Baccarat Damashiro Bodo 10 Piece Japanese Steel Knife Block With Chopping Board

Great balance of quality, price and finished product – Like many of us (amateur cooks) I could not see how I spend big on knives. Let's be honest, if there is a knife that does the job and doesn't require a second mortgage to buy one - that's a great outcome... Well, maybe... Recent events around the world made us stay home more. As a result I found myself in the kitchen more than I ever imagined I'd be. This is when I discovered that my budget, no name knives, were not doing a good job at all. I started researching what can I afford to buy so cooking will be a pleasant task again? My research led me to fenomenon that many refer to as a "rabbit hole". To conclude - there is NO such thing as a "best knife". There are a couple simple characteristics of knives people refer to when they choose one, let's unwrap them. 1. Cutting ability. Simple, right? Not so much. There are serrated knives, straight knives, funky shaped knives, big, small, heavy, light etc. Well, if you're not going for the cheapest knife, most of them cut well. However, different shapes, sizes and forms are for different cutting. So there, no perfect knife here - you most likely need multiple knives to cover all bases. 2. Stainless steel (corrosion resistance). Without going to the chemistry of blade composition, most medium range knives from reputable brands will ensure that. However, any composition that will use metals that prevent rusting will compromise blade hardness in one shape or another. Again, no best knife here 3. Hardness (how long it will stay sharp). Long story short... Hard knives are brittle, they need skills to work with, they're not for everyone. Softer knives are great, but will need frequent sharpening. No best winner here. All above leads me to the point where instead of choosing brand of knives or how they look like I'd suggest focusing on blade chemical composition or as people refer to - hardness. After assessing my cooking skills and available budget I decided that 420j2 or 56HRC steel is good enough for my needs and won't be too hard on my finances. Here is how I ended up with something that I call - value for money product: Baccarat Damashiro Bodo 10 Piece Japanese Steel Knife Block. The set is affordable, handles household chemicals well, can be sharpened at home (no need to visit a specialist) and performs superbly for what it is. The set also includes a magnetic cutting board, which is an added bonus. I'm under no illusion that this set is NOT the best set of knives out there. However, what is the best knife? :-) There are many forums that focus on Brands rather than on steel, or or rubbishing 420j2 steel altogether. Well, it is "budget" still that is sufficient enough for many. Hence I won't hesitate to recommend Baccarat Damashiro Bodo 10 Piece Japanese Steel Knife Block with Chopping Board to anyone who is not pro cook by trade. Watch out this space for the "right price" if you are in the market for the set: https://amzn.to/3dTI47G Also, while you're there don't forget to get your sharpener that will save you time and money in the long run: https://amzn.to/2ZYfnhW