Recommend me a knife... (and foolproof sharpener)

[timetex]

I have OK bread knife, tiny veg knife, tomato knife - but I would like to get myself a new chef's knife.

A word of warning: I don't think it is possible for me to keep it out of the dishwasher. No matter how good my intentions, my other half will just do it.

I want something that is good at chopping onions, etc., my current one, even when I've tried to sharpen it, can sometimes skate over an onion, and that's dangerous. It'll be used for veg, meat, chopping herbs - basically a complete all rounder.

Also (as per the title) I'm looking for a foolproof sharpening method. I currently have one of these: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B001DXVL6K/ref...

But I don't think it does a proper job.

Suggestions?!

[toasty]

Budget Option - Procook

Luxury Option - Wusthof

Sharpener - double sided wet sharpening stone from Amazon, a youtube video and some practice.

[Big Nanas]

I'd always recommend a Zwilling four star. They're robust, simple knives that can put up with a lot of use (they use those on Masterchef).

I'd also recommend a ceramic water bath sharpener. My four start knife can glide through a very ripe tomato after using that.
Again, not expensive, and I've had mine for years. Completely fool-proof!

It would be advised to have a magnetic knife rack, or a drawer insert too. Knives go very blunt if they're just jumbled up with other cutlery.

However, as for the dishwasher...that's non-negotiable!

[ATG]

We have a Global chef's knife and one of their three wheel idiot-proof sharpeners. I'm guessing we've had it for 10 years and it is still zero effort to get it sharp enough to cleanly slice a tomato, no slippy choppy-choppy an onion, etc.

I have no idea how it compares to other knives, except that it is vastly superior to all the other crap I've had in the past and I no longer think about needing to get a knife that just works.

And it would undoubtedly be even sharper and last even longer if I sharpened it by hand and then kept it honed and stropped it on a peice of chihuahua hide, but life is too short.

[UTH]

ATG said:

We have a Global chef's knife and one of their three wheel idiot-proof sharpeners. I'm guessing we've had it for 10 years and it is still zero effort to get it sharp enough to cleanly slice a tomato, no slippy choppy-choppy an onion, etc.

I have no idea how it compares to other knives, except that it is vastly superior to all the other crap I've had in the past and I no longer think about needing to get a knife that just works.

And it would undoubtedly be even sharper and last even longer if I sharpened it by hand and then kept it honed and stropped it on a peice of chihuahua hide, but life is too short.

How often do you sharpen yours?
I've got global knives and that three wheel thing. It does a very good job of sharpening, but I just find my knives don't stay sharp very long. But I was chatting to someone the other day saying that Globals actually don't stay sharp very long, so maybe I just need to be sharpening more often.

[Big Nanas]

UTH said:

ATG said:

We have a Global chef's knife and one of their three wheel idiot-proof sharpeners. I'm guessing we've had it for 10 years and it is still zero effort to get it sharp enough to cleanly slice a tomato, no slippy choppy-choppy an onion, etc.

I have no idea how it compares to other knives, except that it is vastly superior to all the other crap I've had in the past and I no longer think about needing to get a knife that just works.

And it would undoubtedly be even sharper and last even longer if I sharpened it by hand and then kept it honed and stropped it on a peice of chihuahua hide, but life is too short.

How often do you sharpen yours?
I've got global knives and that three wheel thing. It does a very good job of sharpening, but I just find my knives don't stay sharp very long. But I was chatting to someone the other day saying that Globals actually don't stay sharp very long, so maybe I just need to be sharpening more often.

I suppose some of that may depend on how you're storing your knives, and what sort of cutting board you're using.

[UTH]

Big Nanas said:

UTH said:

ATG said:

We have a Global chef's knife and one of their three wheel idiot-proof sharpeners. I'm guessing we've had it for 10 years and it is still zero effort to get it sharp enough to cleanly slice a tomato, no slippy choppy-choppy an onion, etc.

I have no idea how it compares to other knives, except that it is vastly superior to all the other crap I've had in the past and I no longer think about needing to get a knife that just works.

And it would undoubtedly be even sharper and last even longer if I sharpened it by hand and then kept it honed and stropped it on a peice of chihuahua hide, but life is too short.

How often do you sharpen yours?
I've got global knives and that three wheel thing. It does a very good job of sharpening, but I just find my knives don't stay sharp very long. But I was chatting to someone the other day saying that Globals actually don't stay sharp very long, so maybe I just need to be sharpening more often.

I suppose some of that may depend on how you're storing your knives, and what sort of cutting board you're using.

Never in the dishwasher, stored carefully on global magnetic knife rack, only ever used on wooden boards.

[wyson]

I thought you are supposed to hone before every use and sharpen infrequently?

I have a Kitchen Devils ceramic roller sharpener, after I started honing, it hardly gets any use.

My meal prep app recommends a Global G2 8 Inch chef knife as a ‘do it all’ quality all rounder.

[UTH]

wyson said:

I thought you are supposed to hone before every use and sharpen infrequently?

I have a Kitchen Devils ceramic roller sharpener, after I started honing, it hardly gets any use.

My meal prep app recommends a Global G2 8 Inch chef knife as a ‘do it all’ quality all rounder.

Yeah, fair point, I do also have a ceramic global honing wand, I do use that, maybe not as much as I should.

[nikaiyo2]

Big Nanas said:

I'd always recommend a Zwilling four star. They're robust, simple knives that can put up with a lot of use (they use those on Masterchef).

I'd also recommend a ceramic water bath sharpener. My four start knife can glide through a very ripe tomato after using that.
Again, not expensive, and I've had mine for years. Completely fool-proof!

It would be advised to have a magnetic knife rack, or a drawer insert too. Knives go very blunt if they're just jumbled up with other cutlery.

However, as for the dishwasher...that's non-negotiable!

Yup Zwilling are brilliant especially the 4 star, I much prefer the tactile handle compared to the hard timber or steel.

[timetex]

https://www.zwilling.com/uk/zwilling-four-star-7-p...

Is that a good option for a set with a block then?

[ATG]

UTH said:

How often do you sharpen yours?
I've got global knives and that three wheel thing. It does a very good job of sharpening, but I just find my knives don't stay sharp very long. But I was chatting to someone the other day saying that Globals actually don't stay sharp very long, so maybe I just need to be sharpening more often.

Uhm ... I really don't remember ... maybe every couple of months? It's my do-everything knife, but I probably only do 10% of the cooking in the household. I give it a quick sharpen if I notice I'm having to push it through things. We store it on a magnetic rack and I'm careful when using it ... but my wife is a barbarian and will do stuff like hack it through a piece of meat into a metal roasting pan. I have to leave the room when she does this. I'd argue with her, but she's holding a knife.

[Big Nanas]

timetex said:

https://www.zwilling.com/uk/zwilling-four-star-7-p...

Is that a good option for a set with a block then?

Thats a good amount of knives with a decent discount.
You probably won't need all of those, but that's a good deal by the look of it.

[PushedDover]

Why is there no knife block set with built in sharpening as you draw and then park the knife i wondered.

[Sheets Tabuer]

I've had a few sets, Global and such like and currently have a Wusthof set which I lovingly wash by hand.

I am continuously impressed with the cheap ones from Morrisons that are about a tenner or less when on offer. They're my dishwasher set.

[timetex]

PushedDover said:

Why is there no knife block set with built in sharpening as you draw and then park the knife i wondered.

Didn’t you see the set I just posted?

I would probably not rely on it being the main way to sharpen but it may help…?

[21TonyK]

This will go round and round as all knife threads do.

The only thing you really need to do is throw that Anysharp st you have in the bin before you completely fk any new knife with it.

Seriously, go and get it now, smash it with a hammer and throw the bits in the nearest river.

Then have a look at the sharpening thread in Homes etc. The cylinder sharpeners are flavour of the month still. Then jump on Nisbets and order a one piece stainless 8" chefs knife or something with a moulded handle. Don't buy anything with a mutipart handle, riveted or otherwise.

[wyson]

There are quite a few youtube videos comparing knife sharpeners. The ones with a metal v shaped valley, like the anysharp destroy the fine edge of a knife and were not recommended. Looks horrendous in macro shots, the edges look pitted and burred. You need to grind the edge, not shave it.

[mikef]

timetex said:

https://www.zwilling.com/uk/zwilling-four-star-7-p...

Is that a good option for a set with a block then?

We bought that set for my daughter a couple of years ago, she seems pretty happy. Zwilling have regular online sales, the discounted price is right (but regularly available)

[PushedDover]

timetex said:

PushedDover said:

Why is there no knife block set with built in sharpening as you draw and then park the knife i wondered.

Didn’t you see the set I just posted?

I would probably not rely on it being the main way to sharpen but it may help…?

Have now

Thank you