Should I Buy a Knife Set?

In a word, no. Jeffrey Elliot, who literally wrote the book on knife skills, explains why.

CHOW Tips are the shared wisdom of our community. If you’ve figured out some piece of food, drink, or cooking wisdom that you’d like to share on video (and you can be in San Francisco), email Meredith Arthur and tell us what you’ve got in mind.

POST A COMMENT |2 Comments

COMMENT

  • I started with a set that included chef, paring, bread, slicer, and shears, plus a block and a steel. Although I very rarely use the slicer the shears are certainly nice to have around, and most of the knives that I've purchased since then live in the block. So I think it was a good purchase--I saved money compared to having bought everything as open stock. The mistake, IMO, isn't buying a set,...+READ

    I started with a set that included chef, paring, bread, slicer, and shears, plus a block and a steel. Although I very rarely use the slicer the shears are certainly nice to have around, and most of the knives that I've purchased since then live in the block. So I think it was a good purchase--I saved money compared to having bought everything as open stock. The mistake, IMO, isn't buying a set, but rather buying too big a set.-COLLAPSE

  • i agree. i started with a three knife set--chef, paring, and sandwich. i rarely used the sandwich and bought a bread knife after. havent bought anything else since--besides steak knives and other chef knives.