The chef’s knife is the backbone of every professional chef and will speed up a chef’s progress. Whether you aspire to become a master chef or simply a solid home cook, learning basic knife skills and practicing them often is necessary. Step one is purchasing a high-quality Gordon Ramsay Knives set that fits your budget and the size and shape of your hand. (Also see Wusthof vs. Zwilling J.A. Henckels Comparison: Which is Best)
Gordon Ramsay uses Wüsthof, and Henckels branded knives; the brands are known for quality products and are two of the best knife manufacturers worldwide. Wüstoff has been making knives since 1814, and Henckels has been around since 1895.
The contestants in Gordon Ramsay’s Fox TV series Hell’s Kitchen use Henckels knives. In his online Masterclass cooking course, Gordon uses Wüsthof; both brands are two of the top knife manufacturers globally, known for their quality products. (Learn more about The 8 Best German Knife Brands for Your Kitchen)
Gordon Ramsay’s Top 4 Knife Recommendations
In His MasterClass, Gordon is seen using Henckels knives, and in Ultimate Cookery Course, he uses Wusthof knives. Both German-style knives are renowned for their durability and strength. Their robust blades are designed to easily handle the toughest kitchen tasks, such as cutting through chicken bones. The added weight of these knives provides a satisfying heft that many chefs find ideal for their cooking needs. It’s no wonder culinary professionals hold them in such high regard worldwide.
- Chef’s knife for chopping
- Paring knife for peeling
- Boning knife with a flexible blade
- Serrated bread knife
All four of Gordon Ramsay’s recommended knives are available in the Henckels Zwilling Pro 7-pc Knife Block Set and the Wusthof Gourmet 18-pc Cherry Wood Block Set, which can be purchased on Amazon.
Does Gordon Ramsay Have a Knife Set?
Yes, for everyday use, the Royal Doulton collection of kitchen knives designed by Gordon Ramsay features the most valuable knives in the kitchen. A complete range of knives enables even an inexperienced cook to chop, slice, mince, or dice like Gordon Ramsay in the kitchen.
What Knives Do Chefs Recommend: A Few Select Knives Meet Most Kitchen Needs.
While the chef’s knife is indispensable, you will find a complete set of knives in any good professional kitchen. Purchase the best high-end knife set for those that meet your needs and add to your collection as you build up your kitchen skills and continue to learn. (Read more Choosing a JA Henckel Knife Set – Which Series Is Best)
I’ve used and recommend both knife block sets, The Henckels Zwilling Pro 7-pc Knife Block Set or the Classic 15-piece Walnut Knife Block Set, Visit the ZWILLING or Wüsthof Store on Amazon.
Manufactured with a high-carbon steel alloy, a blend of iron, carbon, chromium, and other rust-resistant metals, easy to sharpen and hold an edge. They are good high-carbon knives that will last you a lifetime.
What are the Top 3 Knife Brands Professional Chefs Prefer?
The top knife brands most professionals prefer are Wüsthof Classic, J.A. Henckels International Classic, and MAC MTH-80 Professional Chef’s Knife. But Selecting a chef’s knife has a lot to do with personal preference, considering the knife’s sharpness, balance, and versatility. (Also see Which Wusthof Classic Knife Set & Collection Is Right for You)
Buy: Henckels Zwilling Pro 7-pc Knife Block Set at Amazon
Buy: Wusthof Gourmet 18-pc Cherry Wood Block Set at Amazon
Chef’s Knife For Chopping
A chef’s knife is thinly slicing, dicing, separating significant cuts of meat, and mashing garlic cloves with the blade’s side. When buying a chef’s knife, you must look for a handle that fits your hand and isn’t overly heavy. The knife should feel balanced and weighty enough to divide meat from the bone.
- An 8-inch blade: This length provides plenty of power without being unwieldy. A good chef’s knife’s edge should have a long, gently sloping curve suited to the rocking motion of mincing and chopping.
- The knife should be substantial but lightweight: It should have enough heft to get the job done but not be so heavy that it becomes tiring. Also, the handle should help to balance the knife’s weight. Remember that forged, molded from hot steel, is weightier than stamped, punched out of a sheet of steel.
Buy: Henckels Zwilling Pro 8″ Chef’s Knife at Amazon
Buy: Wusthof Classic 8-Inch Chef’s Knife at Amazon
Paring Knife For Peeling
A paring knife is used for peeling, slicing, coring, and exemplary work such as removing vanilla beans from the pod. When buying a paring knife, you must look for a thin edge that’s also spear-pointed or, for fast, exact cuts, is flat so it’s flush with the cutting board.
- A 3- to 3 ½-inch blade: This size is just right for various cutlery tasks.
- Choose a blade with agility: A sharp, agile edge, which can fit into tight corners and handle tight curves when peeling and paring, is much more important than weight and balance. A paring knife’s edge should be flexible for easy maneuvering into tight spots (such as tomato cores) and handling curves when peeling and paring.
Buy: Henckels Zwilling Pro 4″ Paring Knife, at Amazon
Buy: Wusthof Classic 4″ Paring Knife at Amazon
Boning Knife to Cut Around Meat
Gordon Ramsay’s last recommendation on knives is revealed through MasterClass, where his list of essential kitchen tools includes the boning knife, alongside the usual suspects. At first, glance, adding this tool in the kitchen may seem peculiar. However, having one makes sense as it provides an added advantage. While purchasing pre-deboned meat from the butcher or grocery store is more convenient, owning a boning knife gives your kitchen a competitive edge.
Buy: Henckels Classic Precision 5.5-inch Boning Knife at Amazon
Buy: Wüsthof Classic IKON 5″ Boning Knife at Amazon
- CLASSIC IKON knives feature a distinctive, double bolster design for professional-style heft, exceptional balance and beauty.
- Get a grant-edged knife: The handle is made of highly durable synthetic material Polyoxymethylene (POM), with a tighter molecular structure to resist fading and discoloration. The elegant shape of the handle is designed for a comfortable grip.
A Serrated Bread Knife
A serrated knife is used for foods with a coarse crust or smooth, gentle skin, such as cake, bread, or large tomatoes, where accuracy isn’t needed. When buying a carving knife, you must look for a long edge, a comfortable handle, and deep, pointed serrations.
- A 10- to 12-inch blade: Knives shorter than 10 inches lead to catching their tips on larger loaves. The knife should also be slightly flexible for better maneuverability but firm enough to allow proper control.
- A curved knife makes cutting easier: A somewhat curved blade helps a rocking motion keep knuckles from rubbing on the cutting board.
Buy: Henckels Zwilling Pro 8″ Serrated Knife, at Amazon
Buy: Wusthof Classic 8 “Serrated Knife at Amazon
Best Chef Knives for Home Chefs
Knives are understandably the most valuable tools a cook has; consider them extensions of your hands. When buying the best kitchen knife set, choose ones constructed from high-carbon stainless steel, hard metal that, once sharpened, tends to stay that way. Some purists favor carbon steel knives, which may take a sharper edge initially but won’t hold it for as long.
When buying a knife, ensure it feels comfortable in your hand; otherwise, even the minutest amount of knife work will become daunting. I favor wood over-molded plastic: a simple shape and a smooth texture rather than a pebbled finish with handles. Unique ceramic blades are ultrasharp but very delicate.
How Knives are Constructed
Knives are either stamped or forged. The most widely sold are stamped lightweight blades made by cutting a hole out of a sheet of steel. Forged are made by heating, hammering, and cooling metal, forcing metal atoms into miniature crystal bunches and producing a more resilient “fine-grained” metal. The following is an essential knife guide that every home cook should know.
Buy: Henckels Zwilling Pro 7-pc Knife Block Set at Amazon
Buy: Wusthof Gourmet 18-pc Cherry Wood Block Set at Amazon
Knives Made from Carbon Steel
This metal is an essential blend of iron and carbon from other steels with additional elements combined. A well-maintained knife will stay sharp much longer than one made from stainless steel, but it is prone to rust when it comes to carbon steel, so careful maintenance is required on all knives, a good cleaning, drying, and oiling after daily use.
Knives Made from Stainless Steel
Chromium is added to the iron-carbon blend to yield more flexible and rust-resistant steel. Good superiority stainless steel has a distinctive grain for sharpness, and it can be made alloyed with other metals to make it durable. Simple to sharpen and sturdy, often most practical for home cooks are knives made of stainless steel.
Knives Made from Stainless Ceramic
A very sharp, light, and stiff ceramic blade is perfect for cutting through meat. The blades are typically zirconium oxide, then ground to a straight razor-sharp. The blades are rust-resistant but don’t flex like steel and are hard to sharpen, so they can break or chip if they strike bone or are dropped.
Related:
The 10 Best Kitchen Knife Sets For Home Cooks
