Great set of knives

[MrsJamin]

I'm looking for a great set of knives now that ours are 10 years old and I have to use the end to pierce the skin of a tomato. Looking to spend up to £100 on 3/4 knives - what are the really good makes I should look out for on special offers?

Do you really need new ones or just a decent sharpener? We've got some which are about 15 years old. We have a sharpening steel I can't get the hang of and also one of these which suctions to the work surface and is very easy to use. I just run the knives through it periodically.

They are far less expensive than a set of new knives.

if you want to cut a tomato, use a serrated knife such as a steak knife. It works differently so does not go blunt.

A sharpening steel only works on a sharp knife. Yours will need grinding. You can get small electric domestic grinders which include a guide to hold the blade at the correct angle to the spinning grindstone. AFAIK there are very few businesses that grind knives now, though if you have a set that was expensive, ask at a small family butcher or someone in the catering trade. After I have sharpened my knives they will easily cut paper.

I like the Sabatier style of French Cook's knife (it is not the brand name of a single company so not a guarantee of quality) and some people find the Japanese style of knife very fashionable.

Some stainless steel from Far East mills is poor quality and will pit.

You will probably only ever use four knives, even if you splash out on a set of twelve.

A magnetic wall rack prevents them being damaged by knocking together, and is IMO more hygienic than a block.

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