What knives do you use and like?

[Susan H]

I'm looking to buy a few nice knives. I want some that will easily cut any kind of vegetables and fruits. Tell me what you like about your favorites.

Thanks!

[Pat58]

I love my Wusthof knives. They are an investment but they will last more than a lifetime. I have the classic chef's and paring knives that came in a set, and a Japanese style Santoku that I can't live without. They have a great hand feel and balance. They're German made of the highest quality. I've had them since the early 1980s and use them every day.

[bee]

I must confess (is it a "guilty pleasure"?) that I always reach for my Cutco knife. This is the one I like best: https://www.cutco.com/products/produ...s7zeyoy6m6r1g7 It goes through tomatoes perfectly.

My husband knows a thing or two about blades and how they are made, and he prefers these:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

[yogapam]

We have a couple of Wusthof knives we really like, a super slicer & a chef's knife. My fave is our Mac Santoku. I agree with Pat, good knives are pricey but a lifetime investment.

[adawn]

These are the two main knives we use:

Victorinox Fibrox Pro Chef's Knife, 8-Inch Chef's FFP
(the knife I reach for most often, which isn't very often because I rarely cook. Use for chopping veggies, slicing potatoes/tomatoes, etc.)
$45
http://a.co/9Tjk1MH

Mac Knife Superior Bread Knife, 10-1/2-Inch
(love this knife for slicing bread, carving turkey/prime rib roasts* and even slicing tomatoes occasionally)
$90
http://a.co/4vH4v6X

We also have this one:

Tojiro DP Gyutou - 9.4"
$89 + shipping
http://a.co/cLHh0es but usually reach for the cheaper/slightly shorter Victorinox with the grippy handle (first link) vs. this one.

Having used/gone through lots of cheaper knives in the past, it's worth it to invest in just a few quality knives. And the Victorinox is a great value. I bought that one based on America's Test Kitchen reviews back in 2013. The other 2 were also bought in 2013 but I think I found out about them on knife forums. (Yes, knife forums. No weirder than videofitness forums I suppose.)

*I'm vegetarian but other people cook meat in the house.

[Susan H]

Thanks for the recommendations! You've given me some good suggestions.

[BunnyHop]

In terms of everyday use, I've been using some smaller serrated knives for a while that I really like:

This one is a Messermeister (4.5-Inch Serrated Tomato Knife with Matching Sheath, Red) but I use it for all kinds of stuff:

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B000Q9GJXM

Having and liking that so much, I sought out a similar knife set by Victorinox (Swiss Stainless Steel 6 Piece Round 4.5 Inch Serrated Steak Knife Set with Green, Orange, Pink, Yellow, Red, and Blue Fibrox Handles) :

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B00PIT0YYA

Be warned, they are sharp!!

I do have other knives I like, mostly just regular chef or santoku knives that I've accumulated over the years. (The Santoku is a Farberware bought fairly cheaply at the grocery store, the other two are more expensive, but not necessarily a better value.) I guess my advice is to hunt the discount stores like TJ Maxx/Marshalls and kitchen wares shops for good sale prices.

My larger serrated knives are finds from TJ Maxx, seem to be German in origin but the brand name escapes me and eludes Google searching. Will actually have to go read the label later.

[wendug]

We've had a set of Shun knives for years now. We went with the Alton Brown set because we're food nerds. Yes, they are pricey, but will last forever if taken care of. My husband broke the tip off of a knife when he dropped it, and was able to send it back to the company for them to repair...for FREE!

Here are some knife buying tips from the charmingly knowledgeable Alton Brown:

https://altonbrown.com/10-knife-buying-tips/