A good set of Knives goes a long way

One of your best friends in a kitchen is a good set of cooking knives. Their is nothing more difficult, dangerous, and frustrating than trying to prepare a meal and having work with dull and poorly crafted knives.

If you've looked online or through your local department stores, I'm sure you've noticed how knives range in price to extremely cheap to outrageously expensive. Like all things, you get what you pay for but that doesn't mean you have to break the bank to get a good quality collection of cooking knives. Here are a few key things to look for when trying to select whats right for you.

-Make sure the knifes are full tang. The tang is the how far the steel of the blade runs though the handle of the knife. If the steel doesn't run through the entire handle, you risk breaking the knife when applying a lot of force. Not only will this ruin your knife, it could cause injury as well.

-Be sure you get a wide selection from a good chefs knife, a chopping knife,a boning knife, a serrated edged knife, and a pairing knife. Kitchen shears and a set of steak knives are also a huge plus.

-A wooden block to store them in comes in handy. It protects the knives and gives them easy access.

-A sharping steel is also something you'll want to be included in with your knife set. Knives dull, even if they tell you they don't. Keeping your knives sharp is the key

-And finally -- stay in your budget!! Buy the best equipment you can afford, and take care of them.