Knife? Both knives are chef favorites and have similar purposes like slicing and dicing fruits, vegetables, and meat. The santoku knife usually has a 5″ or 7″ blade, whereas the chef’s knife is usually 8-12″ long. The shorter santoku knife is easier to manuever. While the longer length of the chef’s knife makes it ideal for cutting through tough skinned melons and even bones. But because of the length of the chef’s blade, most use a pinch grip where your index finger knuckle and thumb are actually gripped on the blade itself. Most home cooks find the santoku more manageable and less intimidating which is why it is my preference. Henckels is a solid brand and the option below gives you two sizes for a great price that saves you nearly 50 percent.
- ULTRA-SHARP BLADES: Superior professional-level sharpness that ensures precision cutting.
- THE LAST KNIFE YOU’LL EVER NEED TO BUY: German Engineered Knife Informed by over 100 Years of Mastery. HENCKELS knives are built to last.
- EFFORTLESS CUTTING: Enjoy easy meal prep and paper-thin cuts with minimal effort with this lightweight, easy-to-use knife.
- SET INCLUDES: 5.5-inch Henckels Santoku Knife and 7-inch Henckels Santoku Knife
- QUICK CLEAN UP: No-fuss cleanup, in the dishwasher or by hand. Stain and rust-free blades.
Paring Knife
A paring knife is used to peel fruits and vegetables, remove the cores of tomatoes and tops of strawberries, removing the vein from shrimp, and cutting or slicing small items like garlic. I like mine on the smaller side so I can manuever it more easily. I have two that I use. One has a straight blade and the other has a bird peak tip that makes removing stems from fruits easier. You only really need one. The Cuisinart Triple Rivet Collection 3.5″ Paring Knife is on sale and the perfect size. The triple rivets mean the blade runs through the end of handle making is very secure. And it comes with a blade guard and savings of nearly 50 percent!
- Superior high-carbon stainless steel blades for precision and accuracy
- Forged, durable extra-wide safety bolster for perfect stability and control
- Stainless steel rivets to secure the full-tang blade to the ergonomically designed handle
- Comes with blade guard
- Lifetime warranty
Serrated Knife aka Bread Knife
There are many sizes of serrated knifes where the blades have little jagged edges. The most common size is known as the bread knife because it has a longer blade that can effectively saw through bread. The jagged edges are perfect for cutting through foods with a hard crust and soft interior from bread to pies to angel food cake, even delicate fruits like tomatoes. The Zulay Kitchen Serrated Bread Knife is a great choice due to its stainless steel, 8″ blade and terrific price.
- SHARP AND PRECISE CUT: Every slice is a work of art with our bread knife. It has an ultra-sharp serrated edge that lets you effortlessly slice through even the crustiest loaf of bread. The rubber safety guard on the knife’s tip provides a firm grip during use.
- PREMIUM QUALITY: Made from high-quality stainless steel, this bread slicer is durable enough to last through everyday use. Get the ultimate satisfaction of using a sharp knife to cut into a fresh loaf.
- ERGONOMIC DESIGN: This serrated bread knife is designed with a comfortable and smooth grip handle that gives greater control when slicing for left and right handers. The one-piece design improves precision and stability during use.
- VERSATILE KITCHEN TOOL: This slicing knife is not just for bread; use it to easily slice through any soft food item in your kitchen with a clean cut. Our bread loaf slicer is an absolute must-have for any home chef.
- HASSLE-FREE, ZULAY GUARANTEE: We love and take pride in our bread cutting knife and back it with a lifetime warranty. If there are any issues, just contact us, and we will make it right.
Steak Knives
Steak knives are one of those things that when you need them, you need good ones. I love my Zwilling/Henckels Razor-Sharp Steak Knives set of 8. These one solid piece beauties are finely serrated stainless steel and built to last generations. They cut through meat and poultry with ease and come in their own wooden box. They would make an excellent gift, too! They’re currently over 60 percent off. Buy these!
- ULTRA RAZOR-SHARP: ZWILLING knives start out razor-sharp and stay sharper longer, even with minimal care.
- THE LAST KNIFE YOU’LL EVER NEED TO BUY: Zwilling knives are built to last. They are German engineered informed by almost 300 Years of masterful knife making.
- EFFORTLESS CUTTING: Enjoy cutting through steak and meats with little effort.
- WE KNOW MORE ABOUT KNIVES THAN ANYONE ELSE IN THE WORLD: ZWILLING has been making knives since 1731 in the renowned “City of Blades” Solingen, Germany and we are constantly innovating to bring you the best knives possible.
- LARGEST MANUFACTURER OF KNIVES GLOBALLY: As the largest manufacturer of knives globally, we own our factories so we can control the quality at every step of production.
Kitchen Shears
I can’t live without my kitchen shears! It’s perfect for spatchcocking a chicken as it makes quick work cutting through bones. Be careful with these bad boys! They are sharp and strong. This pair comes with a protective sheath, which is a great idea if you keep them in a drawer. Don’t use these for opening packages; a regular pair of scissors will work for that. Kitchen Aid makes a great option for $8.99.
- PREMIUM STAINLESS STEEL BLADES: Built to resist rust and maintain sharpness, these stainless steel blades easily cut through everyday kitchen items like vegetables, herbs, meat, and packaging with clean, precise cuts.
- ENHANCED CUTTING PERFORMANCE: Featuring micro serrated edges, the blades offer a superior grip on food and materials, minimizing slips for effortless, smooth cutting every time. Extra thick blades add strength and durability, ideal for frequent use.
- SOFT, COMFORT GRIP HANDLE: Designed for extended use, the handle provides a comfortable, secure grip with a soft, non slip coating, reducing hand fatigue and ensuring control while cutting.
- INCLUDES PROTECTIVE SHEATH: Comes with a convenient, sturdy plastic sheath to protect the blades when not in use, ensuring safety and blade longevity.
- DISHWASHER SAFE FOR EASY CLEANING: While hand washing is recommended to maintain blade quality, these shears are dishwasher safe for hassle free cleaning.
Check out our other Top 5’s including Small Appliances, Cookware, Bakeware, Measuring, Bowls, Utensils, Dinnerware, and Silverware. We also have Top 10’s for Serveware & Accessories and Pantry Staples. Check them out and let us know what you want to see next.
