No tool is as important in preparing food as a good, sharp knife. It's easy to choose a good one, and while the best knives are expensive, good ones are still affordable.
Instructions
1. Assess how much you cook. You'll need a few decent knives even if you cook infrequently. If you cook a lot or plan to, it might be worthwhile to invest in fine cutlery.
2. Visit a kitchen store or an online retailer and look through the selections.
3. Look for a chef's, or French, knife. This is the standard workhorse knife of Western kitchens. It's a wide knife that tapers to a fine tip and can be used for cutting, chopping and slicing.
4. Select a chef's knife with an 8- to 10-inch blade. Long knives are actually easier to use than smaller ones because there's more blade to do the work.
5. Look for a chef's knife with a stainless-steel blade. The entire blade should be sharp and should continue for the entire length of the handle.
6. Select a thinner, 6-inch utility knife and a 3- or 4-inch paring knife. Almost all kitchen tasks can be accomplished with these basic knives.
7. Augment your basic set with a serrated knife for cutting breads and fruit and a honing steel to keep your knives sharp.
8. Expect to pay $20 for the least-expensive knife of serviceable quality. Such knives often have plastic handles and are made from stamped steel.
9. Plan to pay from $50 to $100 per knife for the finest kitchen cutlery. These knives have molded or riveted handles and are made from forged steel. They will cut well and last a lifetime with proper care.
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