Best knife sets for a culinary student?
Culinary school starts in just a few weeks at Monroe County Community College, I have been shopping around and want to know what other people use and find the best. I need knives that will last me awhile, are comfortable to grip, and are relatively affordable. All opinions are appreciated.
I haven't gone to any culinary school, but I know bunch of cooks who went there. #1 advice from them, do not take anything expensive there, it will "get lost" unless you have those knives on you all the time, which is hardly possible. So, that pretty much rules out Globals and other expensive pieces.
If you are planing to buy a set, then few pointers for you:
1) Don't buy a set, you will get more than one knife that you'll never use. Instead make your own set, with knives that you really like/need/want.
2) Ignore all marketing BS that good kitchen knives must be forged, have to have full tang and a bolster. NONE of it is required for a good knife. Top end Japanese kitchen knives that cost over 1000$ a piece have neither full tang nor a bolster and they cut way better than any mainstream western knife. Same for forging, stamped Globals out-cut forged Henckels and Wusthofs any time.
3) If you haven't used Japanese knives probably it's better to stick with western knives. In that case Forschner knives will be your best bet. They're made of the same X50CrMoV15 steel. hardened to the same 54-56HRC as Wusthofs and Henckels and many other mainstream kitchen knives, but cost half the price or even less.
4) Minimal set you'd need would include:
chef's knife 6"-12: depends on your preferences.
Paring knife - 3"-4"
Serrated bread knife - 10-12"
Boning knife if you expect working with bony meat.
That covers 99.99% of cutting needs for home and about the same for culinary schools as far as I can tell.
Here's a lot more on how to choose kitchen knives - http://zknives.com/knives/kitchen/misc/articles/kkchoser/index.shtml
And a few pointers on maintenance - http://zknives.com/knives/kitchen/misc/articles/kitknmntc.shtml
In the end I think Forschners will be the better choice for the school. same steel and hardness as in Wusthofs and Henckels, significantly cheaper.
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