Knife Sets – Comprehensive Buying Guide
With a high-quality knife set, you are well equipped for all important cutting work in the kitchen. In addition to a uniform look, there are various advantages that speak in favour of buying a knife set over several individual knives. However, it is always crucial that the knife set meets your own preferences and application priorities.
For this reason, we provide comprehensive purchasing advice here and explain which knife set is best suited for which purpose. In addition to tips for amateur chefs, professionals, meat, fish and grill lovers as well as budding chefs, we also provide information on how you can keep the joy of your knife set for a long time.
Why You Should Choose a Knife Set – The Advantages
If you are currently setting up a new kitchen or have noticed that old knives no longer serve their purpose, the question arises as to whether the purchase of individual knives or a knife set makes more sense. In many cases, however, the purchase of a knife set offers many advantages over the purchase of individual knives.
Cost
Although it may initially sound paradoxical, buying a knife set often turns out to be cheaper than purchasing individual knives. Sets are frequently offered at lower prices and can also be expanded with additional sets if the demands on the repertoire change, for example, after taking a cooking class.
Versatility
Even though one could theoretically handle most cutting tasks in the kitchen with the same knife, having the right knife for each task greatly facilitates cutting, and the joy of cooking significantly increases with the variety a knife set provides. For demanding tasks, such as filleting meat or slicing bread without tearing or squashing it, you will always have the appropriate knife at your disposal
Quality
Many have knives in their kitchen that do not convince qualitatively and therefore wait in vain in drawers for their use. If you opt for a high-quality knife set instead, you can rest assured that you will be happy to pick up any knife at any time.
Design and aesthetics
Knives are indeed functional items, yet aesthetics in the kitchen need not be compromised. A knife set in a cohesive style is not only practical but also decorative. Paired with a knife block as a storage solution, it creates a stylish and uniform overall appearance
Storage
Since the sharpness of the knife blade can suffer if stored in drawers, it is advisable to avoid this if possible. The convenient aspect of knife sets is that many manufacturers provide the appropriate knife block for storage. This way, high-quality knives are not only neatly stored away but are also kept in a highly space-efficient manner.
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Customer Service
It saves a lot of time and nerves if you can contact a single manufacturer for questions or any repairs, but also for care and maintenance, and do not have to contact several. Especially with knives, which should be a long-term investment, it is practical to have a reliable contact person.
Expansion options
Over time, your requirements may change. It is often only with some experience that you realize which knife you could still benefit from, for example after attending a cooking class or because you feel like trying something new.
Fortunately, a knife set can be supplemented by another knife at any time. If you buy it from the same manufacturer, you can also be happy that the look remains uniform.
What should you pay attention to when buying a knife set?
Before buying a knife set, there are a few important things to consider. This includes, on the one hand, the question of what purposes the knives should be used for. Not every amateur chef needs a carving knife or filleting knife. Here, a knife set for beginners with a solid basic equipment is usually better suited. Quite apart from that, vegetarians are unlikely to find any major use for a steak knife.
Factors such as the material from which the blade was made, as well as a handle that fits well in the hand, should also be included in the decision. It also plays a major role in how light or heavy the knives are made. No one likes to use a knife that causes hand cramps after prolonged chopping or cutting.
Which knives should not be missing in a knife set?
A useful basic setup for a knife set can include a classic chef's knife or Santoku knife, suitable for many tasks in the kitchen. Additionally, a bread knife and a vegetable peeling knife are popular components of knife sets, as they cover the typical main tasks in the kitchen. These three knives are especially useful for cooking beginners in search of an essential equipment set
Advanced chefs may still want one or more steak knives and benefit from a special cheese knife or ham knife for filleting. Since the requirements for a knife set can vary greatly from person to person, there are different types of knife sets.
At Tyrolit Life, we have therefore put together knife sets that are specially tailored to the wishes of meat lovers, novice cooks, professional chefs or indulgent foodies. The number of knives varies from two to six knives.
What types of knife sets are there?
Since there are different types of knife sets for different preferences and areas of application, we give an overview here and present knife sets that are suitable for the different needs of meat lovers, amateur chefs, but also for absolute kitchen professionals.
Knife Set for Meat Lovers – Which Knives Are Suitable for Meat?
A knife set for meat lovers should be tailored to individual requirements. A good knife set for cooking apprentices and ambitious amateur chefs, for example, should contain a chef's knife, a boning knife, a carving knife or a filleting knife.
For those who want to get basic equipment for meat preparation, we recommend the Darkline knife set "For Starters" from Tyrolit Life. This knife set contains a Fly Wheel Cut knife, which is characterized by a particularly clean cut, and a fillet cut knife for precise filleting of meat. Both knives belong to the Darkline knife series from Tyrolit Life, come in a particularly appealing, dark design and are made of special high-end stainless chrome steel. This allows a razor-sharp blade and a material hardness of 60 HRC.
Sophisticated professional chefs will get their money's worth with the Darkline knife set "For Chefs". In addition to the Fly Wheel Cut knife and the Filet Cut knife, this has also been extended by a Meat Cut knife, with which the skin can be easily detached from the meat.
The Meat Knife – A Comprehensive Overview
A meat knife is an indispensable kitchen tool, specifically developed for slicing, carving, and segmenting meat. Discover what's important in this article!
The right knife set for amateur chefs – all-rounders for beginners and advanced chefs
Everyone who enjoys preparing a wide range of dishes or is just beginning their culinary journey should consider getting a knife set designed for hobby chefs, capable of handling a multitude of tasks in the kitchen
A knife set may include, for example, a chef's knife, a bread knife, a utility knife, a peeling knife, and in some cases, a carving knife. These knives cover most kitchen tasks, from coarse chopping to precise cutting.
To meet the diverse needs of all skill levels, Tyrolit Life has a range of knife sets available for hobby chefs. The "Beginner" knife set is a great foundational choice for novices. Adhering to the principle that less is more, this set includes a classic chef's knife and Santoku knife II, making the cutting of fish, meat, and vegetables effortlessly simple
With the "Universal" knife set, equipped with a bread knife, a Santoku knife, and a utility knife, it becomes more specific. Tasks such as effortlessly slicing bread, peeling, and even filleting are easily managed with this selection
Knife set for chefs – high-quality equipment for professionals
A professional knife set for cooks should include a set of knives that cover the most important cutting tasks in the kitchen. A chef's knife is essential as it is the most versatile and commonly used knife. It is great for chopping, slicing, and dicing vegetables, meat, and herbs.
A vegetable knife – such as a peeling knife or a small santoku knife – is also important because it is used for precise work such as peeling and cutting smaller foods. The compact Santoku knife in particular is a practical all-rounder that can be used for food in different sizes and thus also serves as a vegetable knife.
A bread knife with a serrated edge and scalloped blade is necessary to neatly slice bread and baked goods without squashing them. For meat processing, a boning knife is ideal, as its narrow, flexible blade facilitates the deboning process. In addition, a carving knife is perfect for slicing roasts and large cuts of meat into uniform slices.
In addition, a good set should include a utility knife that is suitable for tasks where the chef's knife is too large. A santoku knife, the Japanese equivalent of a chef's knife, offers a wider blade and is ideal for fine cutting, chopping and dicing.
Depending on the specific requirements, a filleting knife for precise filleting of fish and a cleaver for cutting through bones and hard foods can also be useful.
Tyrolit Life offers a variety of knife sets tailored to the specific requirements of professional chefs. The six-piece "Expert" knife set from the Iceline series encompasses the full spectrum of culinary tasks, including a chef's knife, a bread knife, a ham knife for easy filleting, a Santoku knife, a turning knife, and a stainless steel cheese knife. This set is also especially valuable for mastering and executing the artful cutting techniques commonly used in professional kitchens.
7 Benefits of a Small Santoku Knife
A small Santoku knife can easily outdo its big brother in terms of versatility. In this article, you will learn about the advantages of these knives.
Knife Set for Grill Masters – What to Consider
A knife set for barbecue professionals should include the essential knives needed for slicing, carving, and preparing meat and grill items.
A good set for grill lovers should therefore include a sturdy chef's knife that is versatile and can be used to cut both vegetables and meat. A boning knife is indispensable for precise work, such as removing bones. A filleting knife can also be helpful, even when grilling fish.
For those who wish to fillet their own fish before grilling or slice roast beef into wafer-thin pieces, the "Precision" knife set from Tyrolit Life is available. It includes a ham knife for effortless filleting and a paring knife for neatly peeling fruits and vegetables and cutting them into uniform shapes. For enjoying meat, Tyrolit Life steak knives are essential, effortlessly slicing through meat with their precisely serrated blades
Useful Accessories for Knife Sets
To ensure that the knives in the knife set remain in good condition long after purchase, there are various accessories for proper cleaning, storage, care and use.
For example, you should get a sharpening steel or whetstone to keep the blades sharp and, if possible, do not store the knives in a drawer where the blades can become damaged and dull. Instead, a magnetic bar or knife block is a more suitable solution.
With a Tyrolit Life knife block featuring an integrated whetstone, you'll hit two birds with one stone: its magnetic sides ensure that up to 6 knives, each up to 23 cm in length, stay securely in place without slipping. The built-in whetstone is pre-set to a 15-degree sharpening angle, always ready for use, allowing you to quickly sharpen your knives – similar to the convenience offered by the separately available knife sharpener, which also facilitates easier sharpening thanks to its preset angle.
When using your knives, always make sure to cut on a suitable surface. Since marble and glass make the blades dull, Tyrolit Life has cutting boards made of oiled beech wood that also look good. They are also equipped with an integrated whetstone so that you can sharpen blunt blades at any time if necessary.
Sharpening and Cleaning: What to Consider for Knife Maintenance
In order for you to enjoy your knives for a long time, it is important to keep a few basic points in mind when taking care of your knives. Regular sharpening is just as much a part of this as proper cleaning and storage.
When sharpening, it is particularly important to have the right sharpening angle, which is around 15 degrees for most European knife types. A knife sharpener with a preset sharpening angle and two different grits – one for coarse and one for fine sharpening – ensures that your knives are always in top condition.
Always clean knives by hand with warm water and mild detergent and avoid cleaning in the dishwasher. Due to the high heat and aggressive detergent in the machine, both the blades and the handles can be damaged.
Knife blocks, magnetic strips or knife pockets are ideal for storage. Do not simply store knives in a drawer without protection, as this may damage the blades.
In addition, be sure to use suitable cutting boards, preferably made of wood or plastic, to protect the blades. Because hard surfaces such as glass or marble can quickly make the knives dull.
Maintaining and Cleaning Knives – 12 Tips from a Tyrolean Knife Expert!
The first version is clear and accurately translated. Here is the final version: High-quality knives reward careful handling with longevity. Therefore, in this article, we give you 12 useful tips on how to clean and care for your kitchen knives.
Quality from Tyrolit Life – the right knife set for every need
Since the demands on kitchen knives can be very different, Tyrolit Life has the right knife set for every purpose. These have been carefully adapted to a wide range of applications and work steps, so that both beginners and professionals can work with pleasure. All Tyrolit Life knife sets have one thing in common – their outstanding workmanship and durability.
Whatever you are looking for – be it a knife set that allows you to do basic tasks or special work steps such as filleting – knife sets from Tyrolit Life are a safe choice. With your Tyrolit Life knife set, you can choose between the Iceline and Darkline knife series, which have been developed for both amateur chefs and professionals.
Iceline knives are characterized by their long-lasting sharpness and the ergonomically shaped plastic handle, which fits particularly well in the hand. The blade is forged from one piece of stainless steel.
The Darkline knives stand out with their distinctive appearance and are crafted from high-end stainless chromium steel. With a hardness level of 60 HRC, models from this series are especially well-suited for demanding tasks and adhere to the highest quality standards regarding their durability and performance
Your new knife set fits perfectly in a magnetic knife block made from local oak wood. To maintain the knives' edge, Tyrolit Life has also created a knife sharpener with a pre-set sharpening angle of 15 degrees, making it ideal for sharpening most European types of knives.
All kitchen knives are manufactured by Tyrolit Life in cooperation with Stubai in Tyrol. Let yourself be surprised by sharpness in a new dimension and opt for craftsmanship quality from Austria.