What is the price for a good cutlery set? Cutlery sets pricing depends on the grade or quality of your knife set. Karl Pfitzenreiter has been in the business of cutlery for 24 years. He is the president...
Karl Pfitzenreiter has been in the business of cutlery for 24 years. He is the president and CEO of J.A. Henckels, a position he has held for the last 20 years. Pfitzenreiter suggests, "For a good cutlery set you have to at least invest a $200-$300 which would cover all your basic knife needs. It will be a lifetime investment and your grandchildren will get them for free."
High quality cutlery sets come with a good warranty and with proper care and use they should last a lifetime and possibly beyond. Some sets come with stainless steel items and others come with silver-plated items. Knives may have fine wood handles that have been riveted for strength and durability. Some knives may have marble or other fancy handles as well. If the knives have forged steel blades as opposed to stamped metal blades they will typically be more expensive. There are many reputable knife and cutlery makers with a wide variety of products on the market. You will want to check the craftsmanship and features in evaluating what you may want to purchase.
Pfitzenreiter adds, "Knives are the most used tool in any kitchen. You will have a good knife which is the best tool for food preparation and will it more enjoyable from day one and secondly, safer. We say the safest knife a sharp knife. If you have a dull knife, you have to use more force. If that thing slips with force and it will slip because it's dull. You have a higher risk that you will stick yourself somewhere with the knife."
Some people may think that quantity over quality is the best value for their money. This is not true with knives however. Knives are the most important tools in your kitchen. They should be well balanced, fit comfortably in your hand, be sharp at all times and be both accurate and efficient in completing your cutting tasks. You may be better off to get a better set of basic kitchen knives with fewer pieces than a set with more knives of lesser quality. The knives that are the most important to start your set with include a chef's knife, a paring knife, a utility knife, a bread knife and a slicer or carving knife.
Steak knives typically come in sets of four or eight but you can also find some in sets of six. Prices will most often be based on the quality of materials used. Finer grades of wood and better steel will obviously be more expensive. The construction of the knife and the processes used to make it will also influence the pricing. The use of rivets, finely grinding the blade, hand polishing surfaces, and so on are indications of higher quality manufacturing. Many major knife manufactures will guarantee their products and may even offer knife sharpening services to their customers.
High quality knives can be purchased from a specialty retailer, retail merchandise outlet, or even online. If you know what you are looking for and what you are receiving with your purchase the venue used to purchase the item is not as significant as the quality and service you receive with the item.
