The process of preparing almost any dish is impossible to imagine without using a knife. A well-sharpened sharp blade will not only significantly save cooking time, but will also bring a lot of positive emotions to the home “cook”. To choose a knife that will become an irreplaceable assistant in the kitchen, we suggest that you familiarize yourself with our rating of the best knife manufacturers.
Content
- 1 Best inexpensive knife makers
- 2 The best knife firms price / quality
- 2.1 Zwilling j.a Henckels (Germany) - safety and comfort
- 2.2 Wusthof (Germany) - "Passion - Diligence - Perfection"
- 2.3 SAMURA (Japan) - perfect cut and reliability
- 2.4 Victorinox (Switzerland) - functionality and maneuverability
- 2.5 Kanetsugu (Japan) - ancient secrets of craftsmanship
- 2.6 Sabatier (France) - traditions of European quality
- 3 Varieties of kitchen knives
- 4 Which kitchen knife should you choose?
Best inexpensive knife makers
Fiskars (Finland) - stylish ergonomic design
The company specializes in precision-balanced Functional Form + knives with Softgrip handles - a special coating that protects the fingers and allows cutting at any angle. Knife blades are made of durable stainless steel and are renowned for their durability. The basis of the company's assortment is not only kitchen knives, but also a large number of models for working in the garden, as well as convenient branded Fiskars Roll-Sharp sharpeners.
 Blade length, cm: 17 |  Blade length, cm: 21 |
 Blade length, cm: 12 |  Blade length, cm: 21 |
Rondell (Russia) - practicality and functionality
German trade mark, which since 2005 belongs to the Russian group of companies Golder Electronics. All Rondell knives are equipped with an anatomically shaped, non-slip plastic handle and provide a high level of comfort in use.
In addition to single models, the company also offers original sets from the Cortelas collection. The set consists of five different knives, which are made of stainless steel and have double-sided sharpening. Particular attention is paid to the unusual inclined stand equipped with a special metal plate, on which you can attach the necessary recipe using original magnets.
 Blade length, cm: 20 |  Blade length, cm: 20 |
 Blade length, cm: 17.8 |  Blade length, cm: 12.7 |
Ladomir (Russia) - time-tested quality
The range of Ladomir is represented by models of knives made of high-carbon forged German steel, which are distinguished by a high coefficient of hardness and a reduced coefficient of friction. Other popular models include Damascus knives, forged from 67 layers of steel using a unique technology. Knife handles are made of Pakkawood multilayer wood composite material, which is highly resistant to mechanical damage and is additionally coated with a special antibacterial compound.
All products of the Ladomir brand are subjected to rigorous testing for the strength of the cutting edge and for the resistance of the blades to corrosion and oxidation processes.
 Blade length, cm: 20 |  Blade length, cm: 20 |
 Blade length, cm: 20 |  Blade length, cm: 17 |
MAYER BOCH (Germany) - affordable German quality
The catalog of the German company includes both traditional models with wooden handles and more modern knives equipped with silicone handles. Among other things, the range of MAYER & BOCH knives is not limited only to classic stainless steel blades, but presents a large number of knives with ceramic blades. Such models are suitable for fast and accurate slicing of cheese, sausage or vegetable platter.
The company offers the best selection of both single models and sets of several knives, additionally equipped with knives and magnets for convenient and optimized storage.
 Blade length, cm: 8 |  Blade length, cm: 19 |
 Blade length, cm: 20 |  Blade length, cm: 20 |
Nadoba (Czech Republic) - universal design
The company offers a large selection of knives, packaged in convenient blocks. The material from which the stand-block is made depends on the series and can be selected from a variety of different composites of natural noble wood (ash, bamboo, hevea). Among the popular Nadoba knife sets are sets with convenient and functional ceramic blocks with a built-in knife.
The assortment also includes a line for lovers of Japanese traditions - Keiko. The knives from this series are made of stainless steel and supplemented with a handle made of high-strength plastic. The complete set of knives also provides a new generation universal stand. The soft plastic fibers built into the base allow you to store knives for any purpose in any order.
 Blade length, cm: 20 |  Blade length, cm: 20 |
 Blade length, cm: 17.5 |  Blade length, cm: 13 |
Tramontina (Brazil) - segment leader
One of the world's most renowned knife manufacturers. It is safe to say that the company's assortment will satisfy a wide variety of requests: from an ordinary amateur to a professional chef. In addition to standard and universal models, the company's catalog contains a variety of knives for any purpose: for steaks, cheese, kitchen hatchets and even pen and hunting knives.
A distinctive feature of knives for meat and steaks is a long-lasting sharpening of the blade, complete with a handle with built-in antibacterial protection. The effect of protection against microbes remains throughout the entire service life of the knife, since it is not applied over the handle, but is added directly to the composition of the material.
 Blade length, cm: 6.5 |  Blade length, cm: 15 |
 Blade length, cm: 12 |  Blade length, cm: 15 |
The best knife firms price / quality
Zwilling j.a Henckels (Germany) - safety and comfort
One of the oldest German and world companies for more than three centuries, known for its impeccable knives made from traditional stainless steel. Thanks to special proprietary additives, the likelihood of corrosion of steel blades Zwilling j.a Henckels is completely eliminated. The assortment is represented by kitchen knives of various shapes, sizes and purposes. From the chef's knife for chopping and slicing into thin slices, to serrated bread knives, they are ideal for slicing foods that are hard on the outside and soft on the inside.
 Blade length, cm: 16 |  Blade length, cm: 10 |
 Blade length, cm: 13 |  Blade length, cm: 10-20 |
Wusthof (Germany) - "Passion - Diligence - Perfection"
The oldest company with a recognizable trident logo has been producing knives for professional chefs for over 200 years. The range of the company offers 350 models of knives with forged steel blades of various shapes of blade and handle. The Wusthof catalog contains models with a flat, serrated cutting edge, as well as with transverse grooves, which, thanks to air pockets, help to prevent the cut slices from sticking. Wuesthof knives are factory-sharpened that achieves razor sharpness.
 Blade length, cm: 16 |  Blade length, cm: 16 |
 Blade length, cm: 26 |  Blade length, cm: 14 |
SAMURA (Japan) - perfect cut and reliability
With the exception of highly targeted special-purpose cutting tools, Samura produces the following main types of knives: universal, for meat and fish, bread, tomatoes. Let's highlight the most popular representatives from each category. The Harakiri series presents affordable knives that are made of single-layer steel and are very much in demand among novice cooks. More professionally oriented line - Damacus offers high quality and reliable knives from steel, obtained according to the company's proprietary recipe. In addition to the classic steel blades, the SAMURA assortment also includes modern ceramic models of the middle price from the ECO-CERAMIC series and the more expensive CERAMOTITAN.
 Blade length, cm: 19.5 |  Blade length, cm: 9.9 |
 Blade length, cm: 20.8 |  Blade length, cm: 15 |
Victorinox (Switzerland) - functionality and maneuverability
The most sought after and best among Victorinox kitchen knives are the all-purpose type. The blades of these knives are able to cope with cutting almost any product. However, in addition to standard blades, in the company's catalog you can find knives with a wide blade, which, thanks to a sharp sharpening at a special angle, provide easy and accurate cutting of meat. The tapered and flexible blade is a sign of the fishy model.This shape allows you to easily mill the fish and clean it from bones. For cutting soft vegetables, the company offers special vegetable knives with an asymmetrical serrated sharpening.
 Blade length, cm: 11 |  Blade length, cm: 10 |
 Blade length, cm: 15 |  Blade length, cm: 17 |
Kanetsugu (Japan) - ancient secrets of craftsmanship
Kanetsugu knives have a history of more than six centuries. The blades of the company are distinguished by a special lenticular Convex-sharpening and are cryo-treated at -70 ° С. This production technology guarantees increased strength and durability. The Kanetsugu catalog contains more than five series of knives for professional chefs and hobbyists. The most popular and outstanding knives among professionals from the PRO-M & PRO-S ranges. The unique geometry of the blade allows you to easily continue slicing products even if there is a little blunt one.
 Blade length, cm: 9 |  Blade length, cm: 21 |
 Blade length, cm: 17 |  Blade length, cm: 12 |
Sabatier (France) - traditions of European quality
Sabatier products are suitable for lovers of European knives. All knives are made by hand from steel, processed in a special proprietary way, which the company management keeps secret. Knife blades are mirror polished to avoid mechanical damage to the surface and to preserve the aesthetic appearance of the tool and its high hygienic properties. The majority of Sabatier knife handles are made of polyoxymethylene and have a comfortable ergonomic shape. Such a knife is comfortable to work with and eliminates wrist fatigue in case of prolonged use of the tool.
 Blade length, cm: 22 |  Blade length, cm: - |
 Blade length, cm: - |  Blade length, cm: 12 |
Varieties of kitchen knives
Those who like to cook something exotic, going beyond the usual food, prefer to have the entire arsenal of knives of different sizes and purposes in the kitchen at once. Among the indisputable advantages of knife sets are ease of storage, saving of working space and protection of the sharpening of the blade from damage. However, whether there is a real need to purchase a complete set of cutting tools or only a few universal models are enough depends only on the culinary skills of the buyer. Before compiling your individual list of knives to buy, it is better to refer to the list of main types of knives set out below.
A standard set of kitchen utensils for most housewives includes only a couple of knives: a large chef's knife and a small knife for cleaning. The rest are more focused on professional chefs, but their functionality should also be considered in order to get a better understanding.
Chef knife
The head of the kitchen knives is the chef's knife. It is a balanced tool that can easily replace other types of knives. The chef has many subspecies with different profiles of the cutting edge and butt, with different shapes of the blade and sharpening. The more popular classification is by the shape of the blade. There are classic French and German chefs, Japanese santoku and Chinese Tsaidao.
Cleaning knife
"Mini-chef", which will complement and make an excellent pair of the chef's knife, but is unlikely to be able to replace it. This versatile little knife both cleans and cuts. It does not have a large number of species and is mainly a western profile. Cleaning knives are available in sizes from 50 to 100 mm.
Bread knife
The third most popular knife in the kitchen of an advanced hostess. Let's go back to the rest of the knife types. This cutting tool has an elongated shape and serrated (wavy) sharpening. Thanks to this design, it becomes possible to simultaneously cut a tough crust of bread and cut the crumb. This type of sharpening does not need to be edited for a long time.
Carving knife
This special kind is designed to separate meat from bone. Most likely there is in the arsenal of a hunter or farmer who butcher meat of big game at home
Fillet knife
Knives in this category are distinguished by a narrow flexible blade that allows you to easily remove fillets and remove thin fish bones, even from the most difficult to access parts of meat carcasses.
Cheese knife
There are two types of cheese knife: for soft types and for hard types of cheese. The first ones are equipped with a special serrated blade and wide holes, which prevent the very soft consistency from sticking to the knife. A knife with a short, thick blade is used for slicing hard cheese.
A large number of narrowly focused knives are not widely used today in the life of the inhabitants of Russia. Among these: shrimp, oyster, citrus or a semicircular knife for shredding greens.
Which kitchen knife should you choose?
The decisive factor when choosing a knife is a comfortable position in the hand, which is characterized by the selection of a suitable weight, balance and shape of the handle. However, all these preferences are rather subjective. Below we list the types and criteria for choosing the material of the blade and handle for a kitchen knife:
- Blades, made of stainless steel, require more frequent sharpening and, although they do not corrode, nevertheless, the tool made of stainless steel is noticeably softer than its ceramic counterpart. In turn, ceramics are afraid of impacts and brute force;
- The opposite of stainless is high carbon steel, quite common among the products of Japanese manufacturers. Such knives keep sharpness well and are easily sharpened, corroded and covered with the considered "noble" patina. However, high-carbon steel knives cannot handle heavy tasks and crumble under overload;
- The compromise between stainless and high carbon steel is reflected in carbon stainless steel. This material boasts a higher carbon content than a conventional alloy and, as a result, blades made of such steel are not prone to rust and hold the edge well;
- A separate type of material that deserves special attention from connoisseurs - "Damascus" steel. This alloy is used for the production of expensive knives, which often act more as decorative objects than as a functional cutting tool;
- By choosing wooden knife handle, it is worth remembering that such a handle requires careful maintenance, and is not suitable for strict sanitary conditions, since the pores of the tree can serve as a good place for active reproduction of bacteria;
- Plastic handle micro-resistant and more secure in the hand. In addition, the "hot" fit of the blade into the handle creates a strong sealed connection while excluding the use of glue;
- Composite materials with synthetic treatment in properties they are more similar to plastic, but retain their visual appeal;
- Steel Handled Knives suitable for lovers of perfect cleanliness, since the production technology of such models excludes the presence of seams into which fat and food particles are clogged.
