"Picture Thanksgiving dinner. You have the family over, the meal is ready, and you're just about to carve that big turkey in front of everyone. You look at your knife block and you're stumped. Should you get the chef's knife? The Santoku? The fork-tipped carving knife? Is this long one for filleting or for bread? If you've ever been confused by all the knives in that set you bought, don't feel bad. Many people are. You don't need an entire block full of knives."
"In his book Kitchen Confidential, Anthony Bourdain said that knife sets are a con. He explains that home cooks don't need an entire set of knives. All you need is "ONE good chef's knife." He goes on to explain that a good chef's knife, which isn't necessarily a heavy or expensive knife, can cut anything. Onions, watermelons, tomatoes, steak; you don't need a different knife for everything that you plan to cut."
"Anthony Bourdain suggested Global as a high-quality chef's knife that wouldn't break the bank. They're not as popular on Amazon as many of the top-of-the-line chef's knives. But if they're good enough for Bourdain and you can get them at a good price, they'll work for you. The Victorinox Swiss Chef's knife is also reliable and reasonably priced, but it still costs more, making Bourdain's recommendation seem like a better value."
Knife sets are often unnecessary because a single, versatile chef's knife can handle most kitchen tasks. A well-chosen chef's knife can slice onions, tomatoes, watermelons, and steak without needing specialized blades for every task. Small basic sets exist for cooks with limited counter space or minimal knife skills, while large blocks can contain many seldom-used pieces. Affordable, high-quality chef's knives like Global and Victorinox offer reliable performance; value and price vary between brands. Grabbing the most convenient knife is common, but investing in one dependable chef's knife simplifies cooking and reduces clutter.
Read at Tasting Table
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